Patent ID: 8539448

Claim:
A method for automatically testing a program for a safety-related automation system having at least one safety-related programmable logic controller for compliance with programming guidelines pertaining to designing programs for the safety-related programmable logic controller, a non-safety related programmable logic controller which communicates with the safety-related programmable logic controller, and safety related input/output devices and non-safety input/output devices which are connected to the controllers, the method comprising: obtaining at least part of a safety-related program from a development system for automation systems, the safety-related program being stored in a programming environment for creating a safety-related program in the development system; loading the obtained safety-related program into a test device for testing safety-related programs, the test device having access to guidelines for designing programs for safety-related programmable logic controllers; automatically testing, by a processor of the testing device, the loaded safety-related program in the test device for compliance with the programming guidelines for designing programs for safety-related programmable logic controllers; and outputting results of the testing from the test device; wherein the programming guidelines are in machine-readable form and are interpreted by the processor of the test device during execution of the test of the safety-related program.