What Is IEC 61508?

IEC 61508 is not mandatory by law but serves as a widely recognized international standard for functional safety in the design of electronic systems. While adherence to IEC 61508 is voluntary, many industries, particularly those involving safety-critical systems, choose to follow it to ensure a systematic and rigorous approach to functional safety in software testing.

IEC 61508 consists of seven parts, covering different aspects of functional safety. These parts include general requirements, hardware aspects, software aspects, and overall system aspects to ensure safety in the development of electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic safety systems.

The risk assessment in IEC 61508 involves evaluating the impact and likelihood of potential hazards associated with a system. It helps determine the required safety integrity levels (SIL) and guides the development of safety measures to mitigate risks.

The four safety integrity levels (SIL) defined by IEC 61508 are SIL 1, SIL 2, SIL 3, and SIL 4. Each level represents a different level of risk reduction, with SIL 4 offering the highest level of integrity.

ISO 26262 focuses on functional safety in the automotive industry, while IEC 61508 is a broader standard addressing functional safety in various industries, including automotive, nuclear, and industrial applications.