Standards Development

Scope

This document provides guidance on how to identify and apply appropriate analysis and assurance techniques for availability. It describes the availability-related measures appropriate for inclusion in requirements and methods of verification. It discusses the relationship between availability and reliability, maintainability, and supportability.

Availability is a characteristic of an item dependent on the characteristics of the reliability, maintainability and supportability of its components.

Having items available to perform their functions is a prerequisite to generating value; hence managing availability is critical for any organization. Availability contributes towards organisational objectives. For example, availability directly affects performance measures such as productivity and service provision.

Availability is also a critical part of ensuring the safety of systems; for example, by ensuring that there is a high probability that protection systems will function when required.

Various analysis techniques can be used to assess the expected or actual availability performance. These analyses can be carried out during all stages of the item's life cycle and are applicable to all sectors and a range of example applications are provided in Annexes A and B

This document is one of a suite of ‘top level’ interrelated dependability standards that provide managers and technical personnel with guidance on how to effectively plan and implement dependability activities. Other documents in the suite are:

• IEC 60300-1 which highlights the importance and benefits of managing dependability. It gives guidance on dependability activities and how to integrate them into an existing management system and life cycle processes.

• IEC 60300-3-4 which provides guidance for writing dependability requirements in specifications, together with means of assuring the achievement of those requirements.

• IEC 60300-3-10 and IEC 60300-3-14 provide guidance on how to identify and apply appropriate analysis and assurance techniques for maintainability (and maintenance) and supportability (and support) respectively.

• IEC 60300-3-18 which provides guidance on reliability is currently planned.

Purpose

This document is one of a suite of ‘top level’ interrelated dependability standards that provide managers and technical personnel with guidance on how to effectively plan and implement dependability activities. Other documents in the suite are:

• IEC 60300-1 which highlights the importance and benefits of managing dependability. It gives guidance on dependability activities and how to integrate them into an existing management system and life cycle processes.

• IEC 60300-3-4 which provides guidance for writing dependability requirements in specifications, together with means of assuring the achievement of those requirements.

• IEC 60300-3-10 and IEC 60300-3-14 provide guidance on how to identify and apply appropriate analysis and assurance techniques for maintainability (and maintenance) and supportability (and support) respectively.

• IEC 60300-3-18 which provides guidance on reliability is currently planned.