Functional Safety
Safety-related functions in accordance with IEC 61511, throughout the entire lifecycle of your plant. We plan and implement functional safety in accordance with IEC 61511, from risk assessment through specification and verification to commissioning and operation. This is closely integrated with PLT, EMSR, and hardware and software engineering.
What we mean by Functional Safety
Functional safety is a central component of modern process engineering and is integrated throughout the entire lifecycle of a plant, from the initial analysis through planning and implementation to safe operation.
By incorporating safety-related aspects early on, risks are systematically reduced and the requirements of IEC 61511 are reliably met. We view functional safety not as an isolated discipline, but as an interdisciplinary team effort in which process engineering, instrumentation and control engineering, hardware engineering, and software engineering are seamlessly integrated throughout the entire process.
Interdisciplinary team
PLT, EMSR, hardware, and software work together from the risk assessment through commissioning. This results in safety functions that are designed with technical consistency and are verifiable throughout the entire system, without any loss of functionality at the interfaces between the different systems.
Certified expertise
Our engineers are TÜV-certified in the field of functional safety. Our software specialists also hold certifications for various automation and safety control systems, ensuring that specification, implementation, and verification are all handled under one roof.
Core competencies - all under one roof
Functional safety concepts
Design and architecture of safety-related functions in accordance with IEC 61511.
Hazard and risk assessment
HAZOP, PAAG, and LOPA: Structured identification and assessment of hazards.
SIL & verification services
SIL specification, PFD calculations, and safety integrity verification.
SIS Engineering
Design and planning of safety instrumented systems across all life cycle phases.
Software and hardware engineering
Implementation on a safety PLC, as well as field device and infrastructure planning.
We support our customers throughout the entire safety lifecycle in accordance with IEC 61511, with each phase documented in a traceable manner and ready for audit.
Functional safety throughout the entire lifecycle
01
Hazard and risk assessment (HAZOP)
HAZOP / PAAG / LOPA: Systematic identification and assessment of hazards.
02
Assignment of safety functions to safety levels
Definition of Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) and their protection layers.
03
Safety requirements specification (SRS)
A complete, verifiable requirements specification as the basis for design and verification.
04
SIL verification
Demonstration of the required safety integrity through PFD calculation and architectural assessment.
05
Design and planning of the SIS
Design of sensor systems, logic systems, and actuators, including cause-and-effect mapping.
06
Implementation in hardware and software
Hardware design and development of application and system software in accordance with IEC 61511.
07
Installation and Commissioning
Planning and support for the installation, wiring, and controlled commissioning of safety functions.
08
Validation and acceptance
Final validation against the SRS and documented acceptance up to SIL 2.
09
Operation, maintenance and modification
Proof-of-concept testing and support for changes throughout the entire operational phase.
Our services come into play wherever in-depth technical expertise, knowledge of standards, and engineering experience are required—not in isolation, but integrated into existing project and plant structures.
An Overview of Our Services
Specifications and planning
- SRS (Specification of Safety Requirements)
- FS Concepts
- PLT Safety Principles
Verification and reviews
- SIL Verification
- PFD Calculations
- Participation in FS Reviews
Hardware engineering
- Field Equipment Specifications
- Infrastructure and Installation Planning
- CAE-Supported Planning
Software engineering
- SIS Implementation
- Safety PLC (HIMA, Siemens)
- FAT/SAT Support
What sets our Safety Engineering apart
End-to-end security lifecycle
From specification through verification to operation and modification.
Implementation in accordance with IEC 61511
Audit-ready documents and traceable PFD calculations.
Clear specifications and documentation
Security integrity is consistently demonstrated and verifiable.
Interdisciplinary engineering
PLT, EMSR, hardware, and software—all from a single source.
Practical implementation at the facility
Tested in practice, not just on paper.
Extensive experience
In PLT, EMSR and software engineering.
Test object management
Test Object Management for Safety-Critical Systems
The structured recording and maintenance of safety-related inspection objects is a key component of standards-compliant inspection processes. Using tool-supported, SAP-integrated solutions, we create a consistent, audit-proof database covering the entire plant lifecycle, serving as a reliable foundation for inspections, audits, and the flexible adjustment of inspection intervals.
Consolidate inspection intervals, reduce inspection costs
We significantly reduce the annual testing effort for safety-related functions (SIFs), thereby increasing plant availability—based on a consistent data set and using SIL calculations that comply with IEC 61511.
Technically comparable safety functions are systematically classified and reevaluated. The result is either an optimized, extended inspection interval or a clear, standards-compliant justification in cases where an extension is not technically permissible.
- 1
Consistent database
Consolidation and quality assurance of safety-related data to provide a reliable foundation.
- 2
Systematic classification
Grouping of technically comparable safety functions to enable an efficient, uniform assessment.
- 3
SIL calculation
Recalculation of inspection intervals in accordance with IEC 61511 (calculation methodology per IEC 61508-6) for each function type.
- 4
Testing, commissioning and handover
- Functional, integration, and batch tests
- Safety tests and acceptance
- Documentation, training, structured handover
This is supported by an interdisciplinary team of certified functional safety engineers, hardware and software specialists, CAD and planning experts, as well as SIS, BPCS, and SAP specialists, which also enables the simultaneous handling of multiple sites.
Why work with Etteplan
Your added value at a glance
- Extensive experience in PLT, EMSR, and software engineering
- Interdisciplinary teams under one roof
- Compliance with standards throughout the entire lifecycle
- Capable of collaborating with operators, EPCs, and system integrators
- Projects are handled from start to finish
FAQ
Additional Services for Comprehensive Engineering
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Vice President, Service Solutions