Functional Safety — definition
Functional safety is the part of overall machine safety that depends on control systems, sensors and logic operating correctly to detect hazards and bring equipment to a safe state.
It is typically assessed using standards such as ISO 13849 or IEC 62061, which define required performance levels or safety integrity levels for safety functions such as emergency stop, guard interlocking and speed monitoring. Functional safety design covers both hardware architecture and software behaviour.
Why it matters to industrial buyers
Specifying required safety performance levels up front helps buyers ensure safety functions match the actual risk level of the process, avoiding both under- and over-engineering.
Key reference points
Common standards
ISO 13849 and IEC 62061 are commonly referenced standards for safety-related control system design.
Validation
Functional safety validation typically includes testing of safety functions under fault-injection conditions.
Commonly confused with
machine guarding
Guarding is a physical barrier measure; functional safety concerns control-system behaviour that detects hazards and initiates safe states.
How it is used in practice
The robotic cell's light curtain and safety-rated PLC were specified to achieve a defined performance level under functional safety requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is functional safety only relevant to robots?
No, it applies to any machine safety function implemented through control systems, from interlocked guards to pressure relief logic.
Who validates functional safety?
Typically a competent safety engineer, often supported by third-party certification for higher-risk applications.
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Related terms
CE Marking
CE marking is a manufacturer's declaration, indicated by a specific symbol, that a machine placed on the European Economic Area market complies with applicable EU health, safety and environmental directives.
Machinery Directive
Machinery Directive is the European Union legal framework setting essential health and safety requirements that machinery must satisfy before being placed on the EEA market.
Industrial Robot
Industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in multiple axes, used for material handling, assembly, welding, packaging or similar manufacturing tasks.
Collaborative Robot (Cobot)
Collaborative Robot (cobot) is a robot designed with features such as force limiting and speed monitoring that allow it to operate in shared workspace with human operators without full physical guarding.
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is an industrial digital computer designed to execute control logic reliably in real time for machinery and process automation in harsh factory environments.
Retrofit Engineering
Retrofit engineering is the design and installation of upgraded components, controls or subsystems into existing machinery to extend service life, improve performance or meet updated standards.
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Reference content only. Global B2B Group is independent of equipment manufacturers and financing institutions; definitions are provided for education and do not constitute engineering, financial or legal advice.