1.1 This International Standard covers those aspects to be considered when
electrical/electronic/programmable electronic systems (E/E/PESs) are used to carry out safety
functions. A major objective of this standard is to facilitate the development of application
sector international standards by the technical committees responsible for the application
sector. This will allow all the relevant factors, associated with the application, to be fully taken
into account and thereby meet the specific needs of the application sector. A dual objective of
this standard is to enable the development of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic
(E/E/PE) safety-related systems where application sector international standards may not exist.
1.2 In particular, this standard
a) applies to safety-related systems when one or more of such systems incorporates
NOTE 1 - In the context of low complexity EIEIPE safety-related systems, certain requirements specified in this
standard may be unnecessary, and exemption from compliance with such requirements is possible (see 4.2, and
the definition of a low complexity EIEIPE safety-related system in 3.4.4 of IEC 61508-4).
NOTE 2 - Although a person can form part of a safety-related system (see 3.4.1 of IEC 61508-4), human factor
requirements related to the design of E/E/PE safety-related systems are not considered in detail in this standard.
electrical/electronic/programmable electronic devices;
b) is generically-based and applicable to all E/E/PE safety-relate d systems irrespective of the
a p pl ?cat ion ;
c) covers possible hazards caused by failures of the safety functions to be performed by
E/E/PE safety-related systems, as distinct from hazards arising from the E/E/PE equipment
itself (for example electric shock etc);
d) does not cover E/E/PE systems where
- a single E/E/PE system is capable of providing the necessary risk reduction, and
- the required safety integrity of the E/E/PE system is less than that specified for safety
integrity level 1 (the lowest safety integrity level in this standard).
e) is mainly concerned with the E/E/PE safety-related systems whose failure could have an
impact on the safety of persons and/or the environment; however, it is recognized that the
consequences of failure could also have serious economic implications and in such cases
this standard could be used to specify any E/E/PE system used for the protection of
equipment or product;
EN 61508-1:2001 history
2010EN 61508-1:2010 Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems - Part 1: General requirements
2001EN 61508-1:2001 FUNCTIONAL SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC/PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC SAFETY-RELATED SYSTEMS - Part 1: General requirements