⚠️ RTT Facilities — Failure Mode Catalog
Canonical Structural Failure Patterns
This document defines the Facilities‑level failure mode catalog used to identify, classify, and govern recurring patterns of infrastructure failure across asset classes.
It is grounded in the RTT Facilities Playbook and applies to all Facilities domains, including RTT‑AGERI.
Domain‑specific initiatives extend this catalog with asset‑specific manifestations.
1. Purpose#
Facilities failures are rarely random.
The purpose of this catalog is to:
- Identify recurring structural failure patterns
- Distinguish symptoms from root causes
- Enable early detection through scoring and observation
- Inform intervention and modernization decisions
- Provide a shared diagnostic language across domains
This catalog focuses on failure modes, not individual incidents.
2. Failure Mode Categories#
Facilities failure modes are grouped into six canonical categories.
FM‑01: Drift Accumulation#
Gradual degradation exceeding tolerance
Description
- Performance slowly deviates from design expectations
- Often invisible until compounded
Common Indicators
- Rising maintenance frequency
- Increasing variance in performance
- Drift scoring escalation
Typical Response
- Preventive intervention
- Tactical stabilization
- Modernization planning
FM‑02: Harmonics & Resonance#
Oscillatory stress accelerating degradation
Description
- Resonant behavior amplifies wear and instability
- Often misdiagnosed as isolated defects
Common Indicators
- Repeated component fatigue
- Vibration, oscillation, or frequency anomalies
- Elevated harmonics scores
Typical Response
- Harmonics mitigation
- Structural reinforcement
- System rebalancing
FM‑03: Propagation Cascade#
Failure spreading across assets or systems
Description
- Local failure triggers broader system impact
- Cross‑system dependencies amplify effects
Common Indicators
- Multi‑system outages
- Delayed secondary failures
- Propagation model flags
Typical Response
- Cross‑system coordination
- Escalated governance review
- Priority modernization
FM‑04: Capacity Mismatch#
Demand exceeding system capability
Description
- Systems operate beyond intended load or use
- Often driven by growth or climate change
Common Indicators
- Chronic overload
- Emergency interventions
- Repeated service degradation
Typical Response
- Strategic realignment
- Capacity expansion
- Standards update
FM‑05: Deferred Modernization#
Aging systems trapped in maintenance mode
Description
- Capital deferral replaces modernization
- Risk accumulates silently
Common Indicators
- Rising maintenance cost
- Obsolete components
- Audit findings without action
Typical Response
- Capital cycle escalation
- Planned modernization
- Governance intervention
FM‑06: Governance Breakdown#
Decision failure rather than technical failure
Description
- Known risks not acted upon
- Accountability unclear or fragmented
Common Indicators
- Repeated audits without change
- Conflicting authority
- Public trust erosion
Typical Response
- Governance escalation
- Audit reset
- Structural accountability correction
3. Failure Mode Interaction#
Failure modes rarely occur in isolation.
Common interactions include:
- Drift → Harmonics → Propagation
- Capacity mismatch → Deferred modernization
- Governance breakdown → All other modes
Understanding interaction patterns is critical for prevention.
4. Detection & Scoring Integration#
Failure modes are detected through:
- Drift scoring
- Harmonics scoring
- Propagation modeling
- Audit findings
- Historical pattern analysis
Scoring frameworks act as early warning systems.
5. Intervention Alignment#
Each failure mode maps to:
- Intervention class (Preventive / Planned / Emergency)
- Modernization cycle (10 / 20 / 50‑year)
- Governance threshold
Failure mode identification precedes intervention selection.
6. Relationship to Domain‑Specific Catalogs#
Domain initiatives (e.g., RTT‑AGERI):
- Extend this catalog with asset‑specific examples
- Map domain failures to these canonical modes
- Do not redefine failure mode categories
This ensures cross‑domain coherence.
7. Canonical Status#
This catalog is canonical.
All Facilities domains must reference these failure modes when diagnosing risk and planning intervention.