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Product category: Engineering Conferences
News Release from: Elite Control Systems
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 29 April 2005

Paper puts integrator's view of
functional safety

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Elite Control Systems is sponsoring the Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference being organised by BARA at Warwick University on 11th May 2005.

Elite Control Systems is sponsoring the Machine Safety and Functional Safety Conference being organised by BARA (the British Automation and Robotics Association) to be held at Warwick University on 11th May 2005 Iain Rennie, Elite's Engineering Operations Manager, will also deliver a paper that presents a systems integrator's view of IEC61508 "Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety related systems" and its EN61508 equivalent

End users faced with implementing electrical/electronic and programmable electronic safety-related control systems for process plant and machinery frequently find the task a daunting one, especially if they have traditionally conducted new projects, upgrades and retrofits in-house in accordance with EN954-1.

For this reason there is an increasing tendency to entrust such work to specialist systems integrators that have the knowledge, experience and, above all, competence to carry it out correctly.

However, Elite's experience of the market suggests that end users do not always appreciate that an electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety (E/E/PES) system may need to comply with IEC61508, and there is a further lack of comprehension about what compliance entails.

The three most frequently misunderstood areas are the importance of competency (both of the company and the individuals working on a project), the requirement for thorough, detailed documentation, and the need for a lifecycle approach.

Iain Rennie's paper, "61508 - an integrator's perspective", will cover the following topics: E/E/PES requirements; is procuring the correct equipment enough?; E/E/PES system specification; E/E/PES system validation; E/E/PES project issues; Elite's quality management system versus 61508; and Elite's consultancy services.

This paper will give a valuable insight into how a system integrator works within the boundaries laid down by IEC61508, and will complement the conference papers being delivered by speakers from an end user and the HSE.

Further papers will be delivered on the subjects of competency management, functional safety certification, and the future of safety standards.

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