SIL 2 safety architecture receives TÜV certification

By Control Engineering Staff

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MTL Open System Technologies (Most), part of the MTL Instruments Group, announced certification of the SafetyNet Functional Safety System by TÜV Rheinland for use in SIL 2 safety functions. SafetyNet meets the safety needs of burner management (BMS) and emergency shut-down (ESD) applications.

It reportedly provides a SIL-2 level solution for BMS or ESD applications without requiring redundant I/O or redundant controllers. Nevertheless, redundant controllers can always be added to the system to provide greater system availability at a later date.

SafetyNet is built on the same control platform as the Most process automation system, enabling addressing of process control and functional safety needs with the same control platform. “A single SafetyNet Workbench can be used to develop both process control and functional safety applications,” according to Most’s vice president of marketing, Dave Reynolds. “Static analysis tools are provided to assist in the verification and validation of the safety strategy.

“SIL 2 systems are meeting a growing number of safety system requirements in process plants as users are trying to reduce the hazards in their plants to acceptable levels,” Reynolds explained. “Many companies have determined that if an operation requires a SIL 3 rating, then it’s too hazardous and needs to be redesigned. After working to reduce the risks in their plants to SIL 2 or lower, customers are then looking to optimize their investments in safety related systems with the appropriate level of risk reduction. In these applications, a SIL 2 safety system provides a very cost effective solution.”

— Richard Phelps , senior editor, Control Engineering