This International Standard specifies requirements and makes recommendations for the design, integration and validation of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems (SRECS) for machines (see Notes 1 and 2). It is applicable to control systems used, either singly or in combination, to carry out safety-related control functions on machines that are not portable by hand while working, including a group of machines working together in a co-ordinated manner.
NOTE 1 In this standard, the term “electrical control systems” is used to stand for ”Electrical, Electronic and Programmable Electronic (E/E/PE) control systems” and “SRECS” is used to stand for “safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems”.
NOTE 2 In this standard, it is presumed that the design of complex programmable electronic subsystems or subsystem elements conforms to the relevant requirements of IEC 61508. This standard provides a methodology for the use, rather than development, of such subsystems and subsystem elements as part of a SRECS.
This standard is an application standard and is not intended to limit or inhibit technological advancement. It does not cover all the requirements (e.g. guarding, non-electrical interlocking or non-electrical control) that are needed or required by other standards or regulations in order to safeguard persons from hazards. Each type of machine has unique requirements to be satisfied to provide adequate safety.