FSAintegrity is web-based software for planning, running and reporting functional safety assessments to IEC 61511 and IEC 61508. It gives assessors a structured, clause-referenced checklist and a secure audit trail, from the first hazard and risk assessment through to operation and modification.
What FSAintegrity does
Guided assessments for all five FSA stages
Work through structured checklists for each IEC 61511 assessment stage, with every question cross-referenced to the relevant clause.
Assessor independence built in
Roles separate the assessment team from the project team, so the independence the standards require is visible in the record.
Findings, evidence and actions in one place
Record findings against each question, link supporting evidence and track recommendations through to close-out.
Audit-grade data integrity
Sign-offs are locked as snapshots and every change is logged, giving you a defensible history of the assessment.
Reports ready to issue
Generate the FSA report as PDF or Word directly from the assessment data, with findings and sign-offs included.
Built for multi-user teams
Assessors, duty holders and project engineers work in the same assessment from any browser, with no files to email around.
How it works
- Set up the assessmentChoose the FSA stage, the scope and the assessment team.
- Work through the checklistAnswer clause-referenced questions and attach evidence as you go.
- Record findingsLog findings and recommendations, and assign actions to the right people.
- Sign off and reportLock the sign-off and issue the FSA report straight from the tool.
Who it’s for
Functional safety assessors
A consistent method and a complete record for every assessment you lead.
Operators and duty holders
Visibility of assessment status, findings and close-out across your sites and projects.
Engineering contractors and integrators
Evidence that your SIS projects are ready for independent assessment at each stage.
Functional safety assessment FAQs
What is a functional safety assessment?
Functional safety assessment is an important review activity required by IEC 61511 and IEC 61508. It must be carried out at least once before start-up of a new or modified automated safety instrumented system.
The activity must be led by a senior, competent person who is not involved with the step or steps being assessed.
The end expectation of a functional safety assessment is a judgement on the functional safety conformance and safety integrity achieved by every safety instrumented function within the system(s) being assessed.
Ideally, duty holders plan functional safety assessment at the outset of a new project or modification. Every organisation involved in delivering functional safety equipment or services must be aware of its responsibilities.
What is a functional safety audit?
Functional safety audit is intentionally separated from functional safety assessment in the IEC functional safety standards. An audit of procedures and records determines whether an appropriate functional safety management system is in place, and whether it is being followed.
Somewhat like a quality or gap audit, a functional safety audit cannot be conducted until functional safety procedures are in place. The auditor looks for sufficient evidence that the procedures are being followed.
An audit alongside a functional safety assessment is an entirely valid approach for an existing installation.
When is the best time to do a functional safety assessment?
The timing depends largely on the type of project or installation being assessed, and on the standard being applied.
Projects working to IEC 61511 have five recommended stages, FSA 1 to FSA 5, described in the questions below.
Who should get involved with functional safety assessment?
- The duty holder or hazard owner’s technical resources and project management, who should lead the FSA activity.
- At least one senior, functional safety competent, independent person who is not involved with the stage or stages being assessed.
- Sub-contractors providing risk assessment or engineering services.
- Suppliers of key equipment for the safety instrumented system or safety-related electrical control system.
- Any certifying bodies required to approve an application or system.
What is FSA 1?
Stage 1 FSA takes place when the hazard and risk assessment is complete and the SIL targets have been selected.
It is possible to wait until the safety requirements are complete before starting stage 1, but only if they follow immediately after SIL target allocation or SIL determination. Do not wait for the requirements to fully stabilise before starting functional safety assessment.
What is FSA 2?
Stage 2 FSA is best completed alongside factory acceptance testing, although it is advisable to start once the instrumentation and logic solver have been selected.
Logic solver software review should begin when the software detailed design specification is available.
What is FSA 3?
Stage 3 FSA must be complete before the safety instrumented system enters service. In practice, this means the FSA 1 and FSA 2 actions must be closed out.
Key documents for this stage include the installation, commissioning and validation planning, and witnessed records showing that validation testing of each SIS and SIF is complete.
What is FSA 4?
Since IEC 61511 edition 2 was published, functional safety assessment of existing safety instrumented systems after a period in operation and maintenance has been a requirement. This is FSA stage 4.
It must be led by someone independent of the operations and maintenance team.
What is FSA 5?
FSA stage 5 is an assessment of any modification to safety instrumented system (SIS) or safety instrumented function (SIF) hardware or software.
Except for fully like-for-like hardware changes, an FSA 5 may repeat elements of FSA 1, 2 and 3 for a limited part of the system. All changes to software must undergo FSA 5.
FSAintegrity supports the assessor’s professional judgement. It does not certify compliance or determine that a system is safe. Checklist questions reference and paraphrase IEC 61511 and IEC 61508 clauses; they do not reproduce the standards.
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