The company points out that IEC 61508 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. It is keen to reiterate that a 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 says it can produce an authenticated meaningful data set for any component of a system, so that a system designer can justify the SIL for the complete system.

Further information on how Baseefa can help with IEC61508 certification

CASS (Conformity Assessment of Safety-related Systems) is a certification scheme designed to offer “a rigorous and internationally acceptable structure under which consistent certification of safety related systems can take place”. It has been created as a not-for-profit company, managed by an elected board. Members include associations representing manufacturers, designers, installers, users, certifiers or regulators of safety related systems.

CASS covers all industry sectors including process, aerospace and transport and the scheme is operated through independent third-party certification bodies, accredited to the European and International accreditation standards.

CASS says it is an initiative “designed to provide an overall safety framework, which includes the use of recognised safety standards and competent assessors”. Its objective to develop a conformity assessment scheme meeting the requirements of IEC 61508, enabling the safety systems industry (manufacturers, integrators and end users) to collaborate in order to improve its competitive position.

For further information and to see if the CASS certification scheme might improve your IEC61508 certification, start at About The CASS Scheme where there’s also a free introductory brochure to download.