Glossary · Verification and validation
PASCAL Safety Calculator
Also known as: PAScal, Pilz PASCAL
German: PASCAL Safety Calculator
In functional safety of machinery, PASCAL Safety Calculator is a software tool from Pilz for calculating and verifying the achieved Performance Level to ISO 13849-1 and the SIL to IEC 62061 of safety functions, using component libraries with reliability data.
- Functional safety
- Verification
In one sentence
PASCAL Safety Calculator is a Pilz software tool for verifying Performance Level and SIL of machine safety functions.
Example
An engineer models the guard door function of a robot cell in PASCAL, adds the switch, safety relay and contactors from the library, and documents that the function achieves PL d.
How it applies
- Engineering: Tools such as PASCAL model a safety function as subsystems and compute PFHd, the achieved PL or SIL and supporting values from component data.
- Data: The result is only as good as the input. Component values from libraries must match the actual devices, their use and the assumed operating cycles.
- Verification: A calculation report covers only the quantitative part. Systematic requirements, software and validation still need separate evidence.
- Documentation: Keep the project file and the generated report with the tool version as part of the Evidence package, and update both when a component or the usage profile changes.
PASCAL vs. SISTEMA
Both tools support ISO 13849-1 calculations. SISTEMA is provided by the German IFA; PASCAL is a vendor tool from Pilz that also covers IEC 62061. Using either tool does not by itself demonstrate compliance.
Keep in mind: Product names, supported standards and features change. Check them against the vendor's current documentation.