Future developments in functional safety

This paper provides an overview of the basic safety publication IEC 61508 which covers all safety-related systems that are electrotechnical in nature (i.e. electromechanical systems, solid-state electronic systems and computer-based systems). This overview focuses upon its key objectives rather than specific technical details and how the work in-hand is intended to ensure that these remain satisfied in the future. The standard is generic and can be used directly by industry and also by international standards organisations as a basis for the development of sector standards. The standard will therefore influence the development of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic safety-related systems across all industrial sectors. A number of sector standards are now being developed within the framework of IEC 61508 and implications this can have for users is important to ensure that the benefits can be fully realised. This is particularly significant where standards are being developed for subsystems that may be used in a variety of sectors. Also, work has now started within IEC/SC65A to maintain and, where necessary, update the requirements of IEC 61508. The structure of the maintenance teams is described along with those issues that have been identified for further action by its maintenance team. An update on the development of a proposed introductory guide is also be provided. The paper summarises the wide variety of ongoing initiatives and give a view as to the way forward for functional safety of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic safety-related systems.