An overview of IEC draft standard: 'Functional safety of programmable electronic systems'

An overview of the International Electrotechnical Commission draft standard for computer-based systems, generally referred to as programmable electronic systems (PESs), which are increasingly being used in safety-related applications, is presented. The scope of the standard, which includes the safety integrity and reliability terms, the safety-related systems concept, the separation of risk and safety integrity, the system and software integrity levels and the safety life cycle concept, is described. Key issues remaining to be resolved are also presented.<>