Pump, Compressor & Rotating Equipment Assembly worked example

Bearing Life Estimate with failure severity if bearing fails of 3 score: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop failure severity if bearing fails to 3 score, then walk the calculation through step by step. The Bearing Life Estimate is a weighted risk score that ranks how much attention a bearing on a pump, compressor, or motor deserves before it fails.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Failure severity if bearing fails: 3 score (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 6)
  • Likelihood of early bearing wear: 4 score (held at the documented default)
  • Ability to detect bearing degradation: 3 score (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Bearing Life Estimate risk score = severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25.
  • Risk score works out to 3.35 score at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Severity works out to 3 score at these inputs.
  • Occurrence works out to 4 score at these inputs.
  • Detection works out to 3 score at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where failure severity if bearing fails sits at 6 score and the headline result is 4.55 score, this scenario comes in 26.37% below the baseline at 3.35 score.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to failure severity if bearing fails, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. Scores are judgment-based inputs, not measured L10 life — calibrate ratings against real failure history to stay honest.

Results at a glance

  • Risk score: 3.35 score (headline result)
  • Severity: 3 score
  • Occurrence: 4 score
  • Detection: 3 score

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Bearing Life Estimate calculator, set failure severity if bearing fails to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.