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)

Such tests are most commonly performed on equipment used in military, maritime, aeronautical and space applications. See Environmental test chambers for more information about environmental testing equipment.

Environmental test standards include

• MIL-STD-810, "Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests", presently (2010) version G, issued in 2009
• 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

See also

• Environmental stress screening
  Environmental stress screening
  Environmental stress screening refers to the process of exposing a newly manufactured or repaired product or component to stresses such as thermal cycling and vibration in order to force latent defects to manifest themselves by permanent or catastrophic failure during the screening process...
  
  
• Environmental test chambers
• Technischer Überwachungsverein
  Technischer Überwachungsverein
  TÜVs are German organizations that work to validate the safety of products of all kinds to protect humans and the environment against hazards. As independent consultants, they examine plants, motor vehicles, energy installations, devices and products TÜVs (short for Technischer...
  
  TÜV SÜD - Environmental Testing

External links

• A list of IEC 60068 parts.