Fully accredited cyber certification for security consultant.

Perseus Information Security Consulting has received full accreditation from the A2LA Accreditation Body to serve as an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification body (CB) for the globally recognised certification program ISASecure®. Perseus is also now the first accredited CB for ISASecure’s new Automation and Control System Security Assurance (ACSSA) for Asset Owners to ISA/IEC 62443-2-1, 62443-2-4, 62443-3-2 and 62443-3-3.

"We are pleased to have Perseus Information Security Consulting join the ISASecure program as an accredited ISASecure certification body and become the first approved ACSSA CB,” said Dr. Mark P. DeAngelo, program manager of ISASecure.

The ISASecure program — which currently has ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification bodies in the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Italy, Germany and India — is rapidly expanding its global reach through additional agreements with certification bodies around the world.

The ISASecure certification program validates conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of internationally adopted standards for industrial security, with additional certifications for Security Development Lifecycle Assurance (SDLA), Component Security Assurance (CSA), IIoT Component Security Assurance (ICSA) and System Security Assurance (SSA).

Perseus has now begun accepting product submittals for ISASecure certification at their United States office and their Istanbul, Türkiye office. Perseus Information Security Consulting contact details can be found on the ISASecure website at this link.

ISASecure assesses automation and control products and systems to ensure they are robust against network attacks, free from known vulnerabilities and meet the security capabilities defined in the ISA/IEC 62443 standards. All ISASecure certifications are conducted by globally recognised ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification bodies.

In addition to being certified by the ISO/IEC 17065 Accreditation Body, ACSSA CBs are required to take the new ISASecure Automation and Control System Security Assurance for Evaluators (IC49) three-day training class and pass the IC49 proctored exam.

Perseus Information Security Consulting provides technology consultation in the field of cybersecurity for enterprise-level organisations, namely, providing technological advice regarding cybersecurity strategy and risk and analysis of technological goods of others to assure compliance with cybersecurity industry standards. Their services also include TISAX Consulting, conducting SWIFT CSP Assessments, ICS/SCADA consulting, authorised EPDK cybersecurity maturity assessments across all seven of Türkiye's energy subsectors and now ISASecure ACSSA, SDLA, CSA, SSA and ICSA certification to ISA/IEC 62443 standard.

As an ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) member, Perseus has been involved in the technical development of ISASecure’s newest conformance scheme, the ISASecure Automation Control System Security Assurance (ACSSA) program. Perseus staff, including Deniz Kaya and Burak Bicer, were among the first in the world to complete the ISASecure ACSSA for Evaluators training and certification.

"ISASecure and the ISA/IEC 62443 standards have become the global benchmark for industrial cybersecurity. Becoming the first accredited ACSSA certification body lets Perseus give asset owners an independent, internationally recognised way to prove that their automation and control systems meet that benchmark,” Kaya says. “We're proud to bring this capability to organisations across the United States, Türkiye and beyond."

---

@ISA_Automation @automation_com #PerseusInfo  #ISA/IEC62443 #Cybersecurity 

Smart sensing for future power grids.

There has been a surge in the digitalization and integration of renewable energy resources into electric power grids to enable efficient and intelligent energy management. However, existing power systems face increased vulnerabilities to challenges such as more frequent and severe weather conditions and evolving cyber attacks.

The report, "Smart sensing for future power grids", developed by the IEC Market Strategy Board (MSB), establishes that making power grids smart by implementing advanced sensors and intelligent control systems is one of the answers for a more stable, reliable and resilient future of electric power grids.

It also notes that such a robust power grid with efficient monitoring is a crucial facilitator in realizing a cleaner future.

The report discusses the challenges and opportunities related to smart power grid sensing and looks at the immense potential of sensors in diverse applications like power generation, transmission and measurement of carbon emission.

It further presents a vision of the future power grid architecture built upon smart sensors and potential technology roadmaps. Several key technologies have been emphasized, such as sensor placement optimization, sensor calibration, edge computing, AI data analysis, and cyber security.

Finally, the report analyzes the standardization efforts in this domain, which it deems vital in promoting the technologies’ widespread adoption.

---

@IECStandards #Power #Energy

Hybrid power and signal.

The Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance, with its current 32 members, is a registered association of leading technology companies pursuing the goal of establishing Single Pair Ethernet in numerous applications and markets.

With the publication of the NWIP (New Work Item Proposals) of IEC 63171-7, TE Connectivity has for the first time presented a hybrid system for Single Pair Ethernet data and simultaneous power supply. The Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance supports this proposal from TE Connectivity, as it provides additional power for many applications where PoDL technology (Power over Data Line) reaches its limits. The 4 power contacts plus functional earth combined with the SPE data connection in the M12 connector offer an interesting connection technology, especially for many compact, decentralized field devices.

The specification of a new 2-wire data connector in this hybrid interface shows the application diversity in the market. So, we can see that it is not the mating interface that shapes the market, but the application that defines the interface.

This is why the Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance believes this connector is another important piece of the puzzle for the establishment of SPE in numerous applications and thus supports the overall Single Pair Ethernet solution.

@TEConnectivity @PresseBox #SPE #Pauto #Connectivity #Ethernet

Current Transformers to IEC standards.

The SIGA (Electronics) current transformer (CT) products conform to IEC regulations from design, through manufacturing to final test. Standards including IEC 61869 are addressed by specific conformance testing for current transformers, carried out in SIGA’s dedicated COVID-19-secure British workspaces by specially trained operators.

The company offers current transformers to meet all customer’s requirements for metering and protection purposes. These are busbar mounted and used in many different applications. For example, SIGA’s CTs are the basis of Parasense units used in supermarket refrigeration – a huge opportunity in the USA and elsewhere.

SIGA already supplies CTs into switchgear contractors for the rapidly growing data centre distribution industry. Other customers include providers of switchgear to aerospace, automotive, power generation, MOD applications and rail transport.

SIGA manufactures circular or rectangular type CTs, full block or split core, using a UL recognised semi rigid cast resin compound or an IP rated plastic box finish. Other finishes are available.

 The broad portfolio offers ring type current transformers suitable for primary currents from 50A-10000A along with rectangular current transformers with primary currents from 60A to 6300A having 1A or 5A secondary. These meet the following accuracy classes from 0.2 for metering purposes and class PX for protection. Fitted in applications with rated system volts 0.72/3kV, they can be built to meet a 3kV insulation level for up to 1 minute. 

@ElectronicsSiga @NeeshamPR #Electronics #Pauto #IECStandards

Secure product development lifecycle.

HMS Networks is now certified according to the IEC62443-4-1:2018 standard. The certification process was performed by TÜV Rheinland to validate a secure product development lifecycle process within industrial automation and control systems. 

IEC62443-4-1 is part of the IEC 62443-4:2018(E) standard which specifies the process requirements for secure development of products used in industrial automation and control systems. Receiving the IEC62443-4-1 certificate is yet another step on HMS’s cybersecurity journey. The certificate confirms that HMS has a process in place for secure product design, technology to handle vulnerability disclosures, and the ability to transparently work with customers to help them manage security risks. 

“The automation industry needs partners that can provide technology and services which protect the users’ most valuable assets,” says Timo Van´t Hoff, CPO of HMS. “When companies work with HMS, they can rest assured that we always have security in mind, and that security is continually addressed in our daily work” 

The new certification was independently performed by TÜV Rheinland, and the IEC62443-4-1 certificate is adding to an expanding list of acknowledgments for HMS' success in helping customers strengthen their cybersecurity within the area of industrial automation and control systems.

@HMSAnybus @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Cybersecurity

Certification Body under the CB Scheme.

Emitech has had its own international certification service called Emitech Certification since 2014. It has now been recognized as an NCB (National Certification Body).

Pascal Bonnenfant - Emitech Certification

As an ISO 17065-accredited product certification body, Emitech Certification has initially become a Notified Body for CE marking. As such, it issues certificates of conformity under the RED 2014/53/EU directive for radio communication equipment, and the EMC 2014/30/EU (electromagnetic compatibility) directive. This involves assessing the conformity of a product for which there are not yet any harmonised standards, extending the validity of a test report to an entire range of products, validating the integration of sub-assemblies by partial tests or a voluntary approach by a manufacturer.

Emitech Certification supports manufacturers who want to market their products internationally. It takes care of the technical and administrative formalities, arranges for local tests to be carried out if necessary to obtain approval, and chooses the most suitable procedure. The CB Scheme (CB Scheme) is thus the most efficient way to approach export markets in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Within the framework of the CB Scheme, Emitech's international certification service has just been recognised as an NCB (National Certification Body). It can now manage its network of CBTLs (Certification Body Testing Laboratories), and deliver, based on their reports, the CB certificates recognized in the member countries.

The CB scheme, a process of mutual recognition of test results between participating countries
The CB scheme is an international certification program for the exchange and acceptance of product test results from recognized participating laboratories, "CBTLs", and National Certification Bodies, "NCBs" in more than 50 countries around the world. The goal of the CB Scheme is to constantly harmonize electrical product safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements at international level, while also taking national deviations into account.

Thanks to mutual recognition of CB certificates between countries, the tests performed are recognised in these member countries. This makes it easier to place products on the market abroad and opens the way for manufacturers to obtain certification marks (NF, etc.).

Within this context, four of Emitech's laboratories have already been recognized for several years as CBTLs in the categories for medical, laboratory, multimedia and information processing equipment. A CBTL has to depend on a single NCB. Since April 2020, Emitech's certification service has been recognized as a National Certification Body under the NCB scheme. This means that this service can now issue CB certificates from its own CBTL laboratories.

Emitech supports its customers in a global approach to marketing their products abroad. As this process is fully controlled under the framework of the CB Scheme it is largely autonomous and its reactivity is augmented. This recognition is part of the strategy to internationalise Emitech's service offering, established when Emitech created its certification service.

@EMITECH_SA #MEPax#PAuto #TandM 

Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems.

The ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards, developed by the ISA99 committee as American National Standards and adopted globally by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), is designed to provide a flexible framework to address and mitigate current and future security vulnerabilities in industrial automation and control systems (IACS). All ISA standards may be found here on their website in numerical order.

A newly published standard in the series, ISA/IEC 62443-4-2-2018, Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems: Technical Security Requirements for IACS Components, provides the cybersecurity technical requirements for components that make up an IACS, specifically the embedded devices, network components, host components and software applications. The standard sets forth security capabilities that enable a component to mitigate threats for a given security level without the assistance of compensating countermeasures.

“The standard definition of the security capabilities for system components provides a common language for product suppliers and all other control system stakeholders,” emphasizes Kevin Staggs of Honeywell, who led the ISA99 development group for the standard. “This simplifies the procurement and integration processes for the computers, applications, network equipment and control devices that make up a control system.”

The new standard follows the February 2018 publication of ISA/IEC 62443-4-1, Product Security Development Life-Cycle Requirements, which specifies process requirements for the secure development of products used in an IACS and defines a secure development life-cycle for developing and maintaining secure products. The life-cycle includes security requirements definition, secure design, secure implementation (including coding guidelines), verification and validation, defect management, patch management and product end-of-life.

The ISA99 standards committee draws on the input and knowledge of IACS security experts from across the globe to develop consensus standards that are applicable to all industry sectors and critical infrastructure. Previous documents in the ISA/IEC 62443 series cover terminology, concepts, and models; establishment of an IACS security program; patch management; and system security requirements and security levels.

#ISAuto @IECStandards #PAuto #cybersecurity 

Multi-Tier lockable IEC Socket.

Schaffner has extended its range of IEC lockable outlets with the introduction of a new multi-tier version available with either 4 or 6 outlets. The integral locking system improves the reliability of electronic systems exposed to vibration or traction.

The new Schaffner C13 multi-tier outlet family features a patented locking system, provides a space saving alternative to separate outlets and is compatible with all standard C14 connectors. Each individual power outlet has its own locking mechanism which protects against accidental disconnections and maintains uptime.

The 4-tier outlet saves 12mm and the 6-tier outlet saves up to 21mm when compared to fitting single connectors and meets the needs of the current trend for panel downsizing. All outlets are powered from a single connection point reducing assembly time.

The Schaffner C13 multi-tier outlet series can be utilized in all applications where reliable mains connection is paramount, including IT, Datacentre and telecommunications systems, medical equipment, laboratories, home appliances or difficult to access mains connections. The locking system can take up tensile forces up to 200N without additional traction relief system.

Installing Schaffner C13 multi-tier outlets offers system manufacturers cost savings by removing the requirement for using individual connectors with traction relief. The C13 multi-tier outlet is supplied by default in black with a red mark on the locking knob clearly distinguishing it from conventional outlets.

C13 lockable IEC outlets conform to the requirements of RoHS and REACH, meet international safety standards and are available ex-stock all over the world through Schaffner global distribution and sales network.

@SchaffnerGroup #PAuto

Certification to communication standard.

The automation software zenon from COPA-DATA has been certified in accordance with the international energy systems standard IEC 61850 Edition 2. zenon thus proves its conformity with the most recent additions to the standard. The certificate was issued by TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH.

Standards and communication protocols in the energy sector are regularly renewed. The international standard IEC 61850 regulates, among other things, communication between different components in automated power stations and transformers. The current test bed for Edition 2 checks new functions and additions to the standard. It is usually the server providing data that is certified to the IEC 61850 standard. zenon acts as a client however, and was one of the first worldwide to be successfully tested with the new Edition 2 of the standard.

In Edition 2 of the IEC 61850 standard, apart from additions to the object model, it was the functional constraints permitted in spontaneous communication that were enhanced in particular. As a result, the standard offers more flexibility when designing efficient network communication. The most significant enhancement concerns service tracking. This allows queries on the current device status and detailed information on completed actions.

Albi Kospiri, Communication Protocol Engineer at TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH in Munich, explains: “COPA-DATA came to our laboratories with clear ideas and the implementation of the Edition 2 of IEC 61850 standard seemed to be carried out by knowledgeable people with hands-on experience of the standard. The testing process didn’t bring up significant issues. The application being tested was a comprehensive SCADA application, which gave us the best chance to examine all the applicable test cases required by the test procedure.”

Jürgen Resch, Energy Industry Manager at COPA-DATA, adds: “The demand for comprehensive Edition 2 certification in the energy market is increasing – not just for hardware, but also software. It is expected that it will even become a benchmark in international tenders in the future. This new certification from TÜV SÜD is a further important building block for our international competitiveness.”

 @copadata  #PAuto @TUVSUD

Standards catalogue for your computer!

The best way to search the complete IEC Collection for free !

A free IEC Catalogue is available for PC, Mac OS, Android Tablets and iPad. This stand-alone application is the ideal tool for consulting the entire bibliographical information on IEC International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports and other documents.

This new application provides users with an ideal tool for consulting the entire bibliographical information on IEC International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports and other documents.

It is available, as a stand-alone application, for computers running Windows and Mac OS.

Industrial wireless blackout looms!

GAMBICA, the British trade body for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology industry, has asked for the harmonisation of the new EN62657-2 industrial wireless co-existence standard, which otherwise could lead to a major industrial wireless failure. 

With the intention of preserving bandwidth, the telecommunications industry has written a harmonised standard that does not allow industrial wireless control systems to function. The European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) is now blocking the harmonisation of a European standard, which facilitates co-existence management of Industrial communication networks under the R&TTE directive. This restriction is likely to make Europe lose significant competitive ground in the industrial wireless field.

ETSI, are officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organisation and have written the harmonised standard: EN 300 328 V1.8.1 (pdf), a standard that amends the existing rules for all devices using the publicly available radio band. The band includes millions of devices using WiFi, Bluetooth and Zigbee technologies. This means it will have a major impact on manufacturers from all sectors once it comes into force, on January 1, 2015.

It is a harmonized EN standard covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive, which states that “in addition, radio equipment shall be so constructed that it effectively uses the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication and orbital resources so as to avoid harmful interference.”

“With the intention of effectively using the spectrum, the telecommunications industry has produced a harmonised standard, which does not allow industrial wireless control systems to function,” explains Andrew Evans, technical executive at GAMBICA. “The problem with the standard is that it introduces the concept of Listen Before Talk (LBT). LBT requires each radio device to first check whether another device is transmitting, in which case it must hold back until the channel is free. This causes random and unpredictable communication delays.

“The entire idea is simply nonviable,” continues Evans. “At times of heavy use, the result is 'graceful degradation of service'. Unfortunately, the real problem for an industrial site is that key wireless devices can never be relied upon to report their alarm or status messages in a timely fashion.”

Industry has tried to work with ETSI by submitting comments on the revision of EN300328 V1.8.1 including suggestions for exemption or optional use of LBT within defined industrial automation areas. These solutions have not been included in the new revision of the standard. V1.8.1.

Industry has also worked hard via technical committee SC65C to develop an IEC standard: 62657-2 (2013) “Industrial Communication Networks - Wireless Communication Networks - Pt 2: Coexistence Management”. This has been voted positively by CENELEC to become EN62657-2, but the harmonisation of this standard under the R&TTE directive has been blocked by ETSI.

GAMBICA is urging all member companies providing industrial wireless equipment, or whose services rely on these systems, to contact their British trade association or other organisations on the continent. The industry needs to make further efforts to explain the possible consequences of LBT to the European Commission and call for the harmonisation of EN62657-2 under the R&TTE directive as soon as possible.

Wireless process control technology is in its infancy still, but widely seen across the process industry as a huge growth area. One only needs to glance at trade publications to see the plethora of wireless marketing material. It is a significant growth area which provides major cost savings in wiring and installation time. Many sites have wireless systems installed and more are in the pipeline. At a stroke, these investments are put at risk and the future growth of  industry will be gravely harmed.

• If you want to ensure you keep up to date with press material, opinion focussed blog content and case studies from GAMBICA, you can subscribe to receive the company’s Blog posts by e-mail.

Cybersecurity standard defines key technical requirements for industrial control systems

The ISA-62443 series of standards, being developed by the ISA99 committee of the International Society of Automation (ISA) and adopted globally by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), is designed to provide a flexible framework to address and mitigate current and future vulnerabilities in industrial automation and control systems (IACS).

A newly published standard in the series, ISA-62443-3-3-2013, Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems Part 3-3: System Security Requirements and Security Levels, addresses risks arising from the growing use of business information technology (IT) cyber security solutions to address IACS cyber security in complex and dangerous manufacturing and processing applications.

IACS security goals typically focus on control system availability, plant protection, plant operations, and time-critical system response. IT security goals, in contrast, often focus more on protecting information than physical assets. For this reason, use of IT cyber security solutions to address IACS security must be implemented knowledgably to prevent unintended vulnerabilities that could lead to potentially disastrous health, safety, environmental, financial, and/or reputational impacts in deployed control systems.

The new ISA99 standard addresses this concern with an approach to defining system requirements that is based on a combination of functional requirements and risk assessment, and an awareness of operational issues. The standard provides detailed technical control system requirements associated with seven foundational requirements described in the groundbreaking first ISA99 standard, ISA‑62443‑1‑1 (99.01.01), including defining the requirements for control system capability security levels. Those responsible for IACS cyber security will use these requirements in developing the appropriate control system target security levels for specific assets.

Eric Cosman, ISA99 Committee Chair

“This standard provides highly relevant and practical direction to asset owners, system integrators and suppliers by describing the major system-level technical requirements for a secure IACS,” stated ISA99 Co-Chair Eric C. Cosman of the Dow Chemical Company. “It serves as a cornerstone in the ISA-62443/IEC 62443 series, complementing other standards including ISA-62443-2-1, which addresses the processes and procedures needed for security.”

The ISA99 committee drew on the input and knowledge of IACS security experts from across the globe in developing the standard. Unlike programs targeted at a single industry, ISA99 is applicable to all industry sectors and critical infrastructure in recognition of the interrelated nature of industrial computer networks in which cyber vulnerabilities exploited in one sector can impact multiple sectors and infrastructure.

“The new standard represents a collaborative effort of experts from multiple industries around the world,” stated the ISA99 task group leader for the project, Jeff Potter of Emerson Process Management. “Our intensive series of revise-and-review cycles has resulted in a rigorously reviewed standard reflecting the best current thinking in control systems security. Our joint work with IEC experts provides users with further assurance that this is a truly global standard that can be used to design, build, operate and regulate with full confidence in its longevity and cross-national applicability.”

ANSI/ISA-62443-3-3-2013 was approved as an American National Standard on 13 August 2013. An essentially identical version will be published by the IEC later this year as IEC 62443-3-3.

• Eric Cosman is also to chair the INDUSTRIAL NETWORK SECURITY TRACK at this years Automation Week in Nashville (TN, USA). This track will cover the security of operations and networks, specifically cyber security issues as they relate to industrial networks. The  technologies, the business relevance, and the impact of network security issues and solutions, as well as the human aspects, will be discussed.

Profile for motor starters

CiA (CAN in Automation) has released the CiA 442 CANopen profile for IEC 61915-2 compatible motor starters. The IEC standard specifies a bus-independent profile for motor starters, soft starters, and motor management starters. The CiA profile is functional compatible and adds just the mapping to the CANopen application layer (CiA 301). In particular, it specifies the format of the commands and status information as well as the PDO parameters.

The motor (soft) starter continuously controls the three-phase motor’s voltage supply during the start-up phase. They limit the torque. This way, the motor is adjusted to the machine’s load behavior. Mechanical operating equipment is accelerated in a gentle manner.

The benefit of the bus-independent, international standardized profile is that the user saves its software investment, if suppliers or network technologies are changed. The finite state machine is standardized as well as the functional behavior. Of course, the mapping to messages depends on the used network. The CANopen profile pre-defines all PDOs as event-triggered. Synchronous transmission is optionally possible.

New IEC technical report is good news for automation end users

The Fieldbus Foundation is supporting a new International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) report that provides guidance to end users for selecting an industry-standard device integration technology encompassing all host systems, field instruments and device protocols.

The new technical report, IEC 61804-6 Ed 1: Function blocks (FB) for process control – Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) – Part 6: Meeting the requirements for integrating fieldbus devices in engineering tools for field devices, explains the requirements for field device integration and how they are met using the EDDL standard (IEC 61804-3). (Dab hands at the simple easy to remember titles are our IEC!)

EDDL is a universal, proven and state-of-the-art method for accessing diagnostic, real-time and asset management information contained in more than 20 million field devices from the world's leading instrumentation manufacturers. EDDL has the power to integrate field devices for optimal control strategies and consistent Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) across different platforms. The technology extends interoperability to the HMI and diagnostic data levels with improved visualization and graphical capabilities.

The IEC report is based on the recommendations of NAMUR, an international end user association of automation technology in the process industries. The NAMUR NE105 specification was published in 2004 to clearly define requirements for device integration technologies enabling a mixture of sophisticated device types—based on different protocols—from multiple manufacturers, and keeping control systems up to date with new versions of these devices. Device integration technology impacts both the ease of use for devices and system administration.

The Fieldbus Foundation's global marketing manager, Larry O'Brien, said, "This report is good news for automation end users because it illustrates how EDDL can satisfy key requirements for integrating the large amount of data provided by today's fieldbus devices with the applications that must turn that data into useful information–not just FOUNDATION fieldbus devices, but all devices that rely on EDDL technology.
"NAMUR writes excellent recommendation documents, and NE105 provides a very effective outline of how information from multiple intelligent devices should be integrated in a process plant. BIS, one of the leading industrial services suppliers in the world, conducted extensive research to match the functionality of EDDL with the NAMUR NE105 end user requirements. To get this report admitted as part of the IEC 61804-6 standard is beneficial because users now have a roadmap for implementing EDDL-based technologies in accordance with NAMUR NE105 recommendations."

As a standard that is totally independent of computer operating systems, EDDL protects investments in control systems and devices by ensuring obsolescence cycles are not shortened by new Microsoft Windows™ versions. Future devices with EDDL files can be commissioned without upgrading Windows. Likewise, a new version of Windows does not require updated drivers in existing devices; new device management software can be installed while still supporting the older equipment. EDDL also avoids version conflicts with system software, since EDDL files do not require software installation for loading and are non-executable.

EDDL allows operators to receive detailed information about failures of critical devices so that action can be taken before the process is affected. Additionally, EDDL files are organized according to device type and version, enabling the system to automatically find the right file for the device without manual binding. Keeping control systems up to date with EDDL is easy since EDDL files are copied documents, not installed software. The process is the same for all devices regardless of protocol, manufacturer, or type. Updates are guided by a wizard and done once—in a central location—for all workstations in the system.

EDDL graphics are rendered the same for all devices regardless of protocol, device type or manufacturer, thus ensuring a consistent look and feel for device configuration and diagnostics. This is key to the technology's ease of use. A standard dictionary also ensures consistent terminology, and device-specific functions such as advanced diagnostics are integrated with the same user interface as the standard overview.

Because device management software can use EDDL files without special programming, it can maintain an audit trail and keep the configuration database synchronized for all devices. Since graphics are rendered, the parameter status is consistently indicated for all devices. Audit trail and configuration can also be exported and printed for all devices.

ISA100 receives IEC approval - yes and no!

The following is the text of a release issued by the International Society of Automation (ISA) on 16th September 2011.

Not quite dissenting!

Walt Boyes, Editor at ControlGlobal, and who is listed as a voting member of the ISA100 Standards Committee, comments:

"Actually, it has been listed by the IEC as a publicly available specification. It has not been approved as an IEC standard, which the release implies.

'Further, it has not been submitted to ANSI, and there have been significant questions raised repeatedly about how well ISA follows the "open consensus process as accredited" by ANSI.

...."Interestingly, ISA, apparently believing that the submission of ISA100 to ANSI would be appealed, submitted to IEC via Tony Capel's CANADIAN national committee. ANSI has not commented on the propriety of ISA doing this, and some have questioned the reasoning behind this apparent "end-around" of ANSI, especially since ISA has in this release repeatedly implied ANSI approval."

See his blog "Truthiness is next to Godliness - ISA announces IEC approval of ISA100" (16/9/2011)

ISA-100.11a-2011, “Wireless Systems for Industrial Automation: Process Control and Related Applications,” has been approved by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as a publicly available specification, or PAS. This follows its approval earlier this year as an ISA standard, developed per ISA’s open consensus process as accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).


“There has been a great deal of interest to move ISA-100.11a into the IEC process, and I am very pleased this has been accomplished with its unanimous approval as an IEC PAS," stated Tony Capel of Comgate Engineering, who is the chair of IEC SC65C, the committee that will oversee the standard. “An IEC PAS allows the early publication of a standard that has obtained consensus in a professional society such as ISA, and will further promote the use of this standard throughout the world,” added Capel, who serves on the Canadian National Committee to the IEC.

Unlike nonaccredited processes typically used by vendors’ consortia to develop specifications, ISA’s ANSI-accredited procedures call for direct participation and voting by experts from end-user companies, ensuring that their views and needs are heard and reflected in the resulting standard. ISA-100.11a-2011 received overwhelming approval from voting members on ISA100 who represent end-user companies where wireless systems will be deployed in real-world industrial applications.

"From my perspective of 42 years as an end user in the refining and petrochemical industry, I am especially proud that ISA-100.11a is the first industrial wireless standard developed in an open, accredited standards process with direct input and participation of experts from end-user companies," stated ISA100 Co-chair Herman Storey of Herman Storey Consulting. "The fact that 92% of ISA100 voting members from end-user companies cast ballots to approve the standard sends a very strong message to industry, in my view."

ISA-100.11a-2011 was developed to provide reliable and secure wireless operation for noncritical monitoring, alerting, supervisory control, open loop control and closed loop control applications. The standard defines the protocol suite, system management, gateway and security specifications for low-data-rate wireless connectivity with fixed, portable and moving devices supporting very limited power consumption requirements. The application focus is to address the performance needs of applications, such as monitoring and process control, where latencies on the order of 100 ms can be tolerated, with optional behavior for shorter latency.

With over 600 members from across the globe, ISA100 brings together wireless experts representing diverse industrial and technical interests in an open forum

Quality calibration!

Leading process and laboratory calibration service provider, Lotus Technical Services has recently received accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005.

This standard allows their calibration Laboratory to provide an accredited calibration service for both Electrical and Temperature variables, our defined scope of accreditation

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods.

It is applicable to all organisations performing tests and/or calibrations. These include, for example, first-, second- and third-party laboratories, and laboratories where testing and/or calibration forms part of inspection and product certification.

Engineers, Quality Managers and Calibration Co-ordinators can thus be assured that that company provides calibration to the highest standard.

Global acceptance for wireless standard!

International standard fulfills users’ requirements for simple, reliable and secure wireless communication in process measurement and control

WirelessHART® the  evolutionary communication technology built on the solid foundation of the HART® Communication Protocol, is achieving widespread global acceptance among end users and suppliers throughout the process automation industry. In just a few short years, WirelessHART has earned international standard status (IEC 62591Ed. 1.0, EN 62591) and has proven its ability to fulfill users’ requirements for simple, reliable and secure wireless communication in thousands of applications working in concert with millions of installed HART devices and systems worldwide.

“Enhancing the proven HART Protocol to include wireless communication capabilities greatly shortened the time required for industry acceptance,” says Ron Helson, Executive Director, HART Communication Foundation. “WirelessHART by design provides the same familiar ease of use and complements the HART instrumentation already installed in users’ plants. Its secure backward compatibility, interoperability and reliability make it easy for both users and suppliers to support wired and wireless devices connected to the same automation systems, operating side-by-side and using the same tools.”

Wil Chin, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group comments: “After an auspicious start, WirelessHART has crossed the ‘Chasm’ and is entering the ‘Early Majority’ phase of the technology adoption curve. The thousands of sites that have validated the value and performance of WirelessHART in pilot programs will accelerate its adoption in mainstream applications and drive healthy growth for the foreseeable future.”

End users attending recent Foundation-sponsored seminars describe WirelessHART Communication as: “very reliable,” “easy to set up,” “easy to configure” and “surprisingly forgiving–it even works beyond the recommended best practices.”

The WirelessHART standard supports star, point-to-point and/or mesh topologies and requires no specialized tools or expertise for deployment. The technology is easy to implement, provides built-in reliability in all industrial environments, and employs 128-bit AES encryption, multi-tiered, always-on security to protect the network and the data being transferred at all times. WirelessHART builds on proven international standards—the HART Communication Protocol (IEC 61158), EDDL (IEC 61804-3), IEEE 802.15.4™ radio and frequency/channel hopping, spread spectrum and mesh networking technologies.

Major automation manufacturers actively promoting WirelessHART technology and shipping WirelessHART products for process industry applications include ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, MACTek, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact and Siemens.

Independent benchmark provides assurance of robust network communication

Emerson’s Smart Wireless Gateway earns Achilles Certified™ designation 

As mentioned in the Operations & Maintenance section of their recent Berlin press event (#EMReu) Emerson Process Management has been awarded Achilles certification for its Smart Wireless Gateway.  Based on rigorous testing by independent consultant Wurldtech Security Technologies, the certification gives customers added assurance that the robust security measures built into Emerson’s Smart Wireless networks meet the demands of industrial automation applications.

The Smart Wireless Gateway
is a key part of
Emerson’s self-organizing
wireless field network technology.

“Emerson’s commitment to developing robust products has been demonstrated by their multiple Achilles Certified devices,” said Kevin Yoo, Achilles Certification Program Lead for Wurldtech. “They are continuing their emphasis on network robustness with the Emerson Smart Wireless Gateway, which is the first device in the new ‘network components’ category to achieve Achilles Certification.”

The Achilles Certified Communications program provides an independently verified benchmark for assessing the network security and resilience of applications, devices, and systems in critical industrial infrastructures. 

“Security has been a top priority for our Smart Wireless technology right from the start,” said Emerson security and IT-integration manager Jeff Potter.  “Achieving Achilles certification validates our approach and will further enhance customer confidence in the security and reliability of our wireless networks.”

The Smart Wireless Gateway is a key part of Emerson’s self-organizing wireless field network technology.  Based on the IEC 62591 (WirelessHART^®) standard, these networks use multiple strategies – including encryption, network keys, integrity codes, and anti-jamming techniques -- to provide secure, reliable communications even in harsh industrial environments.

Asia Pacific wireless technology seminar

The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute (WCI) reported outstanding results for its first Asia Pacific wireless technology outreach event, with more than 100 supplier and end-user professionals in attendance.

Yamatake hosted the event for the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute with support from Yokogawa, at the Queen’s Square in the historic port city of Yokohama, Japan.

WCI members provided a series of presentations on the ISA-100.11a technology, the status of planned additions to the standard, and a live interoperability demonstration using wirelessly networked ISA-100.11a sensor devices contributed by WCI supplier members. Key topics included announcements of successful ISA-100.11a product certifications, the product certification process, and organizational information on the ISA100 WCI.

The all-day seminar included English-language morning sessions for Asia Pacific supplier organizations, drawing over 80 attendees including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies; and afternoon sessions presented in Japanese for Asia Pacific end-user organizations, with more than 100 people in attendance. Presentations are available in English and Japanese on the institute’s website at www.isa100wci.org.

The ISA100.11a technology seminar followed three days of internal ISA100 WCI planning workshops to determine initiatives and goals for 2011 and beyond. One of the key items resulting from this year’s organizational planning was the establishment of divisions for regional support and outreach. The Asia Pacific Division is the first to be launched, with division leaders to be identified in upcoming weeks.

“The results of the Yokohama event exceeded our expectations,” stated Andre Ristaino, managing director of WCI. “It sets the bar for future ISA100 WCI industry outreach events. I was impressed by the level of interest in the ISA100 industrial wireless standard and we are grateful to Yamatake and Yokogawa for their hard work, hospitality and marvelous outcome.”

The ISA100.11a industrial wireless networking standard is the first in the ISA100 family of standards. This wireless mesh network standard protocol helps supplier companies build interoperable wireless automation control products. As a result, manufacturing sites are able to create, modify, optimize and scale a wireless network quickly, cost-effectively and seamlessly.

The ISA100.11a certifications are a significant milestone for WCI, and the certification provides users with the assurance that registered ISA100.11a devices will interoperate and adhere to their requirements. Manufactures have made their own product announcements about these certifications and, with a planned maintenance review underway, the ISA100.11a standard is expected to be submitted to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for approval in early 2011. Certified products already deployed can maintain compliance with a simple over-the-air firmware upgrade provided by the vendors—a clear example of one of the future-proof benefits of this standard.

Planned additions to the ISA100 family of standards include support for backhaul functionality, factory automation and other key-use cases.

Three cheers for wireless certification!

Unanimous certification a major industry milestone; wireless control benefits plant operations and lowers costs says automation leader.

Emerson Process Management applauds the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) unanimous vote to certify WirelessHART technology as "the first global standard for wireless communications for industrial process measurement and control." (see our story "First international standard for wireless in process automation," earlier this month!)

The new standard was developed by major process automation suppliers, including Emerson, working within the not-for-profit HART Communication Foundation. To be known now as IEC 62591, the standard makes it easier for refineries, chemical plants, energy producers, and other process businesses to add wireless technologies to their operations, at substantially lower cost than traditional wired technology. It also provides customers with multi-vendor interoperability and protects their technology investment. The IEC is the world's leading organisation that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

"The commission’s endorsement of this standard confirms what Emerson and many others have known: this technology is a reliable, versatile, and economical tool for improving process operations and enabling a significant return on investment," said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. "IEC 62591 compliant technology will have as great an impact in process plants as Wi-Fi has in offices."

Emerson was the first to offer WirelessHART products and continues to lead the industry with a broad portfolio of devices using the technology. Likewise, many other suppliers are building broad support for IEC 62591 by developing products based on the standard.

Beyond typical process measurement and control applications, customers are increasingly using wireless products where wired measurements would be too expensive or impractical – such as monitoring temperatures in moving railway tank wagons or wellhead pressures on remote offshore oil platforms – as well as applications such as corrosion and vibration detection which improve plant safety.

“The adoption rate has been incredible," according to Sonnenberg. "Emerson customers are already using our WirelessHART products in more than 1,200 installations around the world. Having an international standard should accelerate this growth by assuring them of future compatibility, allowing them to begin gaining the benefits of this exciting new technology."

IEC 62591 devices operate in state-of-the-art, self-organising wireless networks that automatically re-route communications to avoid obstacles or other interruptions. The standard is also based on the widely used HART communication protocol designed for the configuration and integration of devices into automation systems. This enables customers who wish to add WirelessHART products to existing systems, the ability to take advantage of familiar tools and training.

Specifications for HART and WirelessHART are controlled by the HART Communication Foundation, an international, not-for-profit organisation with more than 200 member companies that include major process automation manufacturers.