FS-PRODUCTS.COM – Functional Safety

Functional Safety is part of the overall safety that depends on a system or equipment operating correctly in response to its inputs. Functional Safety is achieved when every specified safety function is carried out and the level of performance required of each safety function is met.

Function to be implemented by an E/E/PE safety-related system, other technology safety-related system or external risk reduction facilities, which is intended to achieve or maintain a safe state for the EUC, in respect of a specific hazardous event.

A safety integrity level is one of 4 levels (SIL 1, SIL 2, SIL 3, SIL 4), each corresponding to a range of target likelihood of failures of a safety function. Note that a safety integrity level is a property of a safety function rather than of a system or any part of a system.

Accreditation is the independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies against recognized standards to carry out specific activities to ensure their impartiality and competence. Through the application of national and international standards, government, procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports and certifications provided. In the EU every member state has one independent accreditation authority. In Germany it is the DAkkS.

Usually the validity of a certificate for a product is limited for 5 years. The validity can be prolonged for further 5 years so far the product at that time meets the requirements of the actual versions of the relevant standards. With the limitation of the validity it shall be ensured that the product at any time complies with the state of the art, which is expressed in the relevant standards, and changes in the standards are considered.
For products with a valid certificate that are placed in the market by the end of the certificate validity the certificate is valid for the product life time.