AS 61508.7-2011 PDF
Name in English:
St AS 61508.7-2011
Name in Russian:
Ст AS 61508.7-2011
Original standard AS 61508.7-2011 in PDF full version. Additional info + preview on request
Full title and description
AS 61508.7-2011 — Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems, Part 7: Overview of techniques and measures. This Australian adoption (Standards Australia) reproduces the Part 7 content of IEC 61508 (Edition 2) to provide an overview of techniques and measures relevant to the specification, design and assessment of E/E/PE safety-related systems.
Abstract
Part 7 of the AS 61508 series gives a structured overview of techniques and measures that can be applied to control random hardware failures and support functional safety for electrical/electronic/programmable electronic (E/E/PE) safety-related systems. It summarizes diagnostic, architectural, maintenance and lifecycle measures and explains how these techniques relate to the requirements given in AS 61508.2 and AS 61508.3.
General information
- Status: Current / Active (reconfirmed in Standards listings).
- Publication date: 2011 (AS edition adopting IEC 61508-7:2010).
- Publisher: Standards Australia.
- ICS / categories: Functional safety; electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems; industrial process safety (ICS classifications align with IEC 61508 series).
- Edition / version: 2nd edition (AS 61508.7-2011 — adopting IEC 61508-7 Ed.2:2010).
- Number of pages: 136 pages (AS product listing).
Scope
AS 61508.7-2011 provides an overview — not prescriptive requirements — of the techniques and measures used to achieve and maintain functional safety for E/E/PE safety-related systems. It supports the requirements and detailed application guidance in other parts of the AS 61508 series by describing available approaches (architectural, diagnostic, maintenance and procedural) for controlling random hardware failures and contributing to compliance with safety integrity level (SIL) objectives.
Key topics and requirements
- Overview of techniques and measures for control of random hardware failures (diagnostics, redundancy, fail-safe behaviours).
- Architectural design measures and guidelines for selecting appropriate architectures to meet SIL targets.
- Diagnostic coverage concepts and common diagnostic techniques (e.g., plausibility checks, monitoring, self-tests).
- Measures addressing systematic capability and lifecycle activities that affect functional safety.
- Informative annexes summarizing techniques and their intended effect on safety performance.
Typical use and users
Engineers and designers of safety-related control systems, functional safety managers, system integrators, safety assessors and certification bodies use AS 61508.7-2011 as a high-level reference to select and justify techniques and measures during concept, design and verification phases. It is used across multiple industries (process, manufacturing, machinery, etc.) wherever AS/IEC 61508 is applied.
Related standards
AS 61508.7-2011 is part of the AS 61508 series and is used together with other parts such as AS 61508.1, AS 61508.2, AS 61508.3, AS 61508.4 and AS 61508.6 (2011 editions). It is the Australian adoption of IEC 61508-7:2010 and is referenced by and cross-referenced with various national and sector standards dealing with safety instrumented systems and machinery safety.
Keywords
functional safety, E/E/PE, safety-related systems, techniques and measures, diagnostics, redundancy, safety integrity level (SIL), architecture, Standards Australia, IEC 61508-7.
FAQ
Q: What is this standard?
A: AS 61508.7-2011 is the Standards Australia adoption of Part 7 of the IEC 61508 functional safety standard series; it provides an overview of techniques and measures relevant to E/E/PE safety-related systems.
Q: What does it cover?
A: It summarizes techniques for controlling random hardware failures, diagnostic and architectural measures, and lifecycle considerations that support meeting SIL objectives; it does not replace the prescriptive requirements in AS 61508.2 or AS 61508.3 but complements them.
Q: Who typically uses it?
A: Safety engineers, system designers, integrators, assessors and certification professionals across industries that apply functional safety principles (process, machinery, manufacturing, etc.).
Q: Is it current or superseded?
A: AS 61508.7-2011 is the 2011 (second) edition and is listed as current in standards catalogues (it incorporates IEC 61508-7:2010 material). Users should check with Standards Australia or their national standards body for any later reconfirmation or amendments.
Q: Is it part of a series?
A: Yes — it is Part 7 of the AS 61508 / IEC 61508 series; other parts provide requirements, application guidance and definitions (for example, AS 61508.2 and AS 61508.3 cover requirements for hardware and software respectively).
Q: What are the key keywords?
A: Functional safety, E/E/PE, safety-related systems, techniques and measures, diagnostics, redundancy, safety integrity level (SIL), architecture, lifecycle.