IEC 61508 and Ada

IEC 61508 and Ada

[Alfred Hilscher]

I've heard that IEC61508 recommends the use of Ada for savety critical 
software. Now I found, that IEC61508 consists of seven parts. Can someone 
tell me, which part belongs to software, and which part mentions Ada?

Re: IEC 61508 and Ada

[Rolf Ebert]

Alfred Hilscher <ilkbsvvj@expires-2003-11-30.arcornews.de> wrote in message news:<bo5hju$lpb$1@stubsi.arcor-online.net>...
> I've heard that IEC61508 recommends the use of Ada for savety critical 
> software. Now I found, that IEC61508 consists of seven parts. Can someone 
> tell me, which part belongs to software, and which part mentions Ada?

I have a paper copy of some parts in German, and electronic versions
of the other parts in English/French.

As far as I can see, only part 7 (Overview of techniques and measures)
mentions Ada in the non-normative annex C.

C.4 Development tools and programming languages
C.4.1 Strongly typed programming languages

NOTE This technique/measure is referenced in table A.3 of IEC 61508-3.

Aim: Reduce the probability of faults by using a language which
permits a high level of checking by the compiler.

Description:
...
Typical examples of strongly typed languages are Pascal, Ada and
Modula 2.

-----------
All safety integrity levels in table A.3 of part 3 (Anforderungen an
Software "software requirements") are marked "++" for strongly typed
languages. "++" meaning "highly recommended" (besonders empfohlen).

     Rolf