The Key Elements of IEC 62061: A Guide to Achieving Machinery Safety Compliance
Nina Nwanya
Oct 9, 2024
1 min read
IEC 62061 is a global standard based on IEC 61508, designed specifically to guarantee the functional safety of machinery.
It is part of the broader safety framework for machine control systems and is designed to address safety-related control systems (SCS), focusing on risk assessment and mitigation throughout the machinery lifecycle—from design to decommissioning.
The 2021 revision of IEC 62061 has expanded its scope to include hydraulic and pneumatic systems in addition to electrical systems. This update also brings it into closer alignment with ISO 13849, giving manufacturers greater flexibility in designing safety systems.
In this standard, the Safety Integrity Level (SIL) plays a vital role by defining the required safety function reliability based on a combination of architectural and statistical assessments. Machinery applications are categorized into SIL levels ranging from 1 (least reliable) to 3 (most reliable), with SIL 4 being applicable in industries other than machinery.
The standard emphasizes drafting a Safety Requirements Specification (SRS), introducing methods for the validation of safety functions, and providing guidelines for both hardware and software in control systems.
As of April 2022, IEC 62061 is harmonized within the EU, meaning it complies with the Machinery Directive, and compliance with this standard helps ensure conformity and safety of machinery
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