IEC publishes Technical Report IEC/TR 62513 on safety fieldbuses

This document addresses the application of closed serial digital communications systems (often termed fieldbuses) used for transmission of safety-related data in the realisation of safety functions at machinery. It offers guidance on the issues that need to be considered during the specification, system design, installation, commissioning, modification and maintenance of such applications. It assumes that the SRECS (safety-related electrical control system) safety requirements specification (SRS) has been developed and the design of the SRECS is intended to include a safety-related communication system.

The new Technical Report is intended to be used in conjunction with IEC 62061, Safety of machinery, Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems. Moreover, the Technical Report does not address the design of the safety-related communication system itself.

IEC/TR 62513 runs to 57 pages and is available from IEC for CHF125.00. For more information and to download a PDF preview, go to webstore.iec.ch/webstore/webstore.nsf/artnum/039104?opendocument&mlref=JP.