TS EN 62508

TS EN 62508 is a guidance standard focused on the human aspects of dependability and on human-centred design methods and practices that can be applied throughout a system’s life cycle to improve dependability performance. Its emphasis is not limited to hardware or software reliability alone; it also addresses how people interact with systems, tasks, interfaces and operating contexts.

Why the human element matters in dependability

Dependability is a broad performance concept that commonly includes reliability, availability, maintainability and, in some contexts, safety-related considerations. Human error is often better understood not as an isolated failure, but as an outcome influenced by design, workload, information presentation and organisational conditions. Human-centred design helps make tasks clearer, interfaces more consistent, operating decisions better supported and maintenance activities easier to carry out correctly.

What this standard provides

According to the scope, this standard describes qualitative approaches. In practical terms, that means it offers guidance rather than numerical limits, pass/fail thresholds or prescribed test apparatus. The life-cycle view encourages attention to human factors from requirements and design through operation, maintenance, modification and feedback, so that error-prone conditions are reduced and system behaviour becomes more predictable.

• Integration of human-centred design across the system life cycle
• Consideration of human interaction in operation, maintenance and decision-making
• A qualitative focus in support of dependability performance
• Attention to interfaces, tasks and organisational factors as well as technical equipment