Performance Level

PL Evaluation Procedure
Work flow up to the present point is as follows.
Those diagrams represent the evaluation procedure overview for the safety-related parts performance (PL) as indicated in the ISO 13849-1:
Technical Guide

2006 and ISO/TR 23849.

Proceed to the detailed safety design along with the description in each chapter.

A C
Chap. 1
Chap. 2

Design a control circuit to implement

the required safety function.
To achieve PLr in the safety-related
Chap. 3

parts, it is necessary to select the parts

having the circuit of designated archi-
Enumerate the risks by the risk assessment. tecture (category) and reliability to
See Risk Assessment Procedure in 2. Relationship meet the requirements.
Chap. 4

between Risk Assessment and PL in Chapter 5.

Chap. 5

B
Chap. 6

Extract from the control circuit the

If the risk level is not acceptable, take
measures for reducing the risk.
See Risk Assessment Procedure in 2. Relationship
between Risk Assessment and PL in Chapter 5.
safety-related parts for transmitting the
operating demands for safety function
and expand into the logical block
diagram.

a
b
c a
d
e Of the safety-related parts, isolate what
If a measure is control-based, determine
the required performance level (PLr) to
are already evaluated with PL per se
and what are functionally evaluated for b
meet the measure (safety function). safety (SIL) from the discrete
components.
See How to Determine PLr in 4. PLr and PL See 7. Complex Subsystem in Chapter 5.
in Chapter 5.

76
 Performance Level

b a

Technical Guide
Complex subsystem Safety-related parts or
Complicated electronic circuits subsystem comprised of
(including safety light curtains, designated architecture

Chap. 1
safety controllers) comprised
of the electronic parts are
mainly evaluated by the parts
manufacturers.

Chap. 2
Consumable mechanical parts
(including switches, relays or
contactors) are mainly evaluated by

Chap. 3
the machinery manufacturers
Products in Products in conformity
conformity to IEC to ISO 13849-1 B10d
62061/IEC 61508 DC
are given by a manufacturer

Chap. 4
nop is assumed
SIL only PL only Category
PFHd is
declared declared MTTFd
given by
DC Identify category

Chap. 5
a manufacturer
CCF Calculate MTTFd
are given by a Calculate DCavg
manufacturer Check CCF

Chap. 6
Converted into
PL via PL Converted into Converted into Converted into
decision table PFHd via PFHd PFHd via PFHd PL via PL
on page 104 conversion table conversion table decision table
on page 103 on page 103 on page 104

Simplified evaluation Quantitative evaluation

Which is the lowest PL in the subsystem? Sum of PFHd in all the subsystems
Determine PL in 3) Simplified estimation in 8. Determine PL in 1) Combination of Subsystems
PL Evaluation in Chapter 5 in 8. PL Evaluation in Chapter 5

Risk reduced to
YES YES All risks YES
PLr achieved? an acceptable
assessed? Completed
level?
NO NO NO

Reconsider Consider Continue risk

circuit C additional B enumeration A
configuration and parts safety measures

77
 Performance Level

How to use Table K.1 in Annex K in ISO 13849-1

Conversion example into PFHd is shown below.
Technical Guide

PL parameter Usage (example)

Category Designated architecture

(configuration of I. L and O) Designated
Chap. 1

Input signal Output signal Input signal Output signal Input signal Output signal
m
architecture
I L O I L O l1 L1 O1

m
corresponds to
Cat 3.
C
Chap. 2

TE OTE m

l2 L2 O2
Output signal
Input signal Output signal
Chap. 3

* The machine designer

MTTFd (1) Component block him/herself needs to
know Nop.
1. Use MTTFd provided by the manufacturer
2. Use MTTFd specified in Annex C
Chap. 4

3. When B10d is provided, convert into

B10d
MTTFd from the formula on the right Subsystem
MTTFd
(2) Channel
calculation
Chap. 5

(3) Entire subsystem result is

nop* If Channel 1 and Channel 2 MTTFd are equivalent, assume the equation 2
result as MTTFd for the subsystem. MTTFd for the subsystem, however,
40 years.
* The machine designer
Chap. 6

him/herself needs to is limited up to 100 years.

know nop.

Select the relevant DC from

DCavg (1) Component block Table 1 in Annex E

Subsystem
DC DCavg
(3) Entire subsystem calculation
result is 80%.
MTTFd

The score in the checklist in

CCF Annex F must be 65 or over
Check list
score is
75.

90
 Performance Level

PL Decision Table/PFHd Conversion Table (Source: ISO 13849-1, Annex K, Table K.1)

Technical Guide
Category B 1 2 3 4
Low Medium Low Medium High
DCavg None
Cat3 domain
60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 99≤DCavg
CCF Not relevant selected
65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65Focused
≤ CCF to domain
65 ≤ CCF
equivalent to

Chap. 1
3≤MTTFd a 3.80×10-55 a 2.58×10-55 a 1.99×10-55 a 1.26×10-55 b 6.09
60 ≤×10
-6
DCavg < 90
Confirm the range -55
3.3≤MTTFd a 3.46×10
10-55 a 2.33×10
10-55 a 1.79×10
10 a 1.13×10
10-55 b 5.41×10
10-66
65 ≤ CCF
3.6≤MTTFd 3 1 ×10
a 3.17 10 -5
5
a 2.13
2 13×10
10 -5
5
a 1.62
1 62×10
10 -5
5
a 1.03
1 03×10
10 -5
5
b 4.86×10-6

Chap. 2
3.9≤MTTFd 2 93×10
a 2.93 10-55 a 1.95
1 9 ×10
10-55 a 1.48
1 48×10
10-55 b 9.37
9 3 ×10
10-66 b 4.40×10-6
4.3≤MTTFd 2 6 ×10
a 2.65 10 -5
5
a 1.76
1 6×10
10 -5
5
a 1.33
1 33×10
10 -5
5
b 8.39
8 39×10
10 -6
6
b 3.89×10-6
4.7≤MTTFd 2 43×10
a 2.43 10-55 a 1.60
1 60×10
10-55 a 1.20
1 20×10
10-55 b 7.58
8×10
10-66 b 3.48×10-6

Chap. 3
Low 5.1≤MTTFd 2 24×10
a 2.24 10-55 a 1.47
1 4 ×10
10-55 a 1.10
1 10×10
10-55 b 6.91
6 91×10
10-66 b 3.15×10-6
5.6≤MTTFd 2 04×10
a 2.04 10 -5
5
a 1.33
1 33×10
10 -5
5
b 9.87
9 8 ×10
10 -6
6
b 6.21
6 21×10
10 -6
6
c 2.80×10-6
6.2≤MTTFd 1 84×10
a 1.84 10-55 a 1.19
1 19×10
10-55 b 8.80
8 80×10
10-66 b 5.53
3×10
10-66 c 2.47×10-6

Chap. 4
6.8≤MTTFd 1 68×10
a 1.68 10 -5
5
a 1.08
1 08×10
10 -5
5
b 7.93
7 93×10
10 -6
6
b 4.98
4 98×10
10 -6
6
c 2.20×10-6
7.5≤MTTFd 1 52×10
a 1.52 10-55 b 9.75
9 75×10
10-66 b 7.10
7 10×10
10-66 b 4.45
4 45×10
10-66 c 1.95×10-6
8.2≤MTTFd 1 39×10
a 1.39 10-55 b 8.87
8 87×10
10-66 b 6.43
6 43×10
10-66 b 4.02
4 02×10
10-66 c 1.74×10-6

Chap. 5
9.1≤MTTFd 1 25×10
a 1.25 10 -5
5
b 7.94
7 94×10
10 -6
6
b 5.71
5 71×10
10 -6
6
b 3.57
3 57×10
10 -6
6
c 1.53×10-6
10≤MTTFd 1 14×10
a 1.14 10-55 b 7.18
7 18×10
10-66 b 5.14
5 14×10
10-66 b 3.21
3 21×10
10-66 c 1.36×10-6
11≤MTTFd 1 04×10
a 1.04 10 -5
5
b 6.44
6 44×10
10 -6
6
b 4.53
4 53×10
10 -6
6
c 2.81
2 81×10
10 -6
6
c 1.18×10-6

Chap. 6
12≤MTTFd 9 51×10
b 9.51 10-66 b 5.84
5 84×10
10-66 b 4.04
4 04×10
10-66 c 2.49
2 49×10
10-66 c 1.04×10-6
13≤MTTFd 8 78×10
b 8.78 10-66 b 5.33
5 33×10
10-66 b 3.64
3 64×10
10-66 c 2.23
2 23×10
10-66 d 9.21×10-7
15≤MTTFd 7 61×10
b 7.61 10 -6
6
b 4.53
4 53×10
10 -6
6
b 3.01
3 01×10
10 -6
6
c 1.82
1 82×10
10 -6
6
d 7.44×10-7
Medium 16≤MTTFd 7 13×10
b 7.13 10-66 b 4.21
4 21×10
10-66 c 2.77
2 77×10
10-66 c 1.67
1 67×10
10-66 d 6.76×10-7
18≤MTTFd 6 34×10
b 6.34 10 -6
6
b 3.68
3 68×10
10 -6
6
c 2.37
2 37×10
10 -6
6
c 1.41
1 41×10
10 -6
6
d 5.67×10-7
20≤MTTFd 5 71×10
b 5.71 10-66 b 3.26
3 26×10
10-66 c 2.06
2 06×10
10-66 c 1.22
1 22×10
10-66 d 4.85×10-7
22≤MTTFd 5 19×10
b 5.19 10-66 c 2.93
2 93×10
10-66 c 1.82
1 82×10
10-66 c 1.07
1 07×10
10-66 d 4.21×10-7
24≤MTTFd 4 76×10
b 4.76 10 -6
6
c 2.65
2 65×10
10 -6
6
c 1.62
1 62×10
10 -6
6
d 9.47
9 47×10
10 -7
7
d 3.70×10-7
27≤MTTFd 4 23×10
b 4.23 10-66 c 2.32
2 32×10
10-66 c 1.39
1 39×10
10-66 d 8.04
8 04×10
10-77 d 3.10×10-7
30≤MTTFd b 3.80
3 80×10
10 -6
6
c 2.06
2 06×10
10 -6
6
c 1.21
1 21×10
10 -6
6
d 6.94
6 94×10
10 -7
7
d 2.65
2 65×10
10-77 e 9.54×10-8
33≤MTTFd b 3.46
3 46×10
10-66 c 1.85
1 85×10
10-66 c 1.06
1 06×10
10-66 d 5.94
5 94×10
10-77 d 2.30
2 30×10
10-77 e 8.57×10-8
36≤MTTFd b 3.17
3 17×10
10-66 c 1
1.67
67×10
10-66 d 9
9.39
39×10
10-77 d 5.16
5 16×10
10-77 d 2
2.01
01×10
10-77 e 7
7.77
77×10-88
39≤MTTFd c 2.93
2 93×10
10 -6
6
c 1.53
1 53×10
10 -6
6
d 8.40
8 40×10
10 -7
7
d 4.53×10 -7
d 1.78
1 78×10
10 -7
7
e 7.11×10-8
43≤MTTFd c 2.65
2 65×10
10-66 c 1
1.37
37×10
10-66 d 7
7.34
34×10
10-77 d 3.87
3 87×10
10-77 d 1
1.54
54×10
10-77 e 6
6.37
37×10-8
47≤MTTFd c 2.43
2 43×10
10 -6
6
c 1.24
1 24×10
10 -6
6
d 6.49
6 49×10
10 -7
7
d 3.35
3 35×10
10 -7
7
d 1.34
1 34×10
10 -7
7
e 5.76×10-8

High
51≤MTTFd c 2.24
Domain2 24×10
10 -6
6
equivalent c 1.13
1to
13×10
10 -6
6
d 5.80
5 80×10
10-77 d 2.93
2 93×10
10-77 Crossed eportion
d 1.19
1 19×10
10-77 5.26×10 -8

56≤MTTFd 39 c≤ 2.04
2MTTFd10-66 < 43c selected
04×10 1 02×10
1.02 10-66 d 5.10
5 10×10
10-77 d 2.52
2 52×10
10-77 drepresents
1 03×10
1.03 10 PL
e 4.73
-7
7
×10 -8

62≤MTTFd c 1.84
1 84×10
10 d 9.06
9 06×10
10 d 4.43
4 43×10
10 d 2.13
2 13×10
10
and
e 8.84
PFHd
8 84×10
10
for this
e 4.22×10
-6
6 -7
7 -7
7 -7
7 -8
8 -8

68≤MTTFd c 1.68
1 68×10
10-66 d 8.17
8 17×10
10-77 d 3.90
3 90×10
10-77 d 1.84
1 84×10
10-77 e 7
7.68
68 ×10
10 e 3.80×10
channel
-8
8 -8

75≤MTTFd c 1.52
1 52×10
10 -6
6
d 7.31
7 31×10
10 -7
7
d 3.40
3 40×10
10 -7
7
d 1.57
1 57×10
10 -7
7
e 6.62
6 62×10
10 e 3.41×10
-8
8 -8

82≤MTTFd c 1.39
1 39×10
10-66 d 6.61
6 61×10
10-77 d 3.01
3 01×10
10-77 d 1.35
1 35×10
10-77 e 5.79
5 79×10
10-88 e 3.08×10-8
91≤MTTFd c 1.25
1 25×10
10-66 d 5.88
5 88×10
10-77 d 2.61
2 61×10
10-77 d 1.14
1 14×10
10-77 e 4.94
4 94×10
10-88 e 2.74×10-8
100≤MTTFd c 1.14
1 14×10
10 -6
6
d 5.28
5 28×10
10 -7
7
d 2.29
2 29×10
10 -7
7
d 1.01
1 01×10
10 -7
7
e 4.29
4 29×10
10 -8
8
e 2.47×10-8

109
 Performance Level

PL Decision Table (Source: ISO 13849-1, Annex K, Table K.1)

Technical Guide

Category B 1 2 3 4
Low Medium Low Medium High
DCavg None
60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 99≤DCavg
CCF Not relevant 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF
Chap. 1

3≤MTTFd a a a a b
3.3≤MTTFd a a a a b
Chap. 2

3.6≤MTTFd a a a a b
3.9≤MTTFd a a a b b
4.3≤MTTFd a a a b b
Chap. 3

4.7≤MTTFd a a a b b
Low 5.1≤MTTFd a a a b b
5.6≤MTTFd a a b b c
Chap. 4

6.2≤MTTFd a a b b c
6.8≤MTTFd a a b b c
Chap. 5

7.5≤MTTFd a b b b c
8.2≤MTTFd a b b b c
9.1≤MTTFd a b b b c
Chap. 6

10≤MTTFd a b b b c
11≤MTTFd a b b c c
12≤MTTFd b b b c c
13≤MTTFd b b b c d
15≤MTTFd b b b c d
Medium 16≤MTTFd b b c c d
18≤MTTFd b b c c d
20≤MTTFd b b c c d
22≤MTTFd b c c c d
24≤MTTFd b c c d d
27≤MTTFd b c c d d
30≤MTTFd b c c d d e
33≤MTTFd b c c d d e
36≤MTTFd b c d d d e
39≤MTTFd c c d d d e
43≤MTTFd c c d d d e
47≤MTTFd c c d d d e
51≤MTTFd c c d d d e
High
56≤MTTFd c c d d d e
62≤MTTFd c d d d e e
68≤MTTFd c d d d e e
75≤MTTFd c d d d e e
82≤MTTFd c d d d e e
91≤MTTFd c d d d e e
100≤MTTFd c d d d e e

110
 Performance Level

Category B 1 2 3 4
Low Medium Low Medium High
DCavg None

Technical Guide
60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 60≤DCavg 90≤DCavg 99≤DCavg
CCF Not relevant 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF 65 ≤ CCF

3≤MTTFd 3.80×10-5 2.58×10-5 1.99×10-5 1.26×10-5 6.09×10-6

3.3≤MTTFd 3.46×10-5 2.33×10-5 1.79×10-5 1.13×10-5 5.41×10-6

Chap. 1
3.6≤MTTFd 3.17×10-5 2.13×10-5 1.62×10-5 1.03×10-5 4.86×10-6
3.9≤MTTFd 2.93×10-5 1.95×10-5 1.48×10-5 9.37×10-6 4.40×10-6
4.3≤MTTFd 2.65×10-5 1.76×10-5 1.33×10-5 8.39×10-6 3.89×10-6

Chap. 2
4.7≤MTTFd 2.43×10-5 1.60×10-5 1.20×10-5 7.58×10-6 3.48×10-6
Low 5.1≤MTTFd 2.24×10-5 1.47×10-5 1.10×10-5 6.91×10-6 3.15×10-6

Chap. 3
5.6≤MTTFd 2.04×10-5 1.33×10-5 9.87×10-6 6.21×10-6 2.80×10-6
6.2≤MTTFd 1.84×10-5 1.19×10-5 8.80×10-6 5.53×10-6 2.47×10-6
6.8≤MTTFd 1.68×10-5 1.08×10-5 7.93×10-6 4.98×10-6 2.20×10-6

Chap. 4
7.5≤MTTFd 1.52×10-5 9.75×10-6 7.10×10-6 4.45×10-6 1.95×10-6
8.2≤MTTFd 1.39×10-5 8.87×10-6 6.43×10-6 4.02×10-6 1.74×10-6

Chap. 5
9.1≤MTTFd 1.25×10-5 7.94×10-6 5.71×10-6 3.57×10-6 1.53×10-6
10≤MTTFd 1.14×10-5 7.18×10-6 5.14×10-6 3.21×10-6 1.36×10-6
11≤MTTFd 1.04×10-5 6.44×10-6 4.53×10-6 2.81×10-6 1.18×10-6

Chap. 6
12≤MTTFd 9.51×10-6 5.84×10-6 4.04×10-6 2.49×10-6 1.04×10-6
13≤MTTFd 8.78×10-6 5.33×10-6 3.64×10-6 2.23×10-6 9.21×10-7
15≤MTTFd 7.61×10-6 4.53×10-6 3.01×10-6 1.82×10-6 7.44×10-7
Medium 16≤MTTFd 7.13×10-6 4.21×10-6 2.77×10-6 1.67×10-6 6.76×10-7
18≤MTTFd 6.34×10-6 3.68×10-6 2.37×10-6 1.41×10-6 5.67×10-7
20≤MTTFd 5.71×10-6 3.26×10-6 2.06×10-6 1.22×10-6 4.85×10-7
22≤MTTFd 5.19×10-6 2.93×10-6 1.82×10-6 1.07×10-6 4.21×10-7
24≤MTTFd 4.76×10-6 2.65×10-6 1.62×10-6 9.47×10-7 3.70×10-7
27≤MTTFd 4.23×10-6 2.32×10-6 1.39×10-6 8.04×10-7 3.10×10-7
30≤MTTFd 3.80×10-6 2.06×10-6 1.21×10-6 6.94×10-7 2.65×10-7 9.54×10-8
33≤MTTFd 3.46×10-6 1.85×10-6 1.06×10-6 5.94×10-7 2.30×10-7 8.57×10-8
36≤MTTFd 3.17×10-6 1.67×10-6 9.39×10-7 5.16×10-7 2.01×10-7 7.77×10-8
39≤MTTFd 2.93×10-6 1.53×10-6 8.40×10-7 4.53×10-7 1.78×10-7 7.11×10-8
43≤MTTFd 2.65×10-6 1.37×10-6 7.34×10-7 3.87×10-7 1.54×10-7 6.37×10-8
47≤MTTFd 2.43×10-6 1.24×10-6 6.49×10-7 3.35×10-7 1.34×10-7 5.76×10-8
51≤MTTFd 2.24×10-6 1.13×10-6 5.80×10-7 2.93×10-7 1.19×10-7 5.26×10-8
High
56≤MTTFd 2.04×10-6 1.02×10-6 5.10×10-7 2.52×10-7 1.03×10-7 4.73×10-8
62≤MTTFd 1.84×10-6 9.06×10-7 4.43×10-7 2.13×10-7 8.84×10-8 4.22×10-8
68≤MTTFd 1.68×10-6 8.17×10-7 3.90×10-7 1.84×10-7 7.68×10-8 3.80×10-8
75≤MTTFd 1.52×10-6 7.31×10-7 3.40×10-7 1.57×10-7 6.62×10-8 3.41×10-8
82≤MTTFd 1.39×10-6 6.61×10-7 3.01×10-7 1.35×10-7 5.79×10-8 3.08×10-8
91≤MTTFd 1.25×10-6 5.88×10-7 2.61×10-7 1.14×10-7 4.94×10-8 2.74×10-8
100≤MTTFd 1.14×10-6 5.28×10-7 2.29×10-7 1.01×10-7 4.29×10-8 2.47×10-8

111