Industry
Functional safety tests to assess safety-related equipment
TÜV NORD Systems now inspects control systems and safety equipment for firing, heat treatment and materials handling plant, and also for process plant that operates in potentially explosive atmospheres. The aim of the inspection is to determine the risk inherent in the plant and machinery, so that the equipment vital for its safety can be assessed and harmonised to an optimum extent.
Whether for firing, heat treatment and materials handling plant and equipment or for process plant in potentially explosive atmospheres: modern control systems must be designed to take safety aspects fully into consideration. This is a requirement of many standards and regulations, including the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV), the EU Machinery and Pressure Equipment Directives and the German Hazardous Incidents Ordinance (StFV).
A proof of safety has to be provided for each newly-installed or modified plant. The entire control system is assessed, starting with the selection of the correct sensors, the arithmetic logic unit (SSPS/control system), the actuators and the communication paths (analog signal transmission/bus system). Mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic components are also included in the assessment.
Safety-related systems are intended to achieve and maintain a safe state of plant, equipment and processes, and safety management systems ensure this.
"We expect that the aspect of functional safety will be included in yet more standards and regulations in years to come", says Rüdiger Bock, product manager at TÜV NORD Systems. “In our work, we aim to determine the risk originating from plant and equipment in order to assess if control systems have been correctly designed." The assessment service offers clients an overview of measures that are necessary so that they can operate their plans safely while maintaining function over the long term.
The experts from TÜV NORD Systems are specialists in EU directives and other relevant regulations and standards, taking the particular aspect of functional safety into consideration.
About TÜV NORD Group
With more than 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD Group is one of the largest technical service providers in Germany. It also operates in over 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Group owes its leading market position to its technical competence and a broad range of advisory, service, and testing services in the Mobility, Industrial Services, International, Natural Resources and Training and Human Resources fields. TÜV NORD Group is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: "Making our world safer".
www.tuv-nord.com
About TÜV NORD Systems
TÜV NORD Systems plays a leading role in the inspection of technical plant and equipment, providing advisory services on basic questions of engineering and technology and also specific inspections, evaluations and assessments. As an approved inspection body (ZÜS), TÜV NORD systems offers its inspection services all over Germany, focusing particularly on pressure equipment subject to mandatory surveillance, system technology, electrical and control technology, materials handling, tank equipment and materials engineering. Experts from the company also work throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
www.tuev-nord.de/en/INDUSTRY_3404.htm
Contact for this press release:
TÜV NORD Group
Jochen May Telephone +49 (0)511 986-1324, Fax -28991324
media@tuv-nord.com
Web: www.tuev-nord.de/en/PRESS_569.htm
E-mail subscription to press releases:
www.tuev-nord.de/en/press/Press_info_subscription_10544.htm
