The Measurement, Control and Regulation Technology (MRB) department organised a seminar on Functional Safety together with WIB. Since MRB and WIB are working on similar topics, we thought it would be a good plan to take this up jointly.

Johan Ike told us by way of introduction about WIB's activities: WIB represents more than 40 companies using instrumentation and process control systems that are crucial for the safe, efficient and sustainable operation of complex process industries. Key topics include cyber security of industrial systems, connectivity in the industrial environment, big data and type testing. WIB also collaborates with foreign research institutes. More information can be found at www.WIB.nl

Dominic Kerf, chairman of the WIB working group Functional Safety told about this working group: the team, what the group deals with and what the future looks like.

Actually, you can say that thinking about and dealing with Functional Safety came about after the Seveso plant accident in Italy. This led to the standards IEC 61508 & 61511.

Download the presentation here.

Arnold Groot, president of KIVI-MRB, talked about the underlying calculations to demonstrate that the chosen safety solution is the right one. This uses Probabilty of Failure on Demand (PFD). This is the probability that the safety function will fail at the time it needs to intervene. The presentation led to a lively discussion in the room.

Download the presentation here.

Next, Dominic Kerf gave a presentation on Functional Safety in the future. Fewer people are expected to be available for Functional Safety in the future. Expertise is also an issue. This could be met by automating more and looking at new technologies.

Download the presentation here.

In conclusion, it was an interesting seminar. Something to repeat in the autumn.

On behalf of KIVI-MRB, Gerard Thomas