User Manual
Appendix A
GFK-2843A
Jan 2020
VersaSafe system
67
Appendix A:
VersaSafe system
A-1
The VersaSafe system
A-1.1
VersaSafe technology
–
maximum flexibility and safety
In all safety applications in which conventional safety relays are not flexible enough,
parallel wiring proves too complex due to the expansiveness of the safety circuits or the
use of a safe bus system in conjunction with a safe controller is cost-prohibitive, VersaSafe
technology from Emerson offers a cost-effective solution.
The VersaSafe system works independently of the relevant network type and the type of
standard control system used. Both simply act as a transport medium for safe data
packets, which are exchanged between the safe input and safe output modules. The safe
inputs and outputs are distributed in the network and do not require a higher-level safety
controller or a separate safety bus system. Therefore, instead of having to choose a safe
network such as PROFIsafe or CIP Safety with the relevant available safety controllers,
users can instead continue to use the systems or technologies they have come to rely on.
This means that a hitherto unseen level of flexibility can be achieved in bus-based safety
applications.
Direct processing of safety operations in the module
VersaSafe technology has been integrated into the proven VersaPoint I/O system. Other
than the standard guidelines specified in GFK-
2736 ‘System Installation Manual‘ no special
installation guidelines have to be observed when installing the corresponding modules.
They can be distributed in the network and operated at any point in the I/O station. Due to
the technology used, a special bus coupler is not required as the safety operations are
processed directly in the IC220SDL963 intelligent safe output module. Thanks to the
comprehensive range of parameterization options, the input or output channels can be
adapted flexibly to the relevant application. Data transmission over the network from the
safe input module to the output module is protected by a special protocol, which is
operated by the intelligent output module. In the standard control system type, a handling
functional block must be called to forward the data. Like the network used, it does not
perform any safety-related tasks.
Easy configuration of the safety logic
The safety mechanisms used in the VersaSafe system, such as the “black channel”
principle, are based on proven technologies that have been used for many years in the
PROFIsafe systems. With appropriate parameterization, applications up to Cat. 4/SIL 3/ SIL
CL 3/PL e can be implemented. The VersaConf Safety software enables convenient
parameterization of the safe input and output channels and creation of the safety logic.
The tool does not require programming experience, as predefined functional blocks are
available for virtually every application. VersaSafe technology can be used to implement
distributed safety applications cost-effectively in a network independently of the network
and standard control system.
