Guideline for assessment of "safety-related programmable control systems for universal usage in the event business" (SPCUE)

Status:

completed 09/2006

Aims:

Numerous new provisions of substantial relevance to technology have appeared in international standards in relation to the use of complex electronics and software in safety-related applications. At the same time, the content of the standards which have been created is highly complex. Specific aspects of the requirements demand intimate familiarity with the principles and methodology. These standards are also intended for application in the area of stage and event technology, for example in television studios, theatres, musicals and concerts. The aim of this project was to create simplified guidelines to assist manufacturers, users and standards committees in the field in development and testing safety-related control systems in the area of application referred to.

Activities/Methods:

A guideline was created which presents the relevant requirements of the DIN EN 61508 series of standards, "Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems", in a comprehensible and user-friendly manner. Consultation was also provided to a standards committee with a view to estimate the safety integrity more simply.

Results:

The 48-page guideline considers all essential safety aspects of SPCUE, specifically: avoidance of systematic failures; design and development of control hardware; safety integrity; embedded software; application software; parameterization; operation and maintenance; and measures and test procedures for modifications. The guidelines fitness for use must be examined by the initiator of the project, the expert committee Administration, when applied in relation to specific consultancy and tests.

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