Environmental Testing

IEC 60529 Ingress Protection

This standard defines the IP rating system, which classifies the degree of protection an enclosure provides against the ingress of solid objects (dust) and liquids (water).

Rating Scale

FIRST DIGIT (Solid Object Protection): Scale 0-6

0 No protection

1 Objects >50mm (hands)

2 Objects >12.5mm (fingers)

3 Objects >2.5mm (tools, wires)

4 Objects >1mm (small wires)

5 Dust protected (limited ingress)

6 Dust-tight (no ingress)

SECOND DIGIT (Liquid Protection): Scale 0-8

0 No protection

1 Dripping water (vertical)

2 Dripping water (15° tilt)

3 Spraying water (60° angle)

4 Splashing water (all directions)

5 Water jets (low pressure)

6 Powerful water jets

7 Temporary immersion (1m, 30 min)

8 Continuous immersion (depth specified)

MIL-STD-810H

This U.S. Department of Defense standard specifies environmental tests to evaluate the ability of equipment to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

What it Tests

Temperature:

• Low temperature (storage and operation)
• High temperature (storage and operation)
• Temperature shock

Humidity:

• Constant and cyclic humidity testing

Solar Radiation:

• UV exposure testing at high intensity

Salt Fog/Salt Spray:

• Corrosion resistance testing

Rain & Water:

• Rain (blowing and dripping)

Dust & Sand:

• Particle resistance

Vibration & Shock:

• Mechanical stress testing

ISO 4892-2 Solar Radiation

This standard defines laboratory methods for exposing plastics and other materials to xenon-arc lamps to simulate the effects of natural sunlight (UV radiation and visible light).

What it Tests

Colour fading/change

Gloss loss

Surface cracking

Material degradation

Physical property changes

ISO 12944-6 Corrosion Resistance

This standard outlines laboratory test methods for assessing the performance of protective paint systems against corrosion in various atmospheric environments.