DNV’S FUNCTIONAL SAFETY WHITEPAPER

Download our functional safety whitepaper

Explosive atmospheres are some of the most challenging and high-risk environments to operate in. Ensuring that safety-related systems perform reliably is not just good practice, it is essential for protecting lives, assets, and the environment.

This whitepaper offers expert guidance on implementing functional safety in Ex applications, with a focus on the requirements and principles outlined in IEC TS 60079-42.

In this whitepaper, you will learn how to:

• Understand how functional safety complements Ex protection methods and standards.
• Identify and evaluate ignition hazards through structured assessments.
• Apply the right Safety Integrity Level (SIL) based on operational risk scenarios.
• Navigate the full safety lifecycle, from hazard identification to ongoing verification.
• Ensure compliance with IEC 61508, IEC 61511, and EN 50495 standards.

Why download this whitepaper?

Whether you are involved in the design, integration, certification, or operation of equipment and assemblies in hazardous areas, this whitepaper offers practical, in-depth guidance tailored to the specific challenges of Ex environments. 

You should download it because you will discover how to:

• Design and verify safety-related control systems that manage ignition sources and meet the required Safety Integrity Level (SIL) under IEC 61508, IEC 61511, or EN ISO 13849.
• Understand when functional safety assessments are required, especially for applications that go beyond the protection capabilities defined in IEC 60079 standards, such as Ex ‘p’, Ex ‘b’, and Ex ‘o’ protection types.
• Link ignition hazard assessments to SIL requirements, using real-world scenarios to identify where simple or complex safety functions must be implemented and evaluated.
• Apply lifecycle-based safety engineering, covering all phases from hazard identification and risk reduction to installation, commissioning, operation, and modification, in line with IEC TS 60079-42 guidance.
• Ensure the compliance of safety functions within equipment, assemblies, and control systems, even in the absence of harmonized standards, by understanding how to structure functional safety assessments and documentation.

This whitepaper is an essential resource for those looking to elevate their functional safety strategy in line with international Ex requirements, supporting a structured, risk-based approach to ignition source control, safety integrity, and regulatory compliance.

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