Fault (technology)

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In engineering, a fault is a defect or problem in a system that causes it to fail or act abnormally.

The ISO document 10303-226 defines fault as an abnormal condition or defect at the component, equipment, or sub-system level which may lead to a failure.

The United States Glossary of Telecommunication Terms defines fault for telecommunications as:

1. An accidental condition that causes a functional unit to fail to perform its required function. See § Random fault.[1]
2. A defect that causes a reproducible or catastrophic malfunction. A malfunction is considered reproducible if it occurs consistently under the same circumstances. See § Systematic fault.
3. In power systems, an unintentional short circuit, or partial short circuit, between energized conductors or between an energized conductor and ground. A distinction can be made between symmetric and asymmetric faults. See Fault (power engineering).