DIN EN IEC 61784-3:2026-01

This part of the IEC 61784-3 series of standards explains some common principles that can be used in the transmission of safety-relevant messages among participants within a distributed network which use fieldbus technology in accordance with the requirements of IEC 61508 (all parts) for functional safety. These principles are based on the black channel approach. This part and the parts of IEC 61784-3-x specify several communication profiles for functionally safe transmission, based on the communication profiles and protocol layers of the fieldbus technologies defined in IEC 61784-1, IEC 61784-2, and IEC 61158 (all parts). These functional safety communication profiles use the black channel approach, as defined in IEC 61508. These functional safety communication profiles are intended for implementation in safety devices exclusively. It does not cover electrical safety and intrinsic safety aspects. Electrical safety relates to hazards such as electrical shock. Intrinsic safety relates to hazards associated with potentially explosive atmospheres. The communication profiles for functionally safe transmission described in this document can be used in numerous industrial applications, such as process control, manufacturing automation and machinery.