IEC 60068-2-38:2009

Environmental testing - Part 2-38: Tests - Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test

IEC 60068-2-38:2009 provides a composite test procedure, primarily intended for component type specimens, to determine, in an accelerated manner, the resistance of specimens to the deteriorative effects of high temperature/humidity and cold conditions. The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern the updating of the figures, changes to some of the wording and editorial corrections made for clarification.

Essais d'environnement - Partie 2-38: Essais - Essai Z/AD: Essai cyclique composite de température et d'humidité

La CEI 60068-2-38:2009 fournit une procédure d'essai composite, principalement destinée aux spécimens de type composants, pour déterminer d'une manière accélérée la résistance des spécimens aux effets destructifs dus à des séjours dans des conditions d'humidité et de température élevées, alternées avec des conditions de froid. Les principales modifications par rapport à l'édition précédente concernent les mises à jour des figures, modifications terminologiques et éditoriales faites pour clarification.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Jan-2009
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 19.040 - Environmental testing
• Technical Committee: TC 104 - Environmental conditions, classification and methods of test
• Drafting Committee: MT 16 - TC 104/MT 16
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 22-Mar-2019
• Completion Date: 25-Mar-2021

Relations

• Revised: IEC 60068-2-38:2021 - Environmental testing - Part 2-38: Tests - Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60068-2-38
Edition 2.0 2009-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION FONDAMENTALE DE SÉCURITÉ
Environmental testing –
Part 2-38: Tests – Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test

Essais d’environnement –
Partie 2-38: Essais – Essai Z/AD: Essai cyclique composite de température et
d’humidité
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: [e-mail]
Tél.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
IEC 60068-2-38
Edition 2.0 2009-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION FONDAMENTALE DE SÉCURITÉ
Environmental testing –
Part 2-38: Tests – Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test

Essais d’environnement –
Partie 2-38: Essais – Essai Z/AD: Essai cyclique composite de température et
d’humidité
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
N
CODE PRIX
ICS 19.040 ISBN 978-2-88910-038-5
– 2 – 60068-2-38 © IEC:2009
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
1 Scope.5
2 Normative references .5
3 General .5
3.1 Description of the test .5
3.2 Application of the test.6
4 Description of test chamber .6
4.1 Chamber for exposure to moisture.6
4.2 Chamber for exposure to cold.7
5 Severities .7
6 Testing procedure .7
6.1 Preconditioning (see figure 1).7
6.2 Initial measurements .8
6.3 Conditioning .8
6.4 Test cycle.12
6.4.1 Description of temperature/humidity subcycle .12
6.4.2 Description of cold subcycle .12
6.4.3 Description of 24 h cycles with no exposure to cold .13
6.4.4 Description of final cycle.13
6.5 Final measurements .13
6.5.1 At high humidity.13
6.5.2 Immediately upon removal from the chamber.13
6.5.3 After final drying .13
7 Information to be given in the relevant specification .14
8 Information to be given in the test report .14

Figure 1 – Preconditioning .8
Figure 2 – Exposure to humidity followed by exposure to cold .10
Figure 3 – Exposure to humidity not followed by exposure to cold.11

60068-2-38 © IEC:2009 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING –
Part 2-38: Tests –
Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60068-2-38 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 104:
Environmental conditions, classification and methods of test.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1974, and constitutes
a technical revision.
The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern the updating of the figures,
changes to some of the wording and editorial corrections made for clarification.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
104/482/FDIS 104/487/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.

– 4 – 60068-2-38 © IEC:2009
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.
A list of all the parts in the IEC 60068 series, under the general title Environmental testing,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the
data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60068-2-38 © IEC:2009 – 5 –
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING –
Part 2-38: Tests –
Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic test

1 Scope
IEC 60068-2-38 provides a composite test procedure, primarily intended for component type
specimens, to determine, in an accelerated manner, the resistance of specimens to the
deteriorative effects of high temperature/humidity and cold conditions.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60068-1, Environmental testing – Part 1: General and guidance
IEC 60068-2-30, Environmental testing – Part 2-30: Tests – Test Db: Damp heat, cyclic (12 h
+ 12 h cycle)
IEC 60068-2-78, Environmental testing – Part 2-78: Tests – Test Cab: Damp heat, steady
state
IEC Guide 104, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications
3 General
...