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Entries tagged with: Systematic Capability

Back to Basics 10 – How Does a Product Get a SIL?

Back to Basics 10 – How Does a Product Get a SIL?

IEC 61508 functional safety standard indicates Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) needs to be evaluated by three design barriers:

  • The Systematic Capability Rating
  • The Architectural Constraints for the Element
  • The Probability of Failure for the Product

What Makes a SIL?

Systematic Capability is achieved when the equipment…

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Back to Basics 11 – How is SIL Used by an End User?

Back to Basics 11 – How is SIL Used by an End User?

Back to Basics 12 –  What is IEC 61508 Certification?

Back to Basics 12 –  What is IEC 61508 Certification?

IEC 61508 Certification is a Third-Party Validation against the standard’s requirements, comprising of:

  • Detailed Analysis of engineering processes to determine Systematic Capability and Cybersecurity Strength 
  • Detailed Analysis of hardware design / design margins resulting in Random Failure Rate in all failure modes
  • Analysis/Testing to show safe, correct operation and Cybersecurity Susceptibility

To achieve an…

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Back to Basics 14 - Systematic Capability

Back to Basics 14 - Systematic Capability

Systematic Capability is achieved when the equipment used to implement any safety function achieves two goals: the design process has used procedures intended to prevent systematic design errors (fault avoidance) and the design has systematic design control mechanisms such as a diagnostic for incorrect software execution (fault control).  The rigor…

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Do You Really Know What You Know (When it Comes to Functional Safety)?

Do You Really Know What You Know (When it Comes to Functional Safety)?

You don’t’ really know what you know until you have to explain it (or teach it) to someone else. 

When I’m asked about some of the technical aspects of functional safety, I have to stop and ask myself “What Do I Know About This?”  I’m not the kind…

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What is SIL compliance?

What is SIL compliance?

The Safety Integrety Level (SIL) of a product is determined by three things:

  1. The Systematic Capability Rating
  2. The  Architectural Constraints for the element
  3. The PFDavg Calculation for the product

The Systematic Capability Rating

Systematic Capability is established by having your quality management system audited per IEC 61508.…

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