Process safety Foundation
Introduction to Functional Safety
What is Functional Safety?
• Definition according to IEC 61508:
“ Part of the overall safety as relates to the EUC and the EUC control
system that depend on the correct functioning of the E/EPE safety
system. The safety systems of other technology and external
equipment to reduce risk.”
EUC = equipment under control (e.g. overfill prtoreciton for tank.)
Why Functional Safety is Important?
• Functional safety in systems, equipment,
or devices is essential for safeguarding
human lives and preventing human
injuries or environmental damage.
• Its purpose is to use specifically
designed hardware equipment and/or
software systems that operate to
automatically prevent life-threatening,
injury-causing, dangerous failures.
Functional Safety Standards
What is Functional Safety
• The basic Functional Safety
standard is IEC 61508, and it is
applicable to all industries.
• Although this standard covers all
industries, each industry has its
own nuance.
• For O&G industrial processes , IEC
61511 is applicable.
Functional Safety Standards
What is Functional Safety
(S. Allum, Sheffield University)
IEC-61508
What is Functional Safety
• The IEC 61508 series provides functional safety
standards for the lifecycle of electrical, electronic
or programmable electronic (E/E/PE) systems
and products.
• IEC 61508 allows for the development of a
uniform technical approach that can be applied to
all safety systems in electronics and related
software.
• The standard requires the analysis of the
potential risks or hazards of a given system or
device.
• IEC 61508 defines four safety integration levels
(SIL) to indicate the degree to which a system will
meet its specified safety functions.
SIL , SIF and SIS
What is Functional Safety
• Safety Function
• function to be implemented by one or more protection
layers.
• Safety Instrumented Function (SIF)
• Safety function to be implemented by a safety instrumented
system (SIS) for single hazardous scenario.
• Safety Instrumented System (SIS)
• One or more SIFs may be implemented in a SIS for a
common purpose.
• SIL - Safety Integrity Level
• Discreet level (SIL1, SIL2,SIL3 & SIL4) for specifying the
integrity requirements of the SIF
Safety Instrumented Function
What is Functional Safety
SIF - Safety Instrumented Function
Each SIF consists of three subsytems at different architectures:
1. Sensor
2. Logic Solver
3. Final Element
Safety Instrumented Function
What is Functional Safety
SIF - Safety Instrumented Function
• SIS Sensors measure process variable conditions in
order to recognize a potential hazard. Usually these are
the same process variables that are used for control.
• Examples: Pressure, Temperature, Flow
Safety Instrumented Function
What is Functional Safety
SIF - Safety Instrumented Function
• SIS Logic solvers are built with very high-
speed microprocessors and perform the
required logical functions/calculations within a
very short time period. Usually, the processing
speed lies in milliseconds.
Safety Instrumented Function
What is Functional Safety
SIF - Safety Instrumented Function
• SIS Final Element is a component of a safety
function which directly prevents the harmful
event and brings the process to a safe state.
• Some safety instrumented functions need only
simple devices like relays, motor controllers
and remote actuated valve.
Safety Instrumented Function
What is Functional Safety
SIF - Safety Instrumented Function
• A Subsystem can be part of one or more SIFs, there can even be two SIFs with
the same elements.
• Each SIF has a different assigned SIL level.
