What is IEC 62061?
What is IEC 62061? IEC 62061 is one of the functional safety standards for the machinery sector
IEC 62061:2021+A1:2024 was published as Edition 2 in 2021 with minor updates in 2024.
One of the objectives of IEC 61508 is to provide a framework for the development of industry sector international standards regarding functional safety. This ensures consistency with the approach and underlying principles laid down in IEC 61508 whilst allowing a more streamlined set of requirements to be tailored to a specific industry. Hence, IEC 62061 is one of the international functional safety standards for the machinery sector.
IEC 62061 is entitled ‘Safety of machinery – Functional safety of safety-related control systems’ and is published in a single part.
The CASS Scheme Association has templates relevant for the assessment of functional safety according to IEC 62061 (examples are CASS-061 and CASS-508-PLC). These are free to use and available via our downloads page.
The other functional safety standard for the machinery sector is ISO 13849-1:2023. This standard has some strong points but then also some very weak points, for example handling of full variability language (FVL) software and EMI / EMC. The CASS IEC 62061 templates can also be used to assess functional safety compliance to ISO 13849-1 (plenty of common aspects).
The standard has been written as a machinery sector approach derived from IEC 61508 but also now influenced by ISO 13849 (as ISO 13849 is also influenced by IEC 61508 and IEC 62061). Although IEC 62061 and ISO 13849 use different methodologies for the design of Safety-related Control Systems (SCS), they intend to achieve the same / similar risk reduction. Both IEC 62061 and ISO 13849 have adapted over time to enable the combination of the two methodologies, if relevant. For example, the use of an ISO 13849 design subsystem in a IEC 62061 safety function.
The 61508 Association includes many members who are specifically involved in the machinery sector and we are active in producing a range of guidance for those working in this sector. Our members reflect various roles of the equipment supply chain, consultants, equipment suppliers / manufacturers and some machine end-users, and we have particularly good relationships with UK regulators.
Please see downloads for more information.
Knowledge Hub
Downloads
