Environmental test chambers help test products under various environmental conditions. However, different standards must be followed during testing procedures. If not followed, the test outcome may not be consistent and reliable. That’s why this guide on environmental test chamber standards is a must-read.
It is worth noting that these standards make environmental testing acceptable worldwide. How? That’s because these standards ensure each test is conducted as per the criteria, reducing randomness. As a result, the product tested is considered reliable worldwide. In this article, I will discuss everything about the environmental test chamber standards.
What are Environmental Test Chamber Standards?
Before going into details, let’s first understand the basics of environmental test chamber standards.
These test standards provide guidelines for performing environmental tests. They provide specific conditions and parameter levels to ensure each test is more reliable. These standards also discuss how long an environmental test should be conducted. Simply put, these standards outline all the requirements and conditions for different tests.
Environmental chamber testing seems straightforward, right? It feels like you keep the product inside the chamber and start the testing. However, things are way more complex, involving many things. Remember, each test performed in environmental chambers is subject to specific parameters. These include temperature, humidity, salt spray, pressure, and more.
The standards guide exact levels for each parameter in the chamber during testing. These standards or guidelines are different for each type of environmental chamber test. Various international organizations have established specific standards for environmental testing. These organizations or institutions include:
- ASTM International
- U.S. Department of Defense
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
There are different standards for each environmental test. They outline the conditions or parameter levels to be followed during testing. For example, the IEC 60068 standards provide guidelines for testing electronics in the chambers. These discuss how to set the temperature, pressure, or humidity level in the chambers.
These levels must be followed regardless of the country or region where the test is performed. This way, testing procedures are more reliable worldwide. For example, products tested will perform similarly worldwide, ensuring reliability. Similarly, the ASTM B117 standard applies to salt-spray tests conducted in environmental chambers. You’ll learn the humidity level at which a product should be tested.
Purpose of Environmental Test Chamber Standards
In simple words, the purpose of these standards is to make environmental chamber testing reliable. Suppose there were no standards to be followed in the environmental test chamber. As a result, the product tested would have different capabilities. Some of them would have performed excellently at higher temperatures.
On the flip side, other products may fail to resist slightly high temperatures. This would eventually make these chamber tests less reliable. With these standards, each product is tested for consistent environmental conditions. Interestingly, organizations make these standards by analyzing the real-world use of specific products.
For example, products intended for high-temperature use are tested at high temperatures. This helps expose the product to simulated conditions in the environmental chambers. The organization develops these test standards after careful analysis. They consider real-world simulation conditions or operating environments for each test.
This way, every test chamber mimics the precise real-world conditions the product will encounter. These standards set different conditions for electronics and automotive parts. Each condition corresponds to a specific real-world condition under which a part or product will be used. For example, automotive engine parts undergo testing at high temperatures. Those standards will have conditions to keep the temperature higher.
That’s how they help make the products more reliable for customers to use in the real world. The parts tested under these standards are the same worldwide. This ensures better consistency and product quality. Customers around the globe trust products tested with those specific standards. In this way, the trustworthiness of the products reaches a new level globally.
Major Global Environmental Test Chamber Standards
As I said earlier, there are different standards for environmental test chambers. Different organizations develop these standards. Each of those standards provides guidelines for different environmental chamber testing. Here are some common environmental test chamber standards:
- ISO Environmental Testing Standards
- ASTM Environmental Testing Standards
- JEDEC Environmental Testing Standards
- ISTA Series – Packaging Testing Standards
- IEC 60068 Environmental Testing Standards
- RTCA DO-160 Environmental Testing Standard
- MIL-STD-810 Environmental Engineering Standard
Each of these standards offers guidelines for different tests. The IEC 60068 standard is specific for testing electronic products in chambers. This standard specifies temperature, vibration, humidity, and other parameters. Similarly, MIL-STD-810 is about testing military defense products. This standard generally provides guidelines for moisture, dust, and related parameters.
RTCA DO-160 is common for testing aerospace parts and products. This standard specifies the conditions that aircraft parts actually face. These include high pressure, vibration, varying temperature, and so on. This way, products tested under RTCA DO-160 standards are trustworthy for use on aircraft. Similarly, each of the standards mentioned above provides specific guidelines for testing.
Key Parameters Controlled in Environmental Test Chamber Standards
Interestingly, there is no specific limitation on which parameters the test standard guides. As discussed above, there are different standards developed by different institutes. Each of those standards offers unique guidelines and details about various parameters. Typically, standards for specific tests outline the parameters important to that test.
For example, the standard for temperature testing will focus on temperature range setting. On the other hand, aviation testing standards will focus on altitude levels. Here is a list of key parameters about which the standards guide:
- Humidity
- Pressure
- Vibration
- Temperature
- Airflow & Circulation
- Duration & Test Time
- Corrosive Environment & Salt Spray
- Thermal Cycling or Temperature Change Rate
Types of Environmental Tests Performed in Test Chambers under Different Standards
Various tests are performed in environmental test chambers. Each of these tests evaluates the product’s performance against different parameters. In the section below, I will discuss some key tests conducted in the environmental chambers:
1- Temperature Testing
Temperature testing is commonly conducted in thermal chambers. This test checks the product (under test) against both very high and very low temperatures. This way, it tests how well the product performs under extreme temperatures in real-world conditions. The high temperatures expose the product to stress. Products that withstand these extreme temperatures are reliable and vice versa. The most common standard used in temperature testing is IEC 60068-2.
2- Humidity Testing
Laboratories carry out humidity testing in dedicated humidity test chambers. In this testing, they expose the product to damp or humid conditions. Initially, operators generally keep the humidity level low, around 10%. However, operators increase humidity levels and monitor product conditions. Humidity can be increased to 90% depending on the type of product being tested. Generally, IEC 60068-2-78 is used for humidity testing in an environmental chamber. This testing helps check if the product can operate in humid conditions. Additionally, it checks whether the product corrodes in moist or damp conditions.
3- Thermal Cycling Testing
Thermal cycling testing is for products that are exposed to fluctuating temperatures in the real world. For this, dedicated thermal shock chambers are used. Products placed in these chambers are quickly exposed to both high and low temperatures. Low-quality products cannot withstand fluctuating temperatures and deteriorate. This test helps identify whether a product warps or cracks if temperature changes suddenly. Generally, the IEC 60068-2-14 standard is used for this thermal cycling testing. These standards provide guidelines and temperature fluctuation levels for testing.
4- Salt Spray (Corrosion) Testing
Salt spray testing is another important test common to evaluate product performance. This test appears to assess a product’s resistance to corrosion. That’s why many people also call it corrosion testing. In this test, the product is placed in a chamber. After that, it is exposed to saltwater mist or spray. These sprays can cause corrosion if the product is not strong and reliable. The purpose of this test is to create a controlled, corrosive environment for testing. Generally, manufacturers use it to test whether a product’s coating is sufficient to resist corrosion. ASTM B117 is a well-known standard for the salt spray test.
5- Altitude Testing
Altitude testing helps check the performance of different parts at high altitude. As you know, the pressure is very low at high altitudes. So the parts can fail or get damaged if not checked well. This testing is more common in the aviation industry. In other words, it helps check different aircraft parts and components. In fact, manufacturers also check different electronics of aircraft in this test and know if they work at low pressure or not. The part to be tested is placed in the chamber and exposed to very low pressure. This low pressure actually mimics the real-world high-altitude pressure. Manufacturers most commonly use the MIL-STD-810 standard in altitude testing.
6- Vibration Testing
Vibration testing exposes parts to controlled repetitive vibration cycles. This helps determine whether the part or product will perform under harsh vibrations. This testing is more common in the automotive industry. Many engine parts experience vibration or knocking during use. So they are tested to ensure better performance even under continuous vibration. It is worth noting that the vibration intensity a product experiences depends on its type and use case. If a product experiences harsh vibration in the real world, engineers test it under harsh vibration, and vice versa. The IEC 60068-2-6 standard is more common in vibration testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries use environmental test chamber standards?
Every industry that uses environmental chamber testing uses these standards. These include automobiles, electronics, aerospace, marine, and more. Remember, these standards govern the test regardless of industry.
Are environmental test chamber standards mandatory?
No. Environmental test chamber standards are typically not mandatory. However, their use makes environmental chamber tests more reliable and trustworthy. Therefore, all the modern manufacturers comply with these standards when testing their products.
Conclusion
Environmental test chambers are of utmost value in modern manufacturing. Without them, testing and quality control of different products would be very difficult. However, there are some international standards that one must comply with. Why? This helps increase testing reliability worldwide. Products that have been tested to comply with standards are widely accepted worldwide, and vice versa. Different international organizations develop these standards. In this article, I discuss everything about the environmental test chamber standards.