# ISO 14224 Failure Mode Codes: Searchable Reference for CMMS Design > Source: https://netray.co/tools/iso-14224-failure-mode-codes-reference > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer A searchable table of the three-letter failure mode codes used in ISO 14224 reliability data collection, with plain-English meanings and typical equipment. ## Category maintenance ## Audience - Maintenance manager - Reliability engineer - CMMS administrator ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Code **Key:** code **Type:** text #### Failure mode **Key:** mode **Type:** text #### What it means in practice **Key:** meaning **Type:** text #### Typical equipment **Key:** typical **Type:** text **Rows:** **Code:** AIR **Mode:** Abnormal instrument reading **Meaning:** Instrument shows a false alarm, a faulty indication or a reading that does not match the process **Typical:** Transmitters, gauges, sensors **Code:** BRD **Mode:** Breakdown **Meaning:** Serious damage such as seizure or a major mechanical failure that stops the item **Typical:** Pumps, compressors, gearboxes **Code:** ELP **Mode:** External leakage, process medium **Meaning:** Process fluid or gas escapes to the outside **Typical:** Pumps, valves, heat exchangers **Code:** ELU **Mode:** External leakage, utility medium **Meaning:** Utility fluid such as lube oil, coolant or hydraulic oil escapes to the outside **Typical:** Hydraulic units, gearboxes, coolers **Code:** ERO **Mode:** Erratic output **Meaning:** Output is unstable, hunting or oscillating **Typical:** Controllers, drives, sensors **Code:** FTC **Mode:** Fail to close on demand **Meaning:** Item does not close when commanded **Typical:** Valves, dampers, breakers **Code:** FTF **Mode:** Fail to function on demand **Meaning:** Item does not perform its function when called on **Typical:** Safety systems, standby equipment **Code:** FTO **Mode:** Fail to open on demand **Meaning:** Item does not open when commanded **Typical:** Valves, dampers, breakers **Code:** FTR **Mode:** Fail to regulate **Meaning:** Item cannot hold or adjust the controlled variable **Typical:** Control valves, regulators **Code:** FTS **Mode:** Fail to start on demand **Meaning:** Item does not start when commanded **Typical:** Motors, pumps, generators **Code:** HIO **Mode:** High output **Meaning:** Output is above the specified level **Typical:** Pumps, generators, drives **Code:** INL **Mode:** Internal leakage **Meaning:** Fluid passes internally between zones that should be isolated **Typical:** Valves, cylinders, heat exchangers **Code:** LCP **Mode:** Leakage in closed position **Meaning:** Fluid passes through a valve that is commanded closed **Typical:** Isolation and control valves **Code:** LOO **Mode:** Low output **Meaning:** Output is below the specified level **Typical:** Pumps, compressors, generators **Code:** NOO **Mode:** No output **Meaning:** Item runs or is energised but produces no output **Typical:** Pumps, sensors, power supplies **Code:** OHE **Mode:** Overheating **Meaning:** Temperature exceeds the allowed limit **Typical:** Motors, bearings, gearboxes **Code:** PDE **Mode:** Parameter deviation **Meaning:** A monitored parameter drifts outside tolerance **Typical:** Instruments, process equipment **Code:** PLU **Mode:** Plugged or choked **Meaning:** Flow path is restricted or blocked **Typical:** Filters, strainers, heat exchangers **Code:** SER **Mode:** Minor in-service problems **Meaning:** Small defects such as loose parts, minor leaks or discolouration that do not stop the item **Typical:** Most equipment **Code:** SPO **Mode:** Spurious operation **Meaning:** Item operates without a command (false trip, false start) **Typical:** Safety and control systems **Code:** STD **Mode:** Structural deficiency **Meaning:** Cracking, wear, corrosion or loss of structural integrity **Typical:** Frames, supports, vessels, pipework **Code:** STP **Mode:** Fail to stop on demand **Meaning:** Item does not stop when commanded **Typical:** Motors, pumps, conveyors **Code:** UST **Mode:** Spurious stop **Meaning:** Item stops without a command **Typical:** Motors, compressors, drives **Code:** VIB **Mode:** Vibration **Meaning:** Vibration level is above the acceptable limit **Typical:** Rotating equipment **Code:** OTH **Mode:** Other **Meaning:** A failure mode not covered by the other codes **Typical:** Any **Code:** UNK **Mode:** Unknown **Meaning:** Failure mode could not be determined from the available information **Typical:** Any **Notes:** Summary of the commonly used generic failure mode codes. ISO 14224 is a copyrighted standard: buy it for the full taxonomy, equipment class tables and data-quality rules. Descriptions here are plain-language summaries, not standard text. ## Content **Intro:** ISO 14224 defines a common vocabulary for collecting reliability and maintenance data, including a short list of three-letter failure mode codes. This lookup table lets you search those codes and use them as the starting point for the failure code list in your CMMS or ERP maintenance module. **Sections:** #### How to use this table **Body:** Search by code, by symptom word such as leakage, or by equipment type. When you design failure codes for a CMMS, pick the subset that your technicians can actually tell apart at the machine. A list of 25 modes is usually the ceiling for a good drop-down: more than that and technicians choose the first item or Other. **Bullets:** - Filter on a symptom word to see candidate modes - Keep the code and the plain-language name together in the CMMS drop-down - Export to Excel to review the list with your technicians - Remove modes that do not apply to your asset base #### Failure mode, cause and mechanism are different things **Body:** A failure mode is how the item failed (for example INL, internal leakage). A failure mechanism is the physical process behind it (wear, corrosion, fatigue). A failure cause is the root reason (poor lubrication, wrong material, operating outside design). Mixing these in one code list is the most common reason failure data cannot be analysed later. Capture the mode at the work order, and the cause during the review of significant failures. #### Mapping to ERP and CMMS fields **Body:** Most maintenance systems have a coded structure for this. SAP PM uses catalog profiles with code groups and codes for damage, cause and activity. Other CMMS products use problem, cause and remedy fields. Whichever you use, keep three separate fields for what was observed, why it happened and what was done, and map the ISO mode into the first one so cross-site reports line up. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Teams copy a very long standard list into the system and then never use most of it. Others allow free text only, which makes Pareto charts impossible. A third mistake is treating the code as proof of root cause: the code classifies the symptom and does not replace an investigation. Review the unknown and other percentages monthly; if either is above about 15 percent of closed failures, the list or the training needs work. **Cta:** If you want failure modes pulled from closed work orders in your ERP and ranked automatically, we can build that as a read-only report on your own data. **Faq:** #### Do I have to buy ISO 14224 to use these codes? **Answer:** You can use a simple failure code list without the standard, and this table is a plain-language summary. If you plan to share data with other sites or companies, or follow the equipment class tables and data quality guidance, you should buy the standard from ISO or your national standards body. #### How many failure codes should a CMMS have? **Answer:** As few as will still support analysis. Many plants do well with 15 to 30 modes, a short cause list and a short remedy list. Test the list with technicians: if two codes are routinely confused, merge them. Add detail only when someone will act on the report. #### What is the difference between failure mode and failure code? **Answer:** The failure mode is the concept of how the item failed. The failure code is the short label you store in the CMMS or ERP to record it. A good code list maps each code to a defined mode with a one-line description so every technician records the same thing. #### Can I use these codes in SAP PM? **Answer:** Yes. You can create a code group in a catalog (for example damage codes) and load the codes as entries, then assign the catalog to your notification and order types through catalog profiles. Plan the structure first, because changing codes after history exists makes trends harder to read. ## Search terms iso 14224 failure mode codes, failure mode code list, cmms failure codes, failure code hierarchy maintenance, iso 14224 failure modes table, failure mode list for maintenance, sap pm damage codes, reliability data failure modes --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json