SINTEF is an independent research institute based in Trondheim, Norway, and one of the largest independent research organizations in Europe, working across science, technology, and engineering.
In functional safety, SINTEF matters because it develops and maintains the PDS method and its data handbooks, a widely used source of failure rate data for sensors, logic solvers, and final elements. When a SIL verification cites “SINTEF PDS,” it is pointing straight at those handbooks. We at SIL Safe regard the PDS data as one of the standard reference libraries you can defensibly pull field failure rates from, alongside sources like OREDA.
Key Points
- SINTEF is an independent Norwegian research institute headquartered in Trondheim.
- In functional safety it is best known as the developer and maintainer of the PDS method and PDS data handbooks.
- PDS failure rate data from SINTEF is widely cited in IEC 61511 SIL verification work for field instruments and valves.
Example
A SIL verification worksheet lists each device’s lambda values with a “data source” column reading “SINTEF PDS Item 4.3.3” for a HIPPS valve. That citation traces the failure rate straight back to a specific table entry in the SINTEF PDS handbook.
Cited Sources