1 Scope
This part of the IEC 61784‑3 series specifies a safety communication layer (services and protocol) based on CPF
12 of IEC 61784‑2 and IEC 61158 Type 12. It identifies the principles for functional safety communications defined
in IEC 61784‑3 that are relevant for this safety communication layer.
NOTE 1 It does not cover electrical safety and intrinsic safety aspects. Electrical safety
relates to hazards such as electrical shock. Intrinsic safety relates to hazards associated with potentially explosive atmospheres.
This part1 defines mechanisms for the transmission of safety-relevant messages among participants within a distributed network using fieldbus technology in accordance with the requirements of IEC 61508 series 2 for functional safety. These mechanisms may be used in various industrial applications
such as process control, manufacturing automation and machinery.
This part provides guidelines for both developers and assessors of compliant devices
and systems.
NOTE 2 The resulting SIL claim of a system depends on the implementation of the selected
functional safety communication profile within this system – implementation of a functional
safety communication profile according to this part in a standard device is not sufficient
to qualify it as a safety device.