Überlast

Überlast is a German noun meaning overload or excessive load. It denotes a condition in which the demand or load on a system exceeds its designed capacity. The term is used across engineering, infrastructure, and organizational contexts and is commonly paired with the related noun Überlastung, which emphasizes the process of becoming overloaded.

In engineering and construction, Überlast refers to forces, stresses, or weights that exceed a component’s or structure’s design limits. Prolonged or extreme Überlast can cause deformation, fatigue, or structural failure. Design practices use safety factors and monitoring to prevent overload, and protective measures such as fuses or relief devices may be installed.

In electrical and electronic systems, Überlast describes a condition where current, voltage, or power exceeds rating. Protection devices like circuit breakers or fuses interrupt the circuit to prevent damage, overheating, or fire.

In transportation and logistics, Überlast can describe vehicles or cargo that exceed legal or safe limits, such as gross vehicle weight or axle load. Overloads increase wear, reduce braking efficiency, and raise accident risk, prompting enforcement and loading controls.

In human factors and information processing, Überlast refers to cognitive or perceptual overload when the amount of information or tasks exceeds an individual’s processing capacity, reducing performance and increasing errors. Mitigation includes task simplification, prioritization, breaks, and, where appropriate, automation.