26262

ISO 26262, Road vehicles – Functional safety, is an international standard that provides a framework for ensuring the functional safety of electrical and electronic systems within road vehicles. Developed under the joint auspices of ISO and IEC, it defines a safety lifecycle that spans from early concept through production and operation to decommissioning, with an emphasis on preventing or mitigating hazards caused by malfunctions of E/E systems.

Scope: It applies to road vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles and covers hardware and software elements of E/E systems that can affect safety. It addresses risk assessment, safety goals, and the design, implementation, verification, and validation of safety-critical functions. The standard does not address cybersecurity directly; that area is covered by ISO/SAE 21434.

Key concepts: The standard introduces Automotive Safety Integrity Levels (ASILs) A, B, C, and D, with D representing the highest risk. Based on hazard analysis and risk assessment, safety goals are defined, followed by functional safety concepts and, at the hardware and software level, technical safety concepts. The safety lifecycle includes system design, hardware and software development, integration, production, operation, and servicing, along with configuration management, change control, and documentation.

Structure: ISO 26262 is organized as a multi-part standard detailing vocabulary, management of functional safety, and development at system, hardware, and software levels, plus production, operation, support processes, and guidance.

Impact and scope: Since its introduction in 2011 and the current edition ISO 26262:2018, the standard has become widely adopted across the automotive industry, shaping safety-critical development practices and supplier requirements. It is often used in conjunction with cybersecurity standards to address broader risk.