Siemens S5-155U System Manual page 5

Warning
Risks involved in the use of so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules of non-Siemens
manufacture
"The manufacturer of a product (SIMATIC in this case) is under the general obligation to give
warning of possible risks attached to his product. This obligation has been extended in recent
court rulings to include parts supplied by other vendors. Accordingly, the manufacturer is obliged
to observe and recognize such hazards as may arise when a product is combined with products
of other manufacture.
For this reason, we feel obliged to warn our customers who use SIMATIC products not to
install so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules of other manufacture in the form of
replacement or add-on modules in SIMATIC systems.
Our products undergo a strict quality assurance procedure. We have no knowledge as to
whether outside manufacturers of so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules have any quality
assurance at all or one that is nearly equivalent to ours. These so-called SIMATIC-compatible
modules are not marketed in agreement with Siemens; we have never recommended the use of
so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules of other manufacture. The advertising of these other
manufacturers of so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules wrongly creates the impression that
the subject advertised in periodicals, catalogs or at exhibitions had been agreed with us. Where
so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules of non-Siemens manufacture are combined with our
SIMATIC automation systems, we have a case of our product being used contrary to recommen-
dations. Because of the variety of applications of our SIMATIC automation systems and the large
number of these products marketed worldwide, we cannot give a concrete description specifi-
cally analyzing the hazards created by these so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules. It is be-
yond the manufacturer's capabilities to have all these so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules
checked for their effect on our SIMATIC products. If the use of so-called SIMATIC-compatible
modules leads to defects in a SIMATIC automation system, no warranty for such systems will be
given by Siemens.
In the event of product liability damages due to the use of so-called SIMATIC-compatible mo-
dules, Siemens are not liable since we took timely action in warning users of the potential ha-
zards involved in so-called SIMATIC-compatible modules."
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