Scott Equipment Company • SMC Safety Communication Fieldbus
SMC EX600 CIP Safety: Safety and Standard I/O on One Valve Manifold
SIL 3 / PL e safety inputs and outputs, general-purpose I/O and the pneumatic valves themselves, all on one EtherNet/IP node.
Fewer enclosures, less wiring, and safety shutdown zones inside the manifold. Supplied and supported by Scott Equipment Company.
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What the EX600 with CIP Safety Is
The SMC EX600 with CIP Safety is a high-performance remote I/O platform for applications that need CIP Safety communication. It carries both standard and safety signals in one unified architecture, so you can configure the manifold the way the machine needs it while still meeting functional safety requirements. With a scalable modular design, diagnostic visibility and compatibility with the major industrial networks, the EX600 with CIP Safety simplifies integration and improves reliability across complex automation systems.
In practice it replaces a familiar arrangement: a safety I/O block in a cabinet, a separate standard I/O block, and a pneumatic manifold wired back to both. On the EX600 the safety I/O module bolts directly to the valve manifold and shares one fieldbus connection with the standard I/O.
CIP Safety is the ODVA safety protocol that runs over EtherNet/IP, so safety and standard traffic share one network and one cable to the manifold.
How It Works: Three Kinds of Module
An EX600 safety manifold is assembled from three kinds of module ahead of the valves. From the end plate inward: the general purpose I/O modules (in any order among themselves), then the fieldbus module, then the safety I/O module, which carries the valve interface and mounts directly to the manifold.
Fieldbus Module
The network interface that supports safety communication. The EX600-BEN1 is the EtherNet/IP and CIP Safety version, with an LCD for IP address and parameter setting.
Safety I/O Module
Up to 16 safety inputs and 3 safety outputs, with a built-in valve interface. The EX600-FVC1 is the CIP Safety version for SY, JSY and VQC manifolds.
General Purpose I/O Modules
Digital I/O, analog I/O and IO-Link modules with M8 or M12 connectors. Up to 9 modules per manifold, plus one safety I/O module, for sensors, switches, regulators and indicators.
The safe state is simple and mechanical in its effect: when the safety PLC commands a safety output off, the EX600 cuts the power supply to the valves (or to the connected external devices) and the manifold goes to its safe condition.
Key Features
Standard and Safety I/O in One Unit
One manifold, one network drop, one power feed for both signal classes.
CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP
Safety traffic to a GuardLogix or other CIP Safety controller on the same cable as standard I/O.
PROFINET/PROFIsafe and EtherCAT/FSoE
The same safety manifold concept for Siemens and EtherCAT architectures.
Valve Manifold Zone Control
Split one manifold into separately shut-down safety zones instead of buying several manifolds.
Analog I/O Compatible
Pressure, flow and position signals on the same node as the valves they relate to. Per SMC's catalog the analog modules pair with the PROFINET and EtherCAT fieldbus modules.
Modular and Expandable
Add or reorder I/O modules as the machine evolves, without rewiring the safety circuit.
High-Speed Communication with Diagnostics
Status, error logs and I/O monitoring on the module display and over the network.
IP67 for Harsh Environments
Machine-mount rated, so it lives at the point of use rather than in a cabinet.
Works on SY, JSY, VQC and IITV23
Fits the SMC manifold families you already specify, including built-in electro-pneumatic regulators.
Safety Ratings, Inputs and Outputs
The EX600-FV safety I/O modules are certified by TÜV SÜD to IEC 61508 / IEC 62061 SIL 3 and ISO 13849-1 PL e, and carry CE/UKCA and UL (CSA) marks. What you actually achieve depends on how you wire the inputs:
Safety Inputs: 16 max.
Single input (1oo1): 16 safety inputs at SIL 2 / PL d.
Dual input (1oo2): 8 safety inputs at SIL 3 / PL e.
For door switches, emergency stops, light curtains, laser scanners and residual-pressure release valve position feedback.
Safety Outputs: 3 max.
Each output is made redundant by two safety switches, one on the 24 V side and one on the 0 V side. Diagnostics run continuously; if a fault is detected the switch opens and the system goes to the safe state.
Zone Control
Assigning safety outputs to sections of the manifold divides the valve power supply into zones (Z1, Z2, Z3). An intermediate SUP/EXH block goes between zones.
The module's safe state is defined precisely: safety outputs off, power to the connected valves shut off, and safety inputs reported to the safety PLC as "0". The safety concept, validation and risk assessment for the machine as a whole remain the machine builder's responsibility under ISO 13849 and IEC 62061.
Choosing a Safety I/O Module
Four safety I/O module variants cover different manifold sizes and output mixes. The square in the part number is SMC’s placeholder for the protocol letter: C for CIP Safety, P for PROFIsafe, F for FSoE, so EX600-FV□1 means EX600-FVC1, FVP1 or FVF1. The final digit sets the output configuration. All four have 16 safety inputs. Full specifications, dimensions and ordering codes are in SMC’s EX600 Safety Communication Fieldbus System catalog (PDF).
| Module | Safety outputs for valves | Safety outputs for external devices | Max. solenoids | Connectable manifolds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX600-FV□1 | 1 | 2 | 32 | JSY, SY, VQC |
| EX600-FV□2 | 1 | 2 | 128, plus up to 4 electro-pneumatic regulators | JSY-L/P, IITV23 |
| EX600-FV□3 | 3 (zone control) | none | 128 | JSY-L |
| EX600-FV□4 | 2 (zone control) | 1 | 128, plus up to 4 electro-pneumatic regulators | JSY-L/P, IITV23 |
The maximum solenoid count on the 128-solenoid modules depends on how many valves are energized at once. The FV□1 configuration is IP67; the electro-pneumatic regulator configurations are IP65, and JSY1000 valves are IP40.
EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and EtherCAT Options
SMC added PROFINET/PROFIsafe and EtherCAT/FSoE fieldbus modules to the safety platform in 2026, so the choice of controller no longer dictates whether you can put safety on the manifold.
EX600-BEN1 + EX600-FVC□
EtherNet/IP with CIP Safety. ODVA conformant. The BEN1 is the one fieldbus module with on-unit IP address and parameter setting. The natural fit for Rockwell GuardLogix and Compact GuardLogix systems.
EX600-BPN1 + EX600-FVP□
PROFINET with PROFIsafe for Siemens F-CPU architectures.
EX600-BEC1 + EX600-FVF□
EtherCAT with FSoE (Safety over EtherCAT) for Beckhoff and other EtherCAT safety masters.
Standard EX600 digital, analog and IO-Link modules complete the manifold. If you already use the EX600 platform, see our earlier post on the EX600 wireless option.
Where It Fits
The EX600 with CIP Safety pays off wherever pneumatics sit behind a guard and the safety circuit currently runs through a cabinet:
- Robot cells and guarded stations – door switches and light curtains into the safety inputs, valve power dropped by the safety outputs on the same manifold that drives the gripper and clamps.
- Packaging and assembly lines – one large manifold split into safety zones so a maintenance opening on one section does not stop the whole line.
- Machines with residual pressure release – the release valve's position feedback goes straight into a safety input, closing the loop without extra I/O.
- OEM machines shipped to multiple end users – the same mechanical build with a BEN1, BPN1 or BEC1 module depending on the customer's controller.
The catalog example says it plainly: with safety-capable fieldbus devices, the separate safety input unit and safety output unit disappear, and the wiring with them.
How Scott Equipment Helps
Scott Equipment Company has distributed SMC for over 20 years, and we carry the EX600 platform including the EX600-BEN1 fieldbus module and the EX600-FVC1 safety I/O module.
Manifold Configuration
We are here to help you configure your manifold. Tell us what you are looking for and we will design one for your application.
We Build It, You Install It
Through our assemblies program the manifold arrives built, tested and labeled under one part number.
Safety System Context
Guarding, light curtains, safety relays and safety controllers from our machine safety partners to complete the circuit.
Technical FAQ
What safety level can I reach with the EX600 with CIP Safety?
The safety I/O modules are certified to SIL 3 (IEC 61508 / IEC 62061) and PL e (ISO 13849-1). Dual-channel (1oo2) inputs support SIL 3 / PL e; single-channel (1oo1) inputs support SIL 2 / PL d. The rating of the complete safety function depends on the whole loop, including the input devices and the controller.
Do I still need a safety relay or safety I/O block?
Not for the pneumatics on that manifold. The safety PLC talks CIP Safety to the EX600-BEN1, and the EX600-FVC module switches valve power off directly. Other parts of the machine may still need their own safety I/O.
Which valve manifolds does it work with?
SY3000/5000/7000, JSY1000/3000/5000 and VQC1000 to VQC5000 on the FV□1 module; JSY-L and JSY-P (with built-in electro-pneumatic regulators) and the IITV23 on the 128-solenoid modules.
What is valve manifold zone control?
Using the FV□3 or FV□4 module, separate safety outputs feed separate sections of one manifold, so a safety event in one zone removes valve power only there. An intermediate SUP/EXH block assembly sits between zones.
Can I use it if my plant runs PROFINET or EtherCAT rather than EtherNet/IP?
Yes. The EX600-BPN1 (PROFINET/PROFIsafe) and EX600-BEC1 (EtherCAT/FSoE) fieldbus modules pair with the FVP and FVF safety modules respectively.
Can the safety module run without valves, as a plain safety I/O node?
Yes. SMC states it can be configured without connecting a valve and used as an I/O manifold, on the FV□1 module.
How do I set the IP address and check diagnostics?
On the EX600-BEN1's LCD and buttons: status, error logs, IP address and parameter setting, and I/O on/off monitoring. The same information is available to the controller over the network.
Speak with an Engineer
Planning a guarded cell, a zoned manifold or a controller migration? Scott Equipment Company can review the application, configure the EX600 safety manifold, build and test it, and quote lead times on the BEN1 and FVC modules.
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