In mechanical and plant engineering, functions for risk reduction and user safety are increasingly taken over by control systems. In most cases these are electrical or electronic systems. The requirements for the execution and quality of the safety functions are defined in DIN EN ISO 13849 "Safety of machinery – Safety-related parts of control systems – Part 1: General principles for design".
The standard specifies the calculation procedure for the so-called "performance level", an identifier for the performance and failure probability of a safety function.
Risk assessment basis
In risk assessment, we use standardised procedures to determine the required performance level, which specifies how the safety function with its components must be designed in order to do justice to the severity of the danger that is to be reduced by functional safety.
Verification of control
The performance level achieved is determined by a calculation, based on the statistical data of the components used and the architecture executed. This must be at least as good as the required performance level determined in the risk assessment. The calculation procedure is regulated in accordance with the requirements of DIN EN 62061 or DIN EN ISO 13849 and can also be carried out with software support.
We support you with proof
Where failures or malfunctions in control systems can cause a hazardous situation, appropriate measures must be taken to reduce the probability of a hazardous failure to the required level.
We advise your Developers and Designers on how to design safety-related controls in accordance with the latest versions of the relevant standards and directives, and our TÜV-certified Functional Safety Engineers calculate the performance levels that are actually achieved.
This is possible for electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, as well as programmable controls.
Ideal starting point: Safety concept
kothes advises your Control Developers from the design phase. We discuss with them possibilities, principles and strategies for risk reduction, as well as the requirements resulting from A and B standards for the selection, installation and configuration of protective devices (e.g. safety distances).
We determine the necessary measures and provide advice on choosing protective devices (e.g. when securing dangerous areas and hazardous movements by means of door monitoring, light curtains, scanners, etc.).
Intelligent concepts can reduce the cost of expensive security technology in many cases. The effort in this early project phase is therefore worthwhile.