2030 – 10 – Safety Factor

1m

Different pieces of metal may have slightly different mechanical properties, so there’s always a possibility that the material may break before its maximum strength. Testing can also go awry and cause material to break. That’s why it’s essential for manufacturers to take safety precautions against unexpected failure.
The key safety precaution in mechanical testing and industrial metalworking is to get close to a metal’s stated strength, but never to exceed it. Procedures may require more or less caution depending on the application. Safety ratings range from one to five, though ratings can be higher. A conservative rating might only be a one out of ten of the apparent strength of the material. When a metal has a higher rating, there is greater insurance against failure.