The Fieldbus Foundation (FF) has announced that TUV Anlagentechnik GmbH, Automation, Software and Information Technology, an independent and accredited testing agency, has approved its Safety Instrumented Systems (FF-SIS) system concept. The FF-SIS project was initiated by end users and approved by the foundation board of directors in October 2002 and the TUV approval now clears the way for validation of the FF-SIS technical specifications during 2004. Under the direction of the Fieldbus Foundation Technical Steering Committee, senior technologists and end users from foundation member companies collaborated on the FF-SIS project plan and developed a system architecture and draft specifications to meet the TUV requirements. Companies on the FF-SIS development team include: ABB, DuPont, Emerson Process Management, ExxonMobil, HIMA, Honeywell, Invensys/Triconex, Metso Automation, Rockwell Automation, Rotork Control Systems, Saudi Aramco, Shell Global Solutions, Smar, Softing, TUV and Yokogawa. The specifications will enable instrumentation suppliers to build a wide range of devices that comply with IEC 61508 and end users to evaluate the requirements for their safety instrumented systems according to the IEC 61511 standard. In addition, such an open solution means that end users will be able to choose certified instruments from multiple suppliers instead of being restricted to devices specifically designed for a proprietary safety instrumented system and that suppliers will be able to sell their products to more users, instead of only to users operating a proprietary system.
