We have to demonstrate compliance to safety integrity level 3 for plant emergency stop systems for oil & gas processing plants. We can do this successfully for the control circuitry by utilising certified safety relays, which are available from various manufactures. But the problem comes when we try to achieve SIL 3 compliance of the motor starter. We can demonstrate the control circuit will reliably activate, but have trouble ensuring that the power side of the circuit, the final element such as the circuit breaker or contactor, will reliably activate when triggered by the emergency stop control circuit.
Has anybody come across this issue before? How did you demonstrate compliance and do you know a manufacturer of HV or MV circuit breakers certified to SIL 3? Any help appreciated, thanks

I would be interested how you achieved SIL3 on the control system. Using certified safety relays still need to prove rating by way of calculation.
It was some time ago I was involved with SIL2 power by having several contactors in series, using the control system philosophy to check contactor integrity on both closing and opening.

For SIL3 I guess you would need 2oo3 voting style contactor operation - 3 in series perhaps. The nearest I have come to that is offshore designs.

To demonstrate compliance to me you would have to demonstrate functional operation, safe operation wih faulty components still in circuit and supporting calculations.
I don't know any manufacturer who does this, but many will build to your designs/drawings.