A safety factor (also called an uncertainty factor or assessment factor) is a number by which some variable such as load or dose is multiplied or divided in order to increase safety. Safety factors are used in engineering design, toxicology, and other...

Factor of safety (FoS) can mean either the fraction of structural capability over that required, or a multiplier applied to the maximum expected load (force, torque, bending moment or a combination) to which a component or assembly will be subjected....