Many of today’s manufacturing firms are undergoing rapid transformation as they need to navigate the challenges of digital adoption, talent shortages, and supply disruptions, whilst also keeping the focus on streamlining risk management and safety at the forefront of their operations. While eliminating risk completely is unrealistic, manufacturers of machine protection systems are constantly seeking effective ways to minimise dangers and reduce the chances of serious hazards occurring.
An important part of achieving and maintaining the correct levels of machine protection and minimising risk is the need to meet recognised universal standards, such as IEC 61508. Functional Safety / IEC 61508 / SIL Certified Product and Systems is all about ensuring that there is safety by means of automated action rather than human decision. These systems ensure automatic shutdown as soon as any critical level is detected in milliseconds, rather than seconds or minutes if a human operator was left to make the decision.
Devised by industry experts, the IEC 61508 standard plays a vital role in the development of safety-critical equipment ensuring a sharp focus on risk mitigation, reduction, and management. Whilst certification to IEC 61508 is not universally mandatory by law, it is practically in high-risk industries. For example, process, oil & gas, high-speed / high-energy machinery, steam, gas & hydro turbines, chemical centrifuges, large industrial fans & pumps, where it is essential for risk reduction and reliability.
Condition monitoring specialist Sensonics is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of overspeed protection, vibration protection, and turbine supervisory products, some of which are available with SIL Certified systems according to IEC 61508 standards. These include their XPR04 eddy current proximity probe, their PZDC velocity vibration transducer and most significantly their highly successful Sentry G3 Condition Monitoring system.
Another well established and successful dual channel protection system developed by Sensonics is the DN26 G3, a compact, din rail mountable unit ideally suited to a wide range of small to medium machinery monitoring applications. With IEC 61508 SIL certification currently in progress, this highly effective and industry-proven sensor has generated plenty of in-the-field data to enable certification in the very near future.
Today end-users, regulators and insurance companies often require evidence of risk reduction and reliability for critical systems, helping to prove compliance, manage machine protection and ensure safety, especially for SIL Levels 2,3 & 4. While the standard itself outlines processes, third party certification provides validated proof of adherence, therefore reducing liability and demonstrating rigorous safety. More at: www.sensonics.co.uk
Read other recent news: https://industrial-compliance.co.uk/category/news/
