Safe commissioning and maintenance process for a safe fieldbus

In the last recent years some fieldbus systems have been equipped with additional safety related features according to the international standard IEC 61508. Thus these systems can be used in new fields of application. Typically, nodes are enhanced with hardware and safety related software. Moreover it is required to specify a safe commissioning and maintenance process for the fieldbus systems outlined in this paper for LON. It has to cover all aspects during installation, operation and maintenance of a fieldbus. It includes the process of safe binding as well as the process of replacement and modification.