SIST EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021

Environmental testing - Part 2-11: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)

This part of IEC 60068 specifies a test method for assessing the corrosion resistance of electrotechnical products components, equipment and materials in a salt mist environment. Its objective is to verify that the comparative quality of a metallic material, with or without corrosion protection, is maintained when exposed to salt mist.
This test method is useful for evaluating the quality and the uniformity of coatings applied to protect metals against corrosion. It is particularly useful for detecting discontinuities, such as pores and other defects, in certain metallic, organic, anodic oxide and conversion coatings.

Umgebungseinflüsse - Teil 2-11: Prüfverfahren - Prüfung Ka: Salznebe (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)

Essais fondamentaux climatiques et de robustesse mécanique - Partie 2-11: Essais - Essai Ka: Brouillard salin (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)

L'IEC 60068-2-11:2021 spécifie une méthode d'évaluation de la résistance des composants, équipements et matériaux des produits électrotechniques à la corrosion dans un environnement de brouillard salin. Il s'agit de vérifier que la qualité comparative d'un matériau métallique, avec ou sans protection contre la corrosion, est maintenue dans un brouillard salin.
Cette méthode d'essai est utile pour évaluer la qualité et l'uniformité des revêtements appliqués afin de protéger les métaux contre la corrosion. Elle est particulièrement utile pour détecter les discontinuités (pores et autres défauts, par exemple) dans certains revêtements métalliques, organiques, d'oxyde anodique et de conversion.
Cette quatrième édition annule et remplace la troisième édition parue en 1981. Cette édition constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
a) la préparation de la solution saline a été modifiée;
b) la température de la solution de mesure du pH a été modifiée;
c) la pression d'injection et la température de l'eau de la colonne de saturation ont été ajoutées et sont données dans le Tableau 1;
d) les détails du rapport d'essai ont été modifiés;
e) les figures représentant l'appareillage d'essai type ont été ajoutées et sont données à l’Annexe A;
f) la méthode d'évaluation de la corrosivité de l'appareillage a été ajoutée et est donnée à l’Annexe B;
g) la bibliographie a été ajoutée.

Okoljsko preskušanje - 2-11. del: Preskusi - Preskus Ka: Slana megla (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-May-2021
• ICS: 19.040 - Environmental testing
• Technical Committee: I09 - Imaginarni 09
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 28-Apr-2021
• Due Date: 03-Jul-2021
• Completion Date: 04-May-2021
• Ref Project: EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021 - Environmental testing - Part 2-11: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 60068-2-11:2001 - Environmental testing -- Part 2: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist
• Effective Date: 20-Apr-2021

Overview - EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021 (Test Ka: Salt mist)

EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021 (IEC 60068-2-11:2021) is the international / European test method for salt mist (salt spray) environmental testing of electrotechnical products, components and materials. The standard defines a controlled salt mist exposure (Test Ka) to assess corrosion resistance, verify comparative quality of metallic materials and protective coatings, and detect discontinuities such as pores, defects or non‑uniform coating coverage. It supersedes the earlier 1999 edition and is published by CENELEC / IEC.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and objective: Comparative assessment of corrosion performance in a salt mist environment; useful for coating quality and defect detection.
• Salt solution preparation: Procedures for making and handling the test salt solution, with guidance on pH adjustment, filtration and re‑use.
• Test apparatus: Requirements and guidance for salt mist chambers, atomizers, saturation towers and air supply; Table 1 gives suggested saturation tower temperatures and atomizing parameters. Annex A provides example apparatus layouts.
• Chamber performance and corrosivity: Methods for evaluating apparatus corrosivity and reproducibility of results; Annex B describes evaluation using reference specimens and mass‑loss determination.
• Specimen handling: Rules for specimen arrangement, pre‑conditioning, initial and final measurements, recovery after exposure, and test report content.
• Operating conditions and duration: Standardized operating parameters and test durations are defined (see Table 2 for suggested values).
• Limitations & safety: Notes that salt mist testing accelerates certain deterioration modes but does not reliably quantify long‑term field aging. Safety warnings for hazardous materials and equipment are included.

Applications - practical value

• Coating quality control: Evaluate uniformity and detect pores, blisters or defects in metallic, organic, anodic oxide and conversion coatings.
• Comparative corrosion testing: Compare alternative materials, surface treatments or corrosion protection systems under accelerated salt exposure.
• Product qualification and development: Use in R&D and verification testing for enclosures, connectors, PCBs (where applicable), fasteners and outdoor electrotechnical equipment.
• Supplier and incoming inspection: Establish acceptance criteria for coated parts and assemblies.

Who uses this standard

• Manufacturers of electrotechnical and electronic equipment
• Independent test laboratories and QA teams
• Coating and surface treatment suppliers
• Design and reliability engineers writing environmental specifications
• Certification bodies and standards committees

Related standards

• IEC 60068-1 (Environmental testing - General and guidance) - normative reference.
• IEC 60068-2-52 (Test Kb) - related corrosive environment test for equipment.
• ISO 9227 - widely referenced salt spray / salt fog test guidance.

Keywords: EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021, IEC 60068-2-11, salt mist test, salt spray, environmental testing, corrosion resistance, coatings, electrotechnical products, salt fog.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 60068-2-11:2001
Okoljsko preskušanje - 2-11. del: Preskusi - Preskus Ka: Slana megla (IEC 60068-2-
11:2021)
Environmental testing - Part 2-11: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)
Umgebungseinflüsse - Teil 2-11: Prüfverfahren - Prüfung Ka: Salznebe (IEC 60068-2-
11:2021)
Essais fondamentaux climatiques et de robustesse mécanique - Partie 2-11: Essais -
Essai Ka: Brouillard salin (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021
ICS:
19.040 Preskušanje v zvezi z Environmental testing
okoljem
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60068-2-11

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2021
ICS 19.040 Supersedes EN 60068-2-11:1999 and all of its
amendments and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
Environmental testing - Part 2-11: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist
(IEC 60068-2-11:2021)
Essais d'environnement - Partie 2-11: Essais - Essai Ka: Umgebungseinflüsse - Teil 2-11: Prüfverfahren - Prüfung
Brouillard salin Ka: Salznebell
(IEC 60068-2-11:2021) (IEC 60068-2-11:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-04-07. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021 E

European foreword
The text of document 104/888/FDIS, future edition 4 of IEC 60068-2-11, prepared by IEC/TC 104
"Environmental conditions, classification and methods of test" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC
parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 60068-2-11:2021.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022-01-07
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024-04-07
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60068-2-11:1999 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60068-2-11:2021 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 60068-2-52 NOTE Harmonized as EN IEC 60068-2-52
ISO 8407 NOTE Harmonized as EN ISO 8407
ISO 9227 NOTE Harmonized as EN ISO 9227
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60068-1 - Environmental testing - Part 1: General and EN 60068-1 -
guidance
IEC 60068-2-11 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Environmental testing –
Part 2-11: Tests – Test Ka: Salt mist

Essais d’environnement –
Partie 2-11: Essais – Essai Ka: Brouillard salin

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 19.040 ISBN 978-2-8322-9476-5

– 2 – IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 General . 6
5 Salt solution . 7
5.1 Preparation of salt solution . 7
5.2 pH adjustment . 7
5.3 Filtration . 7
5.4 Re-use . 7
6 Test apparatus . 7
6.1 Test chamber . 7
6.2 Atomizer(s) . 8
6.3 Air supply . 8
6.4 Collecting devices . 9
6.5 Method for evaluating chamber corrosivity . 9
7 Test specimens . 9
8 Initial measurements . 9
9 Pre-conditioning . 9
10 Arrangement of the test specimens . 9
11 Operating conditions . 10
12 Duration of test . 11
13 Recovery (at the end of testing) . 11
14 Final measurements . 11
15 Information to be given in the relevant specification . 11
16 Test report . 12
Annex A (informative) Examples of test apparatus for salt mist test . 13
Annex B (informative) Method for evaluating corrosivity of the apparatus . 15
B.1 General . 15
B.2 Reference specimens . 15
B.3 Arrangement of the reference specimens . 15
B.4 Duration of test . 16
B.5 Determination of mass loss (mass per area) . 16
B.6 Satisfactory performance of apparatus . 16
Bibliography . 17

Figure A.1 – Example of test apparatus for salt mist test . 13
Figure A.2 – Example of test apparatus for salt mist test . 14

Table 1 – Suggested values for the temperature of the hot water in the saturation tower . 8
Table 2 – Operating conditions . 10

IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING –
Part 2-11: Tests – Test Ka: Salt mist

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 itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
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.
IEC 60068-2-11 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 104: Environmental conditions,
classification and methods of test. It is an International Standard.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 1981. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) the preparation of the salt solution has been modified;
b) the temperature of the solution for measuring pH has been modified;
c) the atomizing pressure and water temperature of the saturation tower have been added
and are given in Table 1;
d) test report details have been modified;
e) examples of typical test apparatus have been added and are given in Annex A;

– 4 – IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021
f) a method for evaluating corrosivity of the apparatus has been added and is given in
Annex B;
g) a bibliography has been added.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
104/888/FDIS 104/892/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement,
available at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by
IEC are described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60068 series, published under the general title Environmental
testing, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The object of the test specified in this document is to compare the resistance of
electrotechnical equipment to deterioration from salt mist.
It is useful for evaluating the quality and uniformity of protective coatings.
The relationship between the deterioration provided by this test and long-term exposure of
electrotechnical equipment to salt laden atmospheres cannot be readily determined.
Consequently, the test cannot be reliably used to quantify the long-term aging of
electrotechnical equipment. However, as the test commonly accelerates deterioration from
salt mist, it does provide a useful means of comparing resistance of electrotechnical
equipment to deterioration from salt laden atmospheres.

– 6 – IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING –
Part 2-11: Tests – Test Ka: Salt mist

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60068 specifies a test method for assessing the corrosion resistance of
electrotechnical products components, equipment and materials in a salt mist environment. Its
objective is to verify that the comparative quality of a metallic material, with or without
corrosion protection, is maintained when exposed to salt mist.
This test method is useful for evaluating the quality and the uniformity of coatings applied to
protect metals against corrosion. It is particularly useful for detecting discontinuities, such as
pores and other defects, in certain metallic, organic, anodic oxide and conversion coatings.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements 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
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
4 General
WARNING – This document can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this document to establish appropriate safety and
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For equipment and components, Test Kb (IEC 60068-2-52) is considered to provide more
realistic conditions and to provide means of assessment of individual items. If, however, for
particular circumstances, the relevant specification requires this test (Ka) to be applied to
individual specimens for qualification purposes, then the specimens should be tested as part
of the overall assembly or equipment in which they are to be used and be completed with any
protection devices (cases, covers, shields, etc.), as in practice.
NOTE 1 "Salt mist" is also called "salt spray".
NOTE 2 The test specimen(s) is typically not energized during the test.

IEC 60068-2-11:2021 © IEC 2021 – 7 –
5 Salt solution
5.1 Preparation of salt solution
Dissolve a sufficient mass of sodium chloride in distilled or deionized water with a conductivity
not higher than 20 µS/cm at 25 °C ± 2 K to produce a concentration of 50 g/l ± 5 g/l. The
sodium chloride concentration of the sprayed solution collected shall be 50 g/l ± 5 g/l. The
specific gravity range for a 50 g/l ± 5 g/l solution is 1,029 to 1,036 at 25 °C.
The sodium chloride shall not contain a mass fraction of the heavy metals copper (Cu), nickel
(Ni) and lead (Pb) in total more than 0,005 %. It shall not contain a mass fraction of sodium
iodide more than 0,1 % and a mass fraction of total impurities more than 0,5 %, calculated for
dry salt.
NOTE Sodium chloride with anti-caking agents can act as corrosion inhibitors or accelerators. A useful sodium
chloride salt grade is a grade named Ph. Eur/USP or JIS, ACS.
5.2 pH adjustment
If necessary, adjust the pH of the salt solution so that the pH of the sp
...