Functional safety standards

Where safety is based on the proper operation of the safety-related machine control system, it shall be designed so that to ensure a minimal probability of functional errors. Otherwise, any errors shall not lead to the loss of the safety function. In Europe, to meet these requirements it is highly recommended to use harmonized standards developed by mandate of the European Commission (presumption of conformity). Using harmonized standards saves extra time and costs where proof of conformity of the safety-related control system to the essential requirements of the Machinery Directive shall be demonstrated.

Given hereunder are the basic concepts of the standards ISO 13849-1 and IEC 62061 which are the most used for the design of the safety functions implemented by the safety related machine control system.

Within the limits of scope, these two Standards provide presumption of conformity with essential requirements of clause 1.2.1 of Annex I of the machinery Directive 2006/46/EC.