Standards for safety [programmable safety controllers]
Richard Piggin · Computing & Control Engineering Journal · 2006
The trend for using programmable controllers and safety networks in place of the traditional relay-based systems has influenced the development of new safety-related standards and the revision of others. The demands for increased productivity, functionality, reliability, flexibility and ease of maintenance cannot satisfactorily be met in many applications with traditional relay-based systems. The development of safety controllers and safety networks fulfils the essential needs catered for by traditional safety relay-based systems, while offering new functionality such as safe motion, to meet future automation requirements. Solutions now provide complete integration with control systems, with safety and control functions often residing together in programmable controllers and networks.