Functional Safety is the planned reduction of risks through automated safety systems. Examples include railroad crossing barriers that lower to let trains pass, or an automated robot in a factory that detects a person in its workspace and shuts down.
Safety Integrity standards benefit developers, system integrators and users. By following these standards, development organizations build safer products, document a safety case and users experience fewer injuries or deaths. Safety protocols in Safety Integrity ensure that machines, robots and other equipment are safe to operate close to humans. An infusion pump will only deliver the prescribed amount of medication to a patient and prevent overdosing. A crane load indicator will detect overload and stop the machine before it can collapse preventing injuries to workers or innocent bystanders. While there is no such thing as zero risk, Functional Safety reduces unacceptable risks caused by random electronic system errors to acceptable levels. Safety functions monitor for these risks and can automatically switch to a safe state, like turning off motors or activating alarms. For safety systems to be certified as compliant with Safety Integrity standards, they must undergo three development verification phases. Using an experienced Safety Integrity certifier to support the development plans can help in avoiding costly delays and reworks. They should be able to give an indication of how long the assessment process will take, based on the development plan and the safety integrity level. Unlike intrinsic safety, which focuses on electrical hazards and fires, Functional Safety addresses the possibility of damage to the equipment, property or environment caused by malfunction or incorrect operation. It prevents these risks from happening by ensuring the product operates correctly in response to the input signals it receives. Safety Integrity protocols ensure a train, metro or cable car will not open its doors while in motion and that a crane will only load or unload the specified amount of cargo. A medical device or surgical robot may only administer a prescribed dose of medication or radiation, preventing the patient from receiving too much or not enough. Functional Safety also reduces the risk of equipment failure by ensuring that a built-in automatic protection system will react to any unexpected events or environmental changes, such as software errors or hardware malfunctions. The protocols and hardware built into a product to achieve Safety Integrity can be verified through testing and certification by independent third-party accreditation bodies that offer IEC 61508 Safety Integrity certification programs. With advanced robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things transforming how humans and electrotechnical systems interconnect, safety procedures are needed to protect people and reduce risks. Functional Safety activates built-in safety mechanisms to ensure that potential risks that could harm someone or destroy something are reduced to tolerable levels. This is especially true when workers interact with equipment or in industrial environments like factory floors, chemical plants or warehouses. A system may detect that a wind turbine is being twisted too much and enter special operating modes to avoid disintegration of the structure or a catastrophic loss of power. Safety Integrity standards are applicable anytime software commands, controls or monitors a safety-critical function. However, the process of meeting these standards is complex and requires an expert to support development and certification. Renesas offers a wide range of solutions that can help developers overcome technical challenges and achieve Functional Safety standards compliance. These solutions range from software tools to integrated product development programs. A sensor will shut down a machine before it collapses under a crane load, preventing injury to workers or damage to equipment. Automatic valve closing mechanisms ensure that hazardous chemicals are only mixed in the correct proportions, and pressure gauges will only open or close when electronically instructed. Safety Integrity begins with hazard identification, as risks drive the system’s safety requirements. This also allows commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to be used, reducing cost and time to market.
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