This article was printed in CONTROL's August 2009 edition.
Every month, Control's editors take a specific product area, collect all the latest, significant tools we can find, and present them here to make your job easier. If you know of any tools and resources we didn't include, send them to [email protected], and we'll add them to the website.
Omron Scientific Technologies Inc.
800/479-3658
The "Guide to DeviceNet Safety Systems" produced by Omron Scientific Technologies is a fully illustrated guide describing the benefits of implementing a DeviceNet safety network in a variety of machine safety situations, including standalone safety applications or distributed safety control systems. The guide also details Omron STI's family of safety network controllers, safety I/O terminals, EtherNet/IP-DeviceNet routers, accessories and network configuration software.
Pepperl+Fuchs
330/486.0002
Pepperl+Fuchs is hosting "The Fundamentals of Intrinsic Safety (Ex)" on Aug. 19, 2009, at the company's training facility in Houston, Tex. This seminar provides an in-depth look at the theory behind Intrinsic Safety (Ex) protection and its application in the process industry. It also provides a foundation for understanding the differences between zener diode barriers and galvanic isolators, the core fundamentals of approvals, certifications, control drawings and installation techniques, and includes a segment on safety integrity levels and how they relate to the process industry and hazardous location systems. Attendees will earn Professional Development Hours. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/mt9u8c.
Siemens Energy & Automation
800/964-4114
Siemens Energy & Automation offers a free guide to its Simatic Safety Matrix, a comprehensive safety lifecycle tool for safety instrumented systems. The eight-page brochure covers how plants can reduce costs while meeting safety compliance objectives by merging typical safety instrumented systems, engineering, development and operational tools. To receive a copy of the guide log on to http://tinyurl.com/kwftlp.
B&R Industrial Automation
770/772-0400
The SafeDesigner development and configuration tool is an integrated device for programming safety-related functions from within Automation Studio development environment. With this tool, the safety application is reduced to virtual wiring of logical function blocks. Users have a library certified by TÜV Rheinland with 20 function blocks for machine automation available to them. All function blocks correspond to the PLCopen standard.
General Monitors
866/686-0741
White paper, "Industrial Safety Systems with Redundant Communications Networks" from General Monitors discusses advances in industrial safety systems for oil and gas applications with emphasis on the design and deployment of dual-redundant serial communications networks for industrial safety instruments. A direct link to the paper is at http://tinyurl.com/nuxls8.
PAControl.com
This website contains comprehensive information on safety instrumented systems, including fundamentals, explanations of SIL levels, safety lifecyle management, and drawings and explanations Also covered are the IEC standard, various product lines, and a collection of useful links with more information. The direct link is at www.pacontrol.com/safety.html.
