Appendix; Standards And Regulations; General Information; Aims - Siemens SINAMICS G120 Function Manual

Appendix

A.1

Standards and regulations

A.1.1

General information

A.1.1.1

Aims

Manufacturers and operating companies of equipment, machines, and products are
responsible for ensuring the required level of safety. This means that plants, machines, and
other equipment must be designed to be as safe as possible in accordance with the current
state of the art. To ensure this, companies describe in the various standards the current
state of the art covering all aspects relevant to safety. When the relevant Standards are
observed, this ensures that state-of-the-art technology has been utilized and, in turn, the
erector/builder of a plant or a manufacturer of a machine or a piece of equipment has fulfilled
his appropriate responsibility.
Safety systems are designed to minimize potential hazards for both people and the
environment by means of suitable technical equipment, without restricting industrial
production and the use of machines more than is necessary. The protection of man and
environment must be assigned equal importance in all countries, which is it is important that
rules and regulations that have been internationally harmonized are applied. This is also
designed to avoid distortions in the competition due to different safety requirements in
different countries.
There are different concepts and requirements in the various regions and countries of the
world when it comes to ensuring the appropriate degree of safety. The legislation and the
requirements of how and when proof is to be given and whether there is an adequate level of
safety are just as different as the assignment of responsibilities.
The most important thing for manufacturers of machines and companies that set up plants
and systems is that the legislation and regulations in the country where the machine or plant
is being operated apply. For example, the control system for a machine that is to be used in
the US must fulfill local US requirements even if the machinery construction company (OEM)
is based in the European Economic Area (EEA).
A.1.1.2

Functional safety

Safety, from the perspective of the object to be protected, cannot be split-up. The causes of
hazards and, in turn, the technical measures to avoid them can vary significantly. This is why
a differentiation is made between different types of safety (e.g. by specifying the cause of
possible hazards). "Functional safety" is involved if safety depends on the correct function.
Safety Integrated Function Manual, SINAMICS G120
Function Manual, 07/2010, FW 4.3.2, A5E03052391B AA
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