The SISTEMA library is part of Beckhoff’s safety solution. "SISTEMA" itself is a software tool developed by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IFA) of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). It is used to calculate safety-related performance levels (PL) according to ISO 13849-1 . The Beckhoff library is essentially a set of pre-defined, certified data for TwinSAFE components that can be imported directly into a SISTEMA project. This integration helps automate and streamline the safety validation process.
(Probability of Dangerous Failure per Hour): The hourly probability of a dangerous failure. MTTFDcap M cap T cap T cap F sub cap D
Beckhoff’s library is extensive, covering both dedicated safety hardware and standard components integrated into safety functions. 1. TwinSAFE Logic Components
Beckhoff SISTEMA Library: Comprehensive Integration Report Beckhoff SISTEMA Library beckhoff sistema library
values from paper manuals introduces transcription risks. The library ensures absolute data integrity.
Contactors, safe drives, STO (Safe Torque Off) modules.
Calculating safety values manually opens the door to human error. A misplaced decimal point in a failure rate can result in an unsafe machine or a rejected compliance audit. The Beckhoff library features manufacturer-certified data, shifting liability away from guessing and toward certified math. 2. Drastic Time Savings The SISTEMA library is part of Beckhoff’s safety solution
Beckhoff provides a specialized library of function blocks—pre-written code modules—that are delivered with their SISTEMA parameter files. This creates a seamless handshake between the safety logic (the code) and the safety certification (the math).
Once all elements of the safety loop—the physical button, the Beckhoff logic, and the final contactors—are populated with data, SISTEMA automatically calculates the final achieved Performance Level ( PLachievedcap P cap L sub a c h i e v e d end-sub ). Compare this against your required Performance Level ( PLrcap P cap L sub r ) derived from your initial machine risk assessment. If , your system is compliant. Best Practices for Safety Engineers
Functional safety is a critical cornerstone of modern machine design. As automated systems become faster and more complex, protecting operators from hazards requires rigorous, verifiable engineering. For automation engineers working within the Beckhoff ecosystem, marrying TwinSAFE hardware with the German Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IFA) SISTEMA software is the standard path to compliance. The Beckhoff library is essentially a set of
Beckhoff recognized a major inefficiency in the workflow. Why should an engineer calculate safety parameters in SISTEMA and then manually re-enter that configuration into the TwinCAT engineering environment? That duplication of effort is not just time-consuming; it is a vector for human error.
(Safety Integrity Software Tool for the Evaluation of Machine Applications) utility, which calculates reliability values and achieved Performance Levels (PL) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13849-1 1. Overview and Purpose