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