Brand: AUMA

AUMA FQM/FQMEx SIL Fail-Safe Unit for Part-Turn Valves

Name: AUMA FQM/FQMEx SIL Fail-Safe Unit for Part-Turn Valves
Brand: AUMA
SKU: FQM/FQMEx SIL

Description

AUMA FQM/FQMEx SIL fail-safe unit for part-turn actuators

The AUMA FQM/FQMEx SIL is a fail-safe unit that fits between a part-turn valve and an AUMA part-turn actuator. It drives the valve to its safe position when the power supply fails, using energy stored in a mechanical constant-force spring. The SIL version is certified for safety-related applications and is designed for open-close duty, with a torque range of 150 Nm to 1200 Nm. Seven Star LLC supplies AUMA equipment in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier. This page covers the FQM/FQMEx SIL in detail and complements our existing pages on the standard FQM unit.

FQM/FQMEx SIL technical data

Parameter	Specification
Manufacturer / part number	AUMA / FQM/FQMEx SIL
Duty	Fail-safe unit for open-close duty
Torque range	150 Nm to 1200 Nm
Operating time for 90°	8 s to 54 s
Swing angle	80° to 100°
Enclosure protection	IP68
Corrosion protection	KS
Ambient temperature	-30 °C to +70 °C
ATEX	II2G Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb
FM	Class I, Div. 1, Groups C, D T4; Class I, Zone 1, Group IIB T4
IECEx	Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb
Functional safety	Certified by exida to IEC 61508 (SIL) and EN ISO 13849 (PL)
Options	Explosion protection, fire protection
Interfaces	AUMA plug/socket connector, various cable entries, ISO valve attachments

Constant-force spring motor

The torque needed in an emergency comes from the energy stored mechanically in a constant-force spring. The manufacturer points out two benefits of this solution compared with conventional spring concepts: the torque characteristic is constant across the entire torque range, and the spring is not operated during standard operation. As a result, the actuator that drives the valve in normal service can be sized relatively small, because it does not have to carry the spring force on every stroke.

Safety functions and SIL rating of FQM/FQMEx SIL

Safety functions to IEC 61508: Safe OPENING and Safe CLOSING (ESD), and safe end position feedback
Capable up to SIL 2 at HFT=0 and systematic capability SC=3, and therefore up to SIL 3 in a suitable architecture
Safe end position feedback up to PL c according to EN ISO 13849
Certification by exida

These are manufacturer statements for the unit; the SIL rating of a complete valve assembly additionally depends on the valve, the logic solver and the plant proof-test regime and must be calculated by the responsible safety engineer.

Where the FQM/FQMEx SIL is used

Typical applications are ball and butterfly valves with part-turn actuation in emergency-shutdown service, fuel gas isolation, flare and blowdown, loading arms and process water systems. The Ex version carries ATEX II2G Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb, FM and IECEx marking, so it can be installed in hazardous areas of gas group IIB. Optional fire protection is offered for applications near ignition risks. It is combined with the SQ .2 family: see AUMA SQ 05.2 to SQ 12.2 and the earlier FQM 05.1, FQM 07.1, FQM 10.1 and FQM 12.1 pages.

Selection checklist for FQM/FQMEx SIL

Valve torque, including the breakaway torque of the emergency stroke
Fail-safe direction: opening or closing
Required travel time for the 90 degree stroke, within 8 s to 54 s
Hazardous-area zone and gas group (IIB marking is stated for the unit)
Whether fire protection is required
Valve flange per ISO and stem coupling
Ambient range between -30 °C and +70 °C
Safety requirement specification and SIL target of the loop

Installation, testing and maintenance

The unit is mounted between valve and actuator, so the mechanical interface must be confirmed on the valve flange before delivery. Electrical connection uses the AUMA plug/socket connector with a choice of cable entries. After commissioning, the emergency stroke should be tested by interrupting the power supply under controlled process conditions and recording the closing time, then repeating the test according to the plant proof-test interval. Because the spring is not cycled in normal duty, long-standing valves should still be partially stroked on a regular basis so that sticking is detected.

FQM/FQMEx SIL in Oman and GCC plants

Gulf installations often combine high ambient temperatures with sand and salt-laden air. IP68 enclosure protection and the KS corrosion protection level help in these conditions, while the -30 °C to +70 °C range covers hot summers. Applications are mainly in upstream and midstream oil and gas, refineries, LNG and petrochemical complexes and in utilities where fuel supply must be shut off safely.

Practical notes on using FQM/FQMEx SIL as a safety device

A fail-safe unit is only as dependable as its proof testing. Plan a periodic test in which the supply is removed and the stroke time is compared with the commissioning value; a longer time may point to valve stiction, packing wear or a change in process differential pressure rather than the spring itself. Record the result with the tag number so that trends are visible over several shutdown cycles.

Mounting orientation, valve end-position stops and the stroke angle of 80 to 100 degrees should be reviewed together. If the valve travels slightly less than 90 degrees, the stroke setting must be adapted at the commissioning stage and the safe end position feedback re-verified. Keep the original order documents, because the wiring diagram and the Ex certificate marking belong to the individual device.

For multi-valve projects, standardising on the same unit size across similar valves simplifies spare holding: a single FQM/FQMEx SIL spare, matched to the common torque class, can often serve a whole tank-farm or manifold.

Information to send with an RFQ

Part number: FQM/FQMEx SIL and the actuator it will be combined with
Valve data: type, size, class, torque and stroke angle
Fail direction and required time
Hazardous-area class and certificates
SIL target and proof-test philosophy
Voltage, quantity and delivery location

Documents and quotation

Send the part number FQM/FQMEx SIL, the application and the quantity, and Seven Star LLC will confirm which official documents are available for your configuration. Please do not rely on a general description alone: the order data, wiring diagram number and explosion-protection marking of the delivered unit are what count for engineering and commissioning.

Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier in Muscat serving customers across Oman and the GCC. Quotations are prepared against your enquiry data and are confirmed individually.

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About brand

AUMA builds electric actuators for industrial valves, gates and dampers. The company was founded in 1964 near Stuttgart by Werner Riester and Rudolf Dinse, moved its headquarters to Müllheim in south-west Germany in the early 1970s, and still trades as the owner-managed AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG. Its actuators run isolation and control valves in water, power, oil and gas and process plants worldwide.

Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier listing AUMA multi-turn and part-turn actuators, actuator controls, gearboxes and spare parts for buyers in Oman and the GCC. We work from the nameplate data so that a replacement matches the installed actuator, controls and gearbox.

AUMA company profile

Origin	Founded in 1964 by Werner Riester (engineering) and Rudolf Dinse (sales and finance); registered as Riester KG in Esslingen. Water and wastewater plants were the first customers.
Headquarters	Müllheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (since the early 1970s). Production in Germany, with further plants in India, the USA and China, and around 30 sales and service companies worldwide.
Ownership	Privately held, owner-managed company: AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG
Torque and thrust range	Multi-turn, part-turn and linear actuators from 1.5 Nm to 675,000 Nm with gearboxes, and linear thrust up to 217 kN, as published by AUMA
Design principle	Modular: actuator, integral controls and gearbox are combined to suit the valve, so one actuator size can serve open-close, modulating, fieldbus or explosion-proof duty

Milestones

1964: Werner Riester and Rudolf Dinse found AUMA near Stuttgart; the first actuator range follows, with water and sewage plants as the first customers.
Early 1970s: Lack of space in Nellingen leads to the move to Müllheim in south-west Germany.
1974: AUMA Benelux, the first foreign subsidiary, is founded.
Today: About 2,800 employees worldwide, around 850 of them in Müllheim, according to AUMA.

AUMA actuator, controls and gearbox series

Series	Type	Typical use
SA 07.2 to SA 16.2, SA 25.1 to SA 40.1	Multi-turn actuators, open-close duty	Gate and globe valves, sluice gates and penstocks; SA 07.2 to 16.2 cover roughly 10 to 1,000 Nm, the .1 sizes go far higher
SAR 07.2 to SAR 30.1	Multi-turn actuators, modulating duty	Control valves that receive a continuous position setpoint and many starts per hour
SAV, SARV, SQV, SQRV	Variable-speed actuators	Slow approach to the seat to limit water hammer, fast travel elsewhere
SQ 05.2 to SQ 14.2, SQR	Part-turn actuators	Ball, butterfly and plug valves and dampers, about 50 to 2,400 Nm; SQR for modulating duty; FQM fail-safe unit for spring-return action
SAEx, SAREx, SQEx, PROFOX-MX, TIGRON	Explosion-proof actuators	Hazardous areas in oil, gas and chemical plants, with ATEX and IECEx certified versions
AUMA MATIC AM, AUMATIC AC, ACExC 01.2, AMExC 01.1, AC 01.2-SIL	Integral actuator controls	AM for simple parallel wiring; AC for positioning, diagnostics and fieldbus (PROFIBUS DP, PROFINET, Modbus, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART depending on version); SIL version for safety functions
GS, GHE, SA + GS combination	Part-turn worm gearboxes	Large butterfly and ball valves, from GS 63.3 up to GS 630.3 at 675,000 Nm
GK, GST, GHT, GP	Multi-turn gearboxes (bevel, spur, worm, planetary)	Offset or right-angle drives and very high multi-turn torque
LE, SVC/SVCR, PROFOX-L	Linear actuators and thrust units	Globe and control valves with a rising stem, up to 217 kN
PROFOX-M, PROFOX-Q	Compact smart actuators	Small valves where a full SA or SQ is oversized
SA-UW, SGM/SGMR, SVM/SVMR, SAN/SARN	Special versions	Submerged valves, seawater-exposed ship and offshore duty, nuclear plant service
SIMA2	Master station	Fieldbus network management for many actuators on one plant

Where AUMA actuators are used

Water transmission and treatment is the largest use: pipeline isolation valves, pumping stations, desalination plants and sluice gates. AUMA actuators also run valves in power plant steam, feedwater and cooling systems, pipelines and tank farms, refineries and chemical plants, and on ships and offshore platforms. In the Gulf, check the ambient temperature rating, since actuators in direct sun can exceed 50 °C, and specify the enclosure protection for sand and humidity.

Ordering AUMA actuators and spare parts: what we need

For a replacement, send photos of the actuator, motor and controls nameplates: type designation, commission or order number, serial number and wiring diagram number. AUMA identifies the original build from the commission number. For a new actuator, add the valve type, required torque or thrust at the worst case, number of turns or swing angle, operating time, mounting flange to ISO 5210 or ISO 5211, stem or shaft dimensions, duty (open-close or modulating), supply voltage and frequency, control signals or fieldbus, and the hazardous-area marking required on site.

Facts checked against AUMA product information and the company history published by AUMA, October 2026.

Browse AUMA products by category: Valve Actuator, Industrial Communications.

FAQ

Questions about the AUMA FQM/FQMEx SIL Fail-Safe Unit for Part-Turn

Answers from our engineering team on installation, compatibility and integration.

01What torque does the FQM/FQMEx SIL provide?

The torque range stated by the manufacturer is 150 Nm to 1200 Nm for open-close duty, with an operating time of 8 s to 54 s for 90 degrees.

02How is the emergency energy stored?

In a mechanical constant-force spring. The torque characteristic stays constant over the stroke and the spring is not operated in normal duty, so the actuator can be sized smaller.

03Which SIL level is stated?

The safety functions are capable up to SIL 2 at HFT=0 and SC=3, and up to SIL 3 in a suitable setup. Certification is by exida to IEC 61508 and EN ISO 13849.

04Is the unit available for hazardous areas?

Yes. The Ex version is listed with ATEX II2G Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb and IECEx Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb, plus FM Class I Div. 1 Groups C and D. Fire protection is an option.

05Which swing angle is covered?

80 to 100 degrees, which covers the usual 90 degree quarter-turn valves.