Pneumatics with safety service

Festo offers a wide range of individual pneumatic components that need to be assessed as part of the system. It is not like electrics where you work with certified components; instead, the functional safety of a specific pneumatic application usually needs to be designed and built with common hardware components. In this case, it is the machine manufacturer's responsibility to provide the safety-related evaluation and documentation.

Safety-related pneumatics is anything but trivial, which is why we provide our products with all the relevant data as standard. What’s more, our project engineers are on hand to offer you expert advice until you are up to date with what is required, for example by going through the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis with you. This service provides you with a quicker and more cost-effective way to ensure your system is safe.

Active safety sub-functions that affect systems

SDE: safe de-energisation

The SDE function enables the downstream pneumatic system to be safely disconnected and de-energised.

Application note:

Safe de-energisation with soft start/quick exhaust valve MS6-SV-...-E (PDF)

SEZ: safe energisation

The SEZ function permits safe energisation using a defined force/time function (soft-start function).

SBC: safe brake control

The SBC function provides a safe output signal for controlling an external brake or clamping unit.

Active safety sub-functions that affect drives

STO: safe torque off

The power supply to the pneumatic drive is disconnected. The chambers of the pneumatic drive are exhausted so that no force (torque) can be generated that could lead to a dangerous movement.

Application notes:

SSB – safe stopping and blocking

The pneumatic drive is brought to a standstill. The free movement of the output component is blocked. It can be blocked by positive locking or friction locking.

SB – safe blocking (not part of VDMA 24584)

The free movement of the output component is blocked. It can be blocked by positive locking or friction locking.

Application note:

Definitions of pneumatic safety sub-functions: SB-f, PUS

SSC – safe stopping and closing

The supply of energy to or dissipation of energy from at least one chamber of the pneumatic drive is closed, and the energy that has thus been saved can be used for the shutdown.

Application note:

Definitions of pneumatic safety sub-functions: SSC, PUS

SET – safe equilibrium of torque

The SET function prevents the pneumatic drive from deviating from the torque (force) equilibrium by more than a specified value.

PUS – prevention of unexpected start-up; lockout-tagout

The PUS function prevents the start position of the valve from changing and leading to an unexpected start-up of a machine function.

SLS – safely limited speed

The SLS function prevents the pneumatic drive from exceeding the permissible speed.

SLT – safely limited torque (force)

The SLT function prevents the pneumatic drive from exceeding the permissible torque (force).

SDI – safe direction

The SDI function prevents the drive from moving in the incorrect direction.

Application note:

Definitions of pneumatic safety sub-functions: SDI, PUS