Safety Factors

Safety factors are measures used in engineering and design to ensure that structures or products remain reliable and safe under unexpected conditions or stresses. They involve designing a component to handle more load or force than it is expected to encounter during normal use. For example, if a bridge is built with a safety factor of 2, it can support twice the maximum anticipated weight. This buffer accounts for uncertainties, material variations, or unforeseen events, helping prevent failure and ensuring safety for users over the lifespan of the structure or product.