As a general rule, it is not possible to turn a standard device into a safety device (F-device) just by implementing the PROFIsafe protocol: The final SIL of the device is defined by the architecture of the safety technology of the device together with the protocol and the manner in which both are implemented.
Even though PROFIsafe is suitable for safety functions up to SIL3, it may not be necessary to design and develop the F-Device also for SIL3.

Because of the “Black-Channel” principle, the PROFIsafe layer (located above the standard protocol) has no impact on the standard bus protocols and is independent from the base transmission channels. This makes implementation of the PROFIsafe driver software in devices and hosts quite easy. The following choices exist:
 

• Development of the software according to the specification or
• Use of a PROFIsafe starter kit available on the market. The advantage of a starter kit is obvious: pre-certified driver software, additional valuable information and tools, and technical support.
• For interfacing PROFIsafe to PROFIBUS or PROFINET, any of the available ASICs and layer stacks are suitable; the PROFIsafe driver software must only be adapted.  

According to the different safety device technologies – from simple F-Modul up to laser scanners - a high variety of individual safety parameters (iParameter) exist which must be coded and protected. For that, PROFIsafe recommends a new mechanism, the so-called  Universal-Parameter Server (iPar-Server). It is the responsibility of F-Host manufacturers to provide this capability, whether it is realized within the non-safety part of an F-Host as the parameterization master or within a con- trolled subsystem such as a non-safety PLC or an industrial computer on the same network. (For details see PROFIsafe System Description)

Drives
According to IEC 61800-5-2 some safety features (stopping and monitoring functions) are defined for drives with integrated safety (F-drives). Parts of these functions are specified in a amendment to the PROFIdrive specification.

Field devices for process automation
F-Devices for process automation follow the sector standard IEC 61511, which also takes into account the particular aspect of "proven-in-use". The PI Working Group "PA Devices" has specified, within a separate amendment to the “PA Device” specification, how to use the PROFIsafe platform for PA devices.

F-Host implementation solutions
Depending on the strategy of system manufacturers, different kinds of architectures for
F-Hosts with PROFIsafe communication are possible: stand-alone F-CPUs or integrated but logically separated safety processing within standard CPUs.
Safety processing can be realized in different ways: via hardware redundancy and discrepancy checking or via "software redundancy" or via "safeguarding" or by using already existing diverse hardware platforms.