ISO 13849-1 Explained: Functional Safety and Compliance for Industrial Test Equipment
Functional safety is a critical aspect of modern industrial equipment. ISO 13849-1 sets the global benchmark for designing safe control systems used in machinery. For testing equipment — including chambers, vibration systems, and automated benches — it ensures that both operators and devices are protected under fault conditions.
What is ISO 13849-1?
ISO 13849-1 defines how to evaluate and design the Safety-Related Parts of Control Systems (SRP/CS). It assigns a Performance Level (PL) from “a” to “e” based on factors like:
System architecture
Mean Time to Dangerous Failure (MTTFd)
Diagnostic Coverage (DC)
Common Cause Failure (CCF)
Why It Matters for Test Equipment
Even non-production machines like chambers or vibration tables involve risks: high temperature, mechanical motion, or electrical actuation. ISO 13849-1 ensures those systems prevent accidents through fail-safe design, monitoring, and redundancy.
How We Implement ISO 13849-1
Define Safety Functions – e.g., lock chamber door when temperature >60°C.
Select PL-verified components – with proper MTTFd, DC, and CCF values.
SISTEMA Validation – We use this tool for PL calculation and documentation.
Redundant Design – Especially for critical functions like motor cutoff, brakes, etc.
Typical Safety Functions in Our Equipment
| Equipment | Function | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal Chamber | High-temp door lock | PL d |
| Vibration System | Emergency stop + brake | PL e |
| Salt Spray Tester | Leak sensor shutdown | PL c |
ISO 13849-1 vs. IEC 62061
| Feature | ISO 13849-1 | IEC 62061 |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | PL-based | SIL-based |
| Use Case | Machinery, test chambers | Complex automation |
Is It Mandatory?
For CE marking in the EU, ISO 13849-1 is harmonized under the Machinery Directive, providing a presumption of conformity. In the U.S., it’s referenced by ANSI B11.19 and others, though not strictly mandated by OSHA.
Your Compliance Partner
We design all our machines — chambers, vibration systems, and automation — with functional safety in mind. We help you meet or exceed ISO 13849-1 standards and assist with CE documentation or technical files.
See our compliant machines
Reach us at marketing@aslitesting.com
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ISO 13849-1 Explained: Functional Safety and Compliance for Industrial Test Equipment
