HART Test Specifications and Interpretation Resolutions Available Now

FieldComm Group is excited to announce the release of two updated HART Communication Protocol Test Specifications and two new HART Specification Interpretation Resolutions (IR).
HART Test Specifications
The following test specifications have been approved by the HART Working Group.

FCG TT20002: HART FSK Physical Layer Test Specification
New test tools and test methods have been incorporated to simplify test procedures and improve consistency of results. In addition, the test set ups and test procedures have been updated to reflect the requirements of HART FSK Physical Layer Specification 9.1 (HCF_SPEC-54, FCG TS20054) released in 2016.

As a whole, these improvements will help align the test result captured by member developers and FCG test labs, thus streamlining device registration.

Changes to the HART FSK Physical Layer Test Specification (FCG TT20002, Ed. 3.0) include:
  • Revised a recommendation for DC power supply to have impedance under 1% of test load across a wide frequency range.
  • Modified Oscilloscope requirements in section 10.2 to include filtering with a bandwidth of up to 20MHz and deep memory capacity.
  • Clarified that a Frequency counter (section 10.3) is only required if the frequency of the signal generator needs to be verified.
  • Updated Test Setups in sections 12 and 13 to ensure that standard set-up applies signals across the test load.
  • Amended Waveshape Test in section 13.1 to include requirements and test procedures for amplitude variation, use of a specific test pattern, and generation of test patterns if standard responses do not yield the desired result. Also, updated the use of an oscilloscope for frequency measurement and provided updated sample waveforms.
  • Revised Carrier Transients in section 13.3 to clarify start/stop transients.
  • Updated figure in section 13.4.6 by removing reference to the inability to use a filter.
  • Adjusted limits for receive impedance in section 13.6.

FCG TT20019: HART EDD Test Specification
As part of product registration, all DDs for HART devices are subject to a DD test, based on test requirements from TT20019 HART EDD Test Specification. This version of the specification has been updated to make use of the new HART Standard DD Library, which can greatly simplify the EDD development by including more common code for import by EDD developers. This test specification also serves as the basis for future EDD test automation.

Updates to the HART EDD Test Specification (FCG TT20019, Ed. 2.0) include:
  • Retired select test points which are superseded by the implementation of the Standard DDs in the latest FDI IDE and the Import/Redefinition Macros.
  • Additional test points were added to address the macros in the Standard DD.
  • Reorganized sections and test points that were previously in incorrect sections and made editorial adjustments for clarity and accuracy.
Interpretation Resolutions
Interpretation Resolutions provide normative documentation for developers to further understand the current protocol specifications between the normal release cycles when gaps in understanding are identified. The following Interpretation Resolutions (IR) have been approved by the HART Working Group.

FCG IR10152-4: HART-IP I/O System Caching
HART-IP specifies that all I/O systems shall cache certain responses from their sub-devices. This Interpretation Resolution itemizes and clarifies key caching requirements found in the Network Management Specification (FCG TS20085). I/O System requirements for "Stale Data Notice" are found in both the Network Management Specification and the Wireless Command Specification (FCG TS20155). Furthermore, this document provides the following implementation guidance for developers:
  • Delayed Response Buffers
  • Cache Refreshing
  • Cache Stale Calculation
  • Cache Flushing
  • Caching Device Additional Status
  • Caching Configuration Changed Counter
  • Dynamic Data Caching
FCG IR10152-5: SafeHART Operation/Configuration
This Interpretation Resolution itemizes and clarifies key ambiguities uncovered by SafeHART developers in addition to alignment with IEC 61508 assessment results. Furthermore, this document provides the following implementation guidance for developers:
  • Safe publishing of Discrete Variables (Network Management, Common Practice Command).
  • Safe publishing of Discrete Variables (Network Management, Common Practice Command).
  • Enabling the safe publishing (Network Management).
  • SafeHART publishing of Command 48 disallowed (Network Management).
  • Command responses to unsupported SafeHART command requests (Network Management) 
  • SafeHART and error Response Codes (Network Management).
  • Upgrading existing devices to SafeHART (Command Summary)
General editorial improvements, clarifications and corrections
Per our standard practice, editorial improvements, clarifications and corrections were made as part of the general review of the specifications.  
The collection of updated HART Test Specifications can also be downloaded by FieldComm Group Members via ShareFile. If you do not have ShareFile access, please submit a support ticket.
DOWNLOAD TEST SPECIFICATIONS
DOWNLOAD IR4
DOWNLOAD IR5

For additional information, please visit the support portal.
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