scope:

This part of IEC 63164 provides guidance on the calculation of reliability data of automation systems which can be simplified as series, parallel or mixed structure based on reliability data of single devices and/or sub-systems, and on the form to present the data.

NOTE This procedure is only targeted to the reliability of automation systems, but not systems that embed automation systems, e.g. process plant.

Reliability is included in dependability, and this document is mainly focused on random hardware failures that affect reliability. Dependability is used as a collective term for the timerelated quality characteristics of an item and additionally includes availability, recoverability, maintainability, maintenance support performance, and, in some cases, other characteristics such as durability, safety and security, which are all not in the scope of this Technical Report.