Functional Safety, IEC 61508 & SIL

Why Functional Safety?

When designing and implementing automation controls for pneumatic actuators in critical applications, it is vital that all the component parts can have assured reliability so that the Manufacturer or Integrator can certify the system for Functional Safety Level compliance.

Since the publication of Functional Safety standards such as IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 and increasing customer demand for documentary proof of compliance to these standards, this data and suitably tested products are more common but we still see instances where some components are not yet available with SIL compatibility.

SIL3 Compliance?

Sitecna® SRL, the Italian manufacturer of corrosion resistant, ATEX certified air preparation and flow control solutions, took feedback from their customers and engaged TÜV Rheinland to test and certify all their common pneumatic components for valve actuation to these standards. The result was successful FMEDA testing and evaluation of their regulators, filter regulators, volume boosters, quick exhaust valves, directional control spool valves and pressure sensing 3/2 valves that can now be used in systems compatible with Safety Integrity Level 3.

All items are ATEX & GOST EAC certified as standard and available for a wide range of ambient temperature ranges from -55° to +90°C. The filter regulators, regulators, volume boosters and quick exhaust valve sizes are from ¼” to 1” and the spool valves from ¼” to ¾”, allowing the range to suit most actuator control scheme design requirements from just one manufacturer.

We can now offer all of these products for use in systems up to SIL3 and they are supplied with the relevant certificate, technical report and safety manual containing the element data needed to complete your system calculations for SIL compliance.

Redundancy and Failsafe Controls

SIL3 Compliant Products