Kenexis - Functional Safety Podcast
Episodes
S1E51 12.3.4 pt2 to 12.3.5
01 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Designing software comes before writing it. We're still inthe design phase and will be for a bit…Listen in to this episode as the discussion of ...
S1E50 12.3
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
To clarify, the standard separates application program design from its actual implementation. It feels like a bit much…Join us for our 50th episod...
S1E49 12.2.6 to 12.2.9
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The startup sequence of a Safety Instrumented System (SIS)represents a critical vulnerability phase, as it triggers initialization code that rarely ex...
S1E48 12.1 to 12.2.5
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The first technical safety standard ISA84 didn’t talk about programming in it at all. So, we decided when we added it, wewould wildly over complic...
S1E47 11.9.3 to 11.9.5
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do not incorporate human failure into your SIL verification calculations, it will actually lead you to do the wrongthing.In this episode, this importa...
S1E46 11.9.1 and 11.9.2
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to SIL verification calculations, we look at Clause 11.9. It’s appropriately titled 'Quantification of Random Failures'…putt...
S1E45 11.8.4 to 11.8.6
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A device should never remain in bypass indefinitely. Bypassduration must be time-limited, and appropriate compensating measures must be implemented. ...
S1E44 11.8.1 to 11.8.3
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The design shall allow for testing of the SIS either end to end OR in segments meaning you could test one piece at a time, but when you do that, you h...
S1E43 11.7.3
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many users of generic, off-the-shelf PLC logic solvers for Safety Instrumented Systems are surprised to learn that maintenance and engineering interfa...
S1E42 11.7.2
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bypasses and resets are two standard data elements routinelytransmitted from the BCPS to the SIS, and this communication must be done safely…Listen ...
S1E41 11.7.1 and 11.7.4
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can transfer data to and from the Safety Integrated System (SIS), but your design must prevent an outside failure from causing an internal SIS fai...
S1E40 11.6
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don't let the certificate distract you. Your role as an instrumentation and control engineer requires continued diligence. The work still needs to...
S1E39 11.5.4 through 11.5.6
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that you can install Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) based on prior use without being certified? Sounds easy, right? Think again!Wh...
S1E38 11.5.1 through 11.5.3
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The devices you use in your safety instrumented systems DO NOT have to be certified! We're cutting through the noise to give you the facts on what...
S1E37 11.4
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You achieve a given SIL target by running a calculation that verifies you achieved the proper probability of failure on demand, yet the standards comm...
S1E36 11.3
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How should the safety instrumented system respond to adetected failure? Well, it will respond however you want it to respond…
S1E35 11.2.12 to 11.2.14
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unscrupulous equipment vendors often bury critical safety information in a product's safety manual to get their products certified. Therefore, it&...
S1E34 11.2.11
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Energize to trip or de-energize to trip, that is the question… and the answer is… you can do whatever you want…
S1E33 11.2.9 to 11.2.10
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A device used by the SIS shall not be used by the BPS (unless that’s what you really want to do) ….Join Ed to hear his thoughts, experience and in...
S1E32 11.2.8
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s podcast Ed discusses clause 11.2.8, which is all about manual shutdowns. The session ranges from the apocryphal or true OG manual s...
S1E31 11.2.6 to 11.2.7
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once the Safety Instrumented System brings the system to a safe state, it should remain in that state until an operator manually intervenes.This topic...
S1E30 11.1 to 11.2.5
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've finally arrived at clause 11 titled SIS Design and Engineering, which is where the core work happens! This episode, the discussion focuses...
S1E29 10.3.3 to 10.3.6
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After several weeks of laying the groundwork on SafetyRequirements Specifications (SRS), we're back for a more focused discussion.This episode, we...
S1E28 – 10.3.2 bullet 24-29
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wow! There are a lot of things in the safety requirements specifications clause. It has taken us several episodes, but we finally get to finish up...
S1E27 – 10.3.2 bullet 19-23
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive deeper into the requirements forstarting up and re-starting Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS). Wasn’t this already covered ...
S1E26 - 10.3.2 bullet 15 - 18
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Fail safe” is a common term—and it sounds great. Who wouldn’t want things to fail safe? But here’s the thing: can we ever really guaran...
S1E25 - 10.3.2 bullet 12 – 14
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When a shutoff valve is told to close, the movement is just the beginning. Behind that simple action lies a complex web of consideration. In today’s...
S1E24 - 10.3.2 bullet 9 to 11
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Process Safety Time is one of the most complex andchallenging aspects of the 61511 standard, which is why it will be shifting to MERT.
S1E23 - 10.3.2 bullet 4 to 8
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, CEO of Kenexis Ed Marszal, continues his discussion of Safety Requirements Specifications as found in clause 10.3.2 of the IEC61511 s...
S1E22 - 10.1 to 10.3.2 bullet 3
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re diving into the concept of Safety Requirements Specification. What exactly does it mean, and why is it more complex than you ...
S1E21 - 9.3 to 9.4
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore an important question in the world of functional safety: Can a basic process control system be considered a valid protecti...
S1E20 - S9.2.5 to 9.2.9
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your risk analysis has led you to conclude that you need a SIL 4, that’s a red flag. It’s likely time to go back to the drawing board and reass...
S1E19 - S9.1 to 9.2
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clause 8 and Clause 9 in the IEC 61511 standard are both required to obtain your SIL targets.
S1E18 - 8.2.2 to 8.2.4
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into how the basic process control system introduces complexities into risk analysis, starting right from the h...
S1E17 - 8.1 to 8.2
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we kick off our exploration of the process safety lifecycle by diving into hazard and risk analysis. After some thoughtful pre-discus...
S1E16 - Section 7
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Validation is a final physical test on the completed system, but verification is the step by step back-checking of each individual activity. ...
S1E15 - Section 6
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The SIS safety life cycle outlines all the activities involved in designing safety instrumented systems to achieve functional safety, as detailed in ...
S1E14 - 5.2.6.2 and 5.2
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Functional safety assessments and functional safety audits serve distinct purposes. Audits evaluate the ongoing operations of a facility across all ar...
S1E13 - 5.2.6.1.1 to 5.2.6.1
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people misunderstand the fundamental concepts of assessment and auditing. It's not about verifying whether the work was done correctly; it&#...
S1E12 - 5.2.5
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Having just "a plan" for functional safety isn't enough; you need to implement and monitor every step to ensure it gets done. In this e...
S1E11 - 5.1 to 5.2.4
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Management of functional safety is the key to a good safety instrumented system. In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 5...
S1E10 – 3.2.77 to 4.0
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Edward Marszal, President of Kenexis finishes his discussion of the definitions section of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E9 - 3.2.65 to 3.2.76
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How many definitions does it take to define what a safety instrumented function is? Surprisingly, it’s more than you would think. In this epis...
S1E8 - 3.2.57 to 3.2.64
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Safety is the freedom from risk that is not tolerable, but what is risk and how do you know it is tolerable?
S1E7 - Clause 3.2.43 through 3.2.56
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 3.2.43 through 3.2.56 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E6 - Clause 3.2.35 through 3.2.42
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 3.2.35 through 3.2.42 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E5 - IEC 61511 Clause 3.2.17 through 3.2.34
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 3.2.17 through 3.2.34 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E4 - 3.2.6 through 3.2.16
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 3.2.6 through 3.2.16 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E3 - Clause 2 through 3.2.5
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, discusses Clause 2 through 3.2.5 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E2 - 61511 1g through the end of Clause 1.
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ed Marszal, President of Kenexis, finishes his discussion of Clause 1 of the IEC 61511 standard.
S1E1 - 61511 Clause 1 through 1f
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of this podcast, we are going to focus on the IEC 61511 standard, Clause 1 through 1f– Functional Safety – Safety Instrument...