2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of ABB awarding its first TÜV Rheinland certification in the development of a compliant Functional Safety Management (FSM) system for the execution of Safety Instrumented System (SIS) projects in accordance with the IEC 615108 and IEC 61511 safety related standards. ABB recognizes TÜV Rheinland as a leading world specialist in the assessment and certification of organizations and products to safety standards in addition to individual competency certification schemes.
In 2009, ABB launched its internal programme of TÜV Rheinland certificated Safety Execution Centers (SECs) with a first wave of 10 certified global locations utilizing an in-country local TÜV Rheinland certification model. Over the last 10 years, the ABB SECs have continued to develop and expand their functional safety capabilities to address their customer needs. There are now certificated SECs located within every region supporting high hazard industrial sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and power generation.
The SECs continue to provide customers with local competent Functional Safety (FS) resources for SIS operation and maintenance, project execution, design, engineering, and install base modifications and retrofits using ABB’s SIL 3 capable safety technology platforms. ABB supplies safety related systems in accordance with good practice standards and robust designs and have the testing, verification and maintenance processes in place to ensure that critical safety systems are installed fit-for-purpose and will work properly when demands are placed upon them.
ABB has worked collaboratively with the TÜV Rheinland organization since 2006 to develop and implement FSM and support the drive for functional safety excellence as ‘best in class’. TÜV Rheinland provides independent accredited certification for ABB’s functional safety management system design and engineering requirements for industry.
ABB is entering a new chapter of FSM implementation evolution with the development of a novel ‘Centralized Group FSM Certificate’ which continues to provide conformity to any local relevant legislation and standards, local cultural, regulatory and ‘good engineering’ practice requirements. In doing so, in-country resident competent FS resources continue to be retained so that our customers can rely upon demonstrable competency being readily available to execute projects and maintain the installed SIS in the operational lifecycle phase.
This further supports ABB’s ongoing commitment to streamline the FSM processes to meet our customer’s needs while remaining in accordance with the changes to standards and industry best practices. The newly issued TÜV Rheinland ABB Energy industries centralized certificate covers a more thorough scope of the IEC 61511 safety lifecycle requirements to support our customers in the areas of:
- Phase 4 - Design and engineering of SIS
- Phase 6 - SIS Services for Operations and maintenance of SIS
- Phase 7 - SIS Services for Modification of installed SIS
ABB continues to underpin its ‘systematic capability’ claims to support the argument that FSM effectiveness can only be measured based on competent third-party assessment findings. This level of independence is required to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of the relevant safety standards. When it comes to our customers selecting a supplier to design, engineer, service and verify the adequacy of a SIS solution.
“ABB Energy Industries continues to ensure our customer requirements for the design, engineering and service of installed SIS which supports the need for compliance with relevant safety standards and industry expectations. Essentially, ABB is the trusted partner of choice to deliver the safety related resources, technical know-how and technology platforms to help our customers operate their plants in a profitable, safe and secure manufacturing environment.” - John Walkington and Steinar Oimoen, Members of the Global Functional Safety Team for ABB
“ABB has a proven track record regarding the FSM certification scope of supply in accordance with the relevant safety standards. Having worked with the ABB organization for over 10 years, TUV Rheinland recognize the achievements ABB have made in this time to continually develop and implement robust FSM systems in accordance with certification rules. The recent development of a group centralized certificate is now a natural evolution in the process regarding the provision of effective and independent certification services provided by TUV Rheinland.” - Dr. Thorsten Gantevoort, Head of Certification Body for FSM Certification TÜV Rheinland worldwide
Within ABB, the entire FSM internal procedural development, technical support and governance of the ABB FSM programme is managed by an internally independent ‘centre of excellence’ operating as a defined ‘FSM Technical Authority’ (FSM TA) comprising FS Expert resources engaged from several locations. The FSM TA therefore ensures that locations functioning within the ABB FSM programme follow the necessary requirements in supporting the commitment to ensure internal FS policies are successfully implemented.
For more information on ABB's Functional Safety training course offering please visit: https://new.abb.com/service/abb-university/uk
