- Critical Defect
A critical defect is a form of defect or fault that renders a system or item of equipment inoperative or is likely to render the system or item of equipment inoperative placing a one or more people at significant risk (death or injury) or an asset (or building) at significant risk (loss or damage) of from fire or related emergency.
Australian Standard AS 1851 introduced the term critical defect in the 2012 edition of the Standard. The definition was accompanied by a flowchart (Figure 1.5.6 - Routine Service Activity Failure) to illustrate the difference between a critical defect, non-critical defect and an observation.