Functional safety and IEC 61508

The document Functional safety and IEC 61508 provides an introduction to functional safety and gives an overview of IEC 61508. You will find it useful if you are:

• wondering whether IEC 61508 applies to you,
• involved in the development of electronic or programmable systems which may have safety implications, or
• drafting any other standard where functional safety is a relevant factor.

IEC 61508, Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems

IEC 61508 covers all safety-related systems that are electrotechnical in nature (i.e. electromechanical systems, solid-state electronic systems and computer-based systems). The standard consists of the following parts:

Part 0: Functional safety and IEC 61508
Part 1: General requirements
Part 2: Requirements for E/E/PE safety-related systems
Part 3: Software requirements
Part 4: Definitions and abbreviations
Part 5: Examples of methods for the determination of safety integrity levels
Part 6: Guidelines on the application of IEC 61508-2 and IEC 61508-3
Part 7: Overview of techniques and measures

Previews of each part, containing the contents, foreword, introduction, scope and normative references are available for free download.

The standard is generic and can be used directly by industry (as a 'standalone' standard) and also by international standards organisations as a basis for the development of application sector or subsystem standards (e.g. for the machinery, process or nuclear sector or for power drive systems). The standard will therefore influence the development of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic (E/E/PE) safety-related systems across all sectors.

IEC has published an introductory brochure on IEC 61508.

For more details on the standard see Frequently asked questions.    

To purchase IEC 61508 or a related standard, visit the IEC Webstore.