Failure Effect
Definition
The consequence of a failure mode on the operation, function, or status of the item and the system. Failure effects describe what happens when the failure mode occurs, traced from the local effect on the component through the system level to the end effect on the plant, safety, and environment. Effects must be described assuming no detection or compensating provisions are in place.
Context
Failure effects are documented for each failure mode in FMEA worksheets. They drive severity ratings and determine whether the failure has safety, environmental, operational, or economic consequences. In Reliatic's database, the column is 'failure_effect' (not 'effect').
Examples
- Failure mode 'external leakage at pump mechanical seal' has local effect 'process fluid release to atmosphere', system effect 'loss of containment', and end effect 'potential fire/explosion if flammable, environmental contamination, production loss during emergency shutdown'.
- Failure mode 'instrument transmitter drift' has end effect 'incorrect process variable reading leading to potential off-spec product or unsafe operating condition'.
Applicable Standards
- IEC 60812:2018
- MIL-STD-1629A
Related Terms
The specific manner in which a component, subsystem, or system fails to perform its intended function or performs it in an unintended way. A failure mode describes the observable manifestation of a failure — what goes wrong — rather than why it goes wrong (failure cause) or what happens as a result (failure effect). Each functional failure may have multiple failure modes.
Failure CauseThe underlying reason or mechanism that initiates the process leading to a failure mode. A failure cause is the root-level factor — design deficiency, material defect, manufacturing flaw, operational condition, degradation mechanism, or human error — that creates the conditions for the failure mode to manifest. Each failure mode may have multiple independent causes.
SeverityA rating of the worst potential consequence of a failure mode, scored on a scale of 1 (negligible) to 10 (catastrophic/hazardous without warning). Severity considers the impact on safety, environment, operations, and financial loss. Severity ratings should only change if the design or process is fundamentally altered to eliminate or mitigate the failure effect.
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis(FMEA)A systematic, proactive methodology for evaluating a process, product, or design to identify all possible failure modes, determine their effects on system performance, rank them by risk priority, and recommend actions to reduce or eliminate the highest risks. FMEA examines each component's potential failure modes, their causes, effects at local/system/end levels, current controls, and risk priority numbers.
Consequence of Failure(CoF)A measure of the impact resulting from an equipment failure, encompassing safety (personnel injury/fatality), environmental (release to atmosphere/ground/water), production (lost throughput and business interruption), and equipment (repair/replacement cost). CoF is evaluated based on the worst credible release scenario, considering fluid properties, operating conditions, detection and isolation systems, and the surrounding environment.
Where this appears in Reliatic
This concept is used in the FMEA & Risk module.