Durability is the ability of a physicalproduct to remain functional, without requiring excessivemaintenance or repair, when faced with the challenges of normal operation over itsdesign lifetime.[1]: 5 There are several measures of durability in use, including years of life, hours of use, and number of operational cycles.[2] Ineconomics, goods with a longusable life are referred to asdurable goods.
Because there is no objective measure of durability for clothing,price has become an important indicator.[3]
Product durability is predicated by goodrepairability andregenerability in conjunction withmaintenance.[4] Every durable product must be capable of adapting to technical, technological and design developments.[4] This must be accompanied by a willingness on the part of consumers to forgo having the "very latest" version of a product.
In the United Kingdom, durability as a characteristic relating to the quality of goods that can be demanded by consumers was not clearly established until an amendment of theSale of Goods Act 1979 relating to the quality standards for supplied goods in 1994.[5]
Reliability testing verifies the resistance of a product or material to wear.[6] Common tests evaluate fatigue, abrasion, corrosion and exposure to environmental conditions.[6]
The lifespan of household goods is a significant factor insustainable consumption.[7] Longer product life spans can contribute to eco-efficiency and sufficiency, thus slowing consumption in order to progress towards a sustainable level of consumption.[8] Cooper (2005) proposed a model to demonstrate the crucial role ofproduct lifespans tosustainable production and consumption.[8]
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Durability can encompass several specific physical properties of designed products, including:
