This article presents robustness concepts to avoid accidental and{\slsh}or exceptional events or damage to components. These should not lead to disproportionate consequences for structures and their surroundings during the planned technical service life. In addition to a description of the current knowledge of both statically and seismically loaded structures, a structured verification structure is presented. The different definitions of robustness and its quantification for structures are analysed. Furthermore, robustness assessment processes are used to show how key performance indicators can be determined for the prioritisation of sensitive zones or vulnerable actions in order to define suitable preventive measures. Classic, known and innovative methods are presented to assess and ultimately improve the robustness of load-bearing structures.