BS EN ISO 13849-1:2015

What is ISO 13849-1 - SRP/CS standards about? 

The structure of safety standards in the field of machinery is as follows: 

• Type-A standards (basis standards) give basic concepts, principles for design, and general aspects that can be applied to machinery 
• Type-B standards (generic safety standards) deal with one or more safety aspect(s), or one or more type(s) of safeguards that can be used across a wide range of machinery 
• Type-B1 standards on particular safety aspects (e.g., safety distances, surface temperature, noise) 
• Type-B2 standards on safeguards (e.g., two-hands controls, interlocking devices, pressure-sensitive devices, guards) 
• Type-C standards (machinery safety standards) deal with detailed safety requirements for a particular machine or group of machines 

ISO 13849-1 is a type-B-1 standard. ISO 13849-1 provides safety requirements and guidance on the principles for the design and integration of safety-related parts of control systems (SRP/CS), including the design of the software. For these parts of SRP/CS, ISO 13849-1 specifies characteristics that include the performance level required for carrying out safety functions. ISO 13849-1 applies to SRP/CS for high demand and continuous mode, regardless of the type of technology and energy used (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, etc.), for all kinds of machinery. 

Who is ISO 13849-1 - SRP/CS standards for? 

ISO 13849-1  on SRP/CS standards is useful for: 

• Manufacturers of machines (small, medium, and large enterprises) 
• Health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance, etc.) 
• Machine users/employers (small, medium, and large enterprises) 
• Product development / innovation / research teams 
• Quality control teams 

Why should you use ISO 13849-1 - SRP/CS standards? 

ISO 13849-1 provides specific requirements for SRP/CS using programmable electronic system(s). ISO 13849-1 does not give specific requirements for the design of products which are parts of SRP/CS. Nevertheless, the principles are given, such as categories or performance levels, can be used. ISO 13849-1 is intended to provide a clear basis upon which the design and performance of any application of the SRP/CS (and the machine) can be assessed, for example, by a third party, in-house, or by an independent test house. 

The sections on design consideration including safety objectives in design and strategy for risk reduction, safety functions, and fault consideration and fault exclusion have been discussed in thorough detail in ISO 13849-1. Using ISO 13849-1 guidelines, you can determine safety requirements and guidance on the principles for the design and integration of safety-related parts of control systems (SRP/CS), including the design of the software. ISO 13849-1 enables you to provide a safe working atmosphere to your operators and provide your customers with suitable, reliable, and high-quality products. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN ISO 13849-1:2015 supersedes BS EN ISO 13849-1:2008. BS EN ISO 13849-1:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN ISO 13849-1:2008. The important ones include: 

• Deletion of the former table 1 from the introduction 
• Updating and addition of normative references 
• Modification of the definitions of terms hazardous situation and high demand or continuous mode 
• Addition of a new term and definition, proven in use 
• Editorial, but not technical, modification of Figure 1