In civil engineering, the concept is often wrapped up in "Safety Factors," but the logic is identical. Steel might have a yield strength of 250 MPa, but codes dictate you can only design structures to use it up to 150 MPa. This accounts for variations in the steel manufacturing process, corrosion over 50 years, or unexpected loads (like a heavy truck driving over a bridge).

While electrical engineers talk about "ampacity," mechanical and civil engineers talk about "working loads" and "safe working stresses."