Baseefa works with its customers to assist them to gain an understanding of IEC 61508 and also to provide them with a certified data set according to the standard.
The standard is written on a cradle-to-grave approach for complete safety systems, but has often been misused to award spurious “SIL” numbers to individual items of hardware. Safety Integrity Level (SIL) can only be applied to a complete system and not to a component of such a system.
By using the CASS Methodology approved by the UK experts who work with IEC 61508 systems, Baseefa can produce an authenticated meaningful data set for any component of a system, so that the system designer can justify the SIL for the complete system.
The standard itself can be a nightmare to try to digest, but Baseefa can guide you through it to the parts that are relevant for your particular equipment.
IEC 61508 is relevant for manufacturers of hazardous area equipment in two areas:
EN 13463-6 “Control of Ignition Sources” uses the standard as a reference for the reliability of the controlling function.
The ATEX Directive requires the effectiveness of “Safety Related Devices” to be assessed.
Let Baseefa help you to gain authoritative documentation in Functional Safety.
For additional information, please also see our document Application & Extension of EN13980 in the Field of Production Certification to the IEC 61508 Series of Standards (P016) 
