Define functional safety in today's systems

Functional safety is all about reducing the risk of simple and complex systems so that they can operate safely in the event of an electronic or electrical anomaly. As more and more products incorporate complex microelectronic devices and software into their designs, it becomes increasingly challenging for quality and safety engineers to assess and achieve functional safety at the system level. An example is as follows:

Autonomous vehicle

Machine safety and robotics

Industrial Control Systems (ICS)

Consumer smart home products

Smart factories and supply chains

Safety instrumentation systems and hazardous site control systems

How does UL Solutions help shape the functional safety landscape

UL Solutions is committed to helping customers meet today's complex technical and regulatory challenges in functional safety. With extensive certification expertise and a holistic approach to safety engineering and assessment, we can help our customers identify, specify and determine whether the functional safety of products and systems meets key standards and grading requirements, such as:

Safety Integrity Level (SIL) as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61508, which is designed for the process, gas and oil and petrochemical industries. Other industry standards have also been developed, including:

Safety of machinery as defined by IEC/EN 62061, ISO 13849 and EN 15194

Process Industrial Safety Instrumentation Systems (SIS) as defined by IEC 61511 and ISA 84 (approved ANSI/ISA-61511)

Electric drive systems as defined by IEC 61800-5-2

Programmable controllers as defined by IEC 61131-6

EN 50126, EN 50128, EN 50129, EN 50155 and EN 50657 and railway application facilities as defined by IEC standards (IEC 62278, IEC 62279 and IEC 62425)

Power distribution as defined in the UL 9540 Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment and IEC 62619

Safety-related equipment for hazardous sites as defined in the ATEX directives EN 50495, EN 50271 and EN 1755

Safety software for commercial electrical appliances and tools is defined in standards such as IEC 62841, UL 991 Test Standard for safety-related Control Devices for solid-state Devices, UL 1998 Software standard for Programmable Components, and IEC/UL 60730-1 Appendix H

Performance levels (PL) as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 13849

Level of control function as defined by IEC/UL 60730-1.

Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) as defined by ISO 26262

Automated driving safety as defined by ISO 21448 and UL 4600 (Automated Driving Product Evaluation Standard)

Partner with UL Solutions to realize the benefits of automotive and industrial functional safety

With our scientific knowledge and engineering expertise in multiple functional safety areas, including automation and machinery, signaling and alarm systems, medical devices, automotive, autonomous driving, lighting and appliances, we will be a trusted global partner for our customers to address their safety challenges and specific market needs.

Manufacturers, system integrators and suppliers around the world can take advantage of our services, combining traditional UL Solutions product safety investigations with our functional safety assessments to increase project efficiency and speed to market.

Regardless of the needs or challenges, we can help validate a product-specific assessment process based on the reason for the functional safety assessment and/or the intended use of the product.

Some EU directives require functional safety assessments for specific products. Unions and regulators such as OSHA also require or encourage functional safety assessments in addition to traditional safety assessments. Insurance companies may also require customers to perform a functional safety assessment before installing equipment into the workplace and may offer premium discounts to customers who use products that have undergone a functional safety assessment. We are qualified to help our customers strengthen their differentiated market advantage through the use of the UL mark, a world-renowned certification mark.

The UL Functional Safety mark can indicate global, U.S., Canadian, or European suitability. We are a certified body accredited by the UK Royal Accreditation Commission (UKAS) and a Notified Body (NB) of the European Union (EU) Machinery Directive. Our functional safety marks directly align safety levels (such as SIL or PL) with the UL mark, making it easier for users and interested parties to understand exactly what and how products and/or features are certified.

Functional Safety (FUSA) certification program

In addition, UL Solutions offers a personnel certification program in functional safety.

UL's Functional Safety Certification program is designed to provide individuals with proven knowledge and skills that are critical to functional safety and help them secure the opportunity to excel. Individuals who are certified in this field are shown to have relevant industry practical skills. Certification levels include:

UL Certified Functional Safety Professional (UL-CFSP)

UL Certified Functional Safety Specialist (UL-CFSX)

There is currently training and certification in general motors, semiconductors, autonomous driving, machinery, industrial automation, cybersecurity and high technology. Corresponding standards include ISO 26262, ISO 21448, IEC 61508, ISO 13849, UL/IEC 60730, UL 1998, UL 991, SAE 3061, ISO 21434, IEC 62443, SAE 3016, and UL 4600.