Rockwell Automation, Inc. has introduced the new Allen-Bradley FLEX 5000 analog safety I/O modules. Equally important, the new modules can help process operators meet fail-safe requirements and minimize related downtime risks in a wide range of process applications.

The analog safety I/O modules from Rockwell Automation offer integrated safety with systematic capability up to SC 3. As such, the modules are TÜV certified up to SIL 3, PLe, Cat. 4. In addition, it is possible to mount them in the same I/O bank with standard FLEX 5000 I/O modules to reduce system costs and complexity.

Novel Features, Characteristics

The FLEX 5000 analog safety I/O modules are ideal for process applications, which require speed or frequency measurement, temperature, pressure, or flow sensor monitoring. This is particularly true for functional safety protection.

Moreover, potential applications include emergency shutdown, burner management, turbine control, compressor control, oil and gas auxiliary boilers, high-pressure protection, lighting, and ventilation management.

With these new modules, the FLEX 5000 product family now includes a complete portfolio of discrete and analog fail-safe I/O modules for a wide range of applications. In addition, users can simply choose the I/O that meets their operational needs.

FLEX 5000 I/O can also reduce downtime by providing easier access to additional process diagnostics via highly integrated HART in the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application. Hence, they can reduce overall footprint by allowing the direct termination of field signals. Furthermore, they can save engineering time via tight integration with instruction sets in PlantPAx 5.0 and above systems.