TS EN 60300-3-15

TS EN 60300-3-15 is an application guide on how to engineer system dependability. It focuses on realizing dependability across the system life cycle, and it applies both to new system development and to the improvement of existing systems where hardware, software, and human elements interact.

Life-cycle engineering for system dependability

In general technical terms, system dependability is broader than the reliability of a single component. It is the ability of a system to deliver its intended function with the needed confidence, taking into account related concepts such as maintainability, availability, and, where relevant, safety. For systems engineering, this means dependability has to be addressed consistently from requirements and design through verification, operation, and maintenance.

Why hardware, software, and human factors must be considered together

A key theme of the standard is that system functions are not limited to equipment alone. Hardware failures, software behaviour, and human actions can each affect the same outcome, so dependability engineering must consider their interactions together. In practice, this means looking not only at individual parts, but also at interfaces, operating conditions, and how the system is used and maintained.

In short, TS EN 60300-3-15 provides guidance for a system-level approach within dependability management. It is relevant to both new developments and existing systems, supporting a structured view of how dependability is planned, implemented, and improved over the life cycle.