Environmental tests

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Environmental tests are used to verify a piece of equipment can withstand the rigors of harsh environments, for example:

  • extremely high and low temperatures
  • large, swift variations in temperature
  • blown and settling sand and dust
  • salt spray and salt fog
  • very high or low humidity
  • wet environments
  • fungus
  • vibrations (airborne and structural)
  • accelerations
  • solar radiation
  • high and low pressures (especially for aeronautical and space equipment)
  • operating at angles (especially for marine, aeronautical and space equipment) and
  • the worst of all, tolerance to children (joke).

Such tests are most commonly performed on equipment used in military, maritime, aeronautical and space applications.

Environmental test standards include

  • MIL-STD-810, "Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests", presently (2007) version F, issued in 2000
  • MIL-HDBK-2036, "Preparation of Electronic Equipment Specifications", issued 1999
  • IEC 60068, "Environmental Testing", with many parts.
  • IEC 60945, "Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - General requirements - Methods of testing and required test results", issued 2002 and due for review in 2007

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