Presenter (from left to right) – Johan Maritz and Kevin Preston.
On 16 May 2019 Kevin Preston from Phoenix Contact gave a very interesting and explanatory presentation on SIL (functional safety).
Safety Integrity Level (SIL) is by definition a relative level of risk-reduction provided by a specified safety function, as well as a factor used to specify a target level of risk reduction. The standards for SIL are specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in IEC 61508. As with all the technologies in our field, functional safety and the standards surrounding it have also evolved along with our technologies, which can be expected, as with more functionality we have more risk and thus we require more governance and guidance. Kevin took us through the historical timeline of functional safety and the functional safety standards along with delving into the theory and calculations behind functional safety, the functional safety life cycle, SIL loops, hardware fault tolerance, architectural constraints, types of faults, probability of failure on demand and all the various other considerations and factors that we need to take into account when we are discussing and executing functional safety. The topic of functional safety is quite a mouthful, but Kevin presented it to us in an understandable and interesting manner.
Lucky Draw Winner (from left to right) – Johan Maritz and Veolin Pillay.
We would like to thank Kevin Preston for his informative and interesting presentation.
All Instrumentation and Control related mechanicians, technicians and/or engineers are more than welcome to attend our monthly Technology Events in 2019, the planned dates for the rest of the year are:
• Thursday 11 July 2019
• Thursday 1 August 2019
• Thursday 5 September 2019
• Thursday 3 October 2019
• Thursday 7 November 2019
All the Secunda SAIMC presentations will earn CPD points for ECSA-registered persons and any enquiries can be directed to the branch chairman Johan Maritz on cell number +27 82 856 3865.
High Tea 2019
The SAIMC Secunda Branch is hosting their fourth annual Ladies High Tea on the 26th of July 2019. Should any ladies like to attend the event they are welcome to contact Lezahn Meiring on lezahnmeiring@gmail.com or +27 84 440 7787. Anyone that would like to contribute to the event is also welcome to contact Lezahn.
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