Functional Safety Data Resources
For many years the most common way of classifying safety related systems on machinery has been to use the Categories of the standard EN 954-1 “Safety related parts of control systems”. This standard will be withdrawn December 28th 2009. After this date, EN 954-1 can no longer be used to provide a presumption of conformity with the European Machinery Directive. A new standard to replace EN 954-1 has already been published and is available for use: EN ISO 13849-1:2008, or “Safety of machinery - Safety related parts of control systems”. It provides a transition path from the previous five “Categories” (B, 1, 2, 3, 4) to the new classification of five “Performance Levels” (a, b, c, d, e).
In some circumstances it may be possible to use alternative standards such as EN (IEC) 62061. However, the majority of designers will likely turn to EN ISO 13849-1 because the standard has been specifically drafted to provide a transition path for those who design systems to Categories per EN 954-1. It covers all control system technologies (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic) and can be used either for a complete system or for a subsystem. For the next few years EN ISO 13849-1 is likely to become the most commonly used standard for machine safety systems. Click here to download our Safety Performance Levels brochure and learn more about the changing standards EN954-1 to EN ISO 13849-1.
What is the SISTEMA Tool?
The SISTEMA tool, developed by Germany’s BGIA organization, automates calculation of the attained Performance Level (PL) of the safety related parts of a machine’s control system in the context of EN ISO 13849-1. SISTEMA is available in English and German language versions and may be downloaded free of charge by following the link to BGIA’s website. Click here to download the SISTEMA Tool
How is Rockwell Automation Supporting SISTEMA?
Two resources have been created to use as an aid in determining the PL specs for a wide array of Rockwell Automation safety products. Data is now available in the form of an electronic library (download located on the left navigation) or pdf datasheet (download located on the left navigation). Each can be used with BGIA's SISTEMA calculation tool based on EN ISO 13849-1.
The availability of the electronic library and/or datsheet is evidence of the recognition by Rockwell Automation of the impact of EN ISO 13849-1 and other functional safety standards on industry. It is one of a number of activities and tools launched to provide help and guidance on how to deal with changes in legislation and standards in an ever more competitive environment.
BGIA's SISTEMA tool used with the Rockwell Automation electronic SISTEMA library or pdf datasheet will provide machinery and system designers with comprehensive support in the evaluation of safety in the context of EN ISO 13849-1.
PLEASE NOTE: As of September 2009, a new version of the SISTEMA Tool is available for download. This new version of the SISTEMA Tool has incorporated enhancements that also require the download of a corresponding version of the Rockwell Automation SISTEMA Library. This version of the library is now available for download.
The new version of the Rockwell Automation SISTEMA Library must be used with Version 1.1 of the SISTEMA Calculator tool. The library is not backward compatible with the 1.05 version of the SISTEMA Calculator Tool. If you have not already downloaded the new version of the tool, you can click on the link to download the tool from BGIA as well.
Click here to download the latest Rockwell Automation SISTEMA Library
Click here to download the latest BGIA SISTEMA Tool
Click here to download the Rockwell Automation Functional Safety Datasheet (pdf)