TÜV approves Fieldbus Foundation’s FF-SIS concept

Austin, TX — The Fieldbus Foundation (FF) has announced that TÜV Anlagentechnik GmbH recently approved its Safety Instrumented Systems (FF-SIS) system concept. The FF-SIS project was initiated by end-users and approved by FF’s board of directors in October 2002. TÜV’s approval clears the way for validation of FF-SIS’ technical specifications during 2004. TÜV is a global, independent, accredited testing agency focusing on automation, software, and information technologies.

FF reports that FOUNDATION fieldbus, with its distributed function blocks and open communications protocol, is an ideal platform for advancing standards-based safety instrumented systems technology. The foundation, in conjunction with leading device manufacturers and end-users, is developing specifications and guidelines that comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61508 standard, which covers functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems, as well as IEC 61511, which covers functional safety of instrumented systems for the process industries.

Under the direction of the foundation’s Technical Steering Committee, senior technologists and end-users from FF’s member companies collaborated on the FF-SIS project plan and developed a system architecture and draft specifications to meet the TÜV requirements. Companies on the FF-SIS development team include ABB, DuPont, Emerson Process Management, ExxonMobil, HIMA, Honeywell, Invensys/Triconex, Metso Automation, Rockwell Automation, Rotork Control Systems, Saudi Aramco, Shell Global Solutions, Smar, Softing, TÜV, and Yokogawa.

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