TC 104 - Environmental conditions, classification and methods of test

IEC 60068-2-38:2021 is available as IEC 60068-2-38:2021 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-38:2021 specifies 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. This test standard does not apply to specimens that are energized during the complete test. Specimens can be energized during the constant phases of the tests. Measurements on energized specimens are typically carried out during constant phases of the test unless specified otherwise. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 2009. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- the figures have been updated;
- changes to the wording has been made for clarification purposes.

IEC 60068-2-11:2021 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.
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;
f) a method for evaluating corrosivity of the apparatus has been added and is given in Annex B;
g) a bibliography has been added.

IEC 60068-2-13:2021 specifies methods of test applicable to specimens which, during transportation, storage or in service, can be subjected to low air pressure.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition, published in 1983. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) alignment with recently revised parts of IEC 60068-2;
b) Clause 5: severities aligned with IEC 60721-2-3 and IEC 60721-3 (all parts);
c) addition of Annex A (guidance on selecting the duration of exposure).

IEC 60068-3-7:2020 is available as IEC 60068-3-7:2020 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-3-7:2020 specifies a uniform and reproducible method of confirming that temperature test chambers conform to the requirements specified in the climatic test procedures of IEC 60068-2-1 and IEC 60068-2-2, when loaded with either heat-dissipating or non heat-dissipating specimens under conditions which take into account air circulation inside the working space of the chamber. This document is intended primarily for users when conducting regular chamber performance monitoring. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2001. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- verbal forms have, in many parts, been changed to express requirements instead of recommendations ('shall' instead of 'should');
- Table 1 has been updated.

IEC 60721-3-0:2020 provides guidance on the use of all parts of IEC 60721-3. It contains background information including information on the application and limitation of the classes given in various parts of IEC 60721-3 which can be used in the design, limitation of conditions and protection of equipment.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1984 and Amendment 1:1987. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) This edition has been extensively simplified to only provide necessary information with regard to the process given in the other parts of IEC 60721-3 and information on class severity has been updated.

IEC 62131-7:2020(E), reviews the available dynamic data relating to the transportation of electrotechnical equipment by rotorcraft (helicopters). The intent is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in IEC 60721 (all parts).

IEC TR 63141:2020(E) describes a new test method to control the volume of air injected into a conventional HAST chamber filled with water vapour. This document provides an overview of the conventional HAST chamber, an overview of the air-HAST equipment where air is incorporated into the HAST chamber, an example of an air-HAST test apparatus, and application examples of air-HAST.

IEC 60068-3-3:2019 applies primarily to electro-technical equipment but its application can be extended to other equipment and to components. In addition, if some type of analysis is always performed when making a seismic qualification, for example for the choice of the representative sample to be tested or for the extension of the seismic qualification from the tested specimen to similar specimens, the verification of the performance of an equipment by analysis or by a combination of testing and analysis can be acceptable but is outside the scope of this document, which is restricted to verification based entirely upon data from dynamic testing. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1991. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- the main aim of this revision is to connect the testing level to the seismic activity level of the zone where the equipment could be installed;
- a standard shape for the required response spectrum is also given for the general seismic class for which the seismic environment is either not known or is imprecisely known;
- Clauses 11 to 15 were renumbered and some adjustments were made as their content is very general and the requirements can be applied both to the general seismic class and to the specific seismic class;
- the word “envelope” is replaced with “dominance” and “to envelop” with “to dominate” in order to provide a more precise meaning from a mathematical point of view.

IEC 60068-2-85:2019 demonstrates the adequacy of specimens to resist dynamic loads without unacceptable degradation of its functional and/or structural integrity when subjected to the specified vibration test requirements as defined by a time history (long time history replication). These can either be recorded in measurement exercises or generated artificially. In both cases, this method allows for generating a test tailored to very specific applications.

IEC 60721-3-3:2019 classifies groups of environmental parameters and their severities to which products are subjected when installed for stationary use at weatherprotected locations.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 1994, Amendment 1: 1995 and Amendment 2:1996. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) Clause 3: definitions aligned with IEC 60721-3-1.
b) Clause 4: aligned with IEC 60721-3-1.
c) Clause 5: Clause A.3 has been incorporated into Clause 5.
d) Subclause 5.2: all existing climate classes have been replaced by completely new classes. The new classes are divided into two groups. The reason for the new classes is the latest revision of IEC 60721-2-1 which incorporates new climate types.
e) Subclause 5.3: addition of a new class for low air pressure.
f) Defined values of chemically active substances are now by reference to ISO 9223.
g) Subclause 5.6: all existing classes for mechanically active substances have been replaced by completely new classes, in alignment with IEC 60721-3-1.
h) Subclause 5.7: all existing classes for mechanical conditions have been replaced by completely new classes, in alignment with IEC 60721-3-1.
i) Table 1: new climatic classes with new severities.
j) Table 2: new class for low air pressure.
k) Table 4: new mechanically active substances classes.
l) Table 5: new mechanical conditions classes.
m) Annex A: revised and includes a clean climatogram.
n) Annex B: revised and includes the definition of seismic environment.
o) All classes regarding fire, all combined classes, all chemically active substances classes, Clause A.2, Annexes C, D and E have been removed.

IEC 60721-3-4:2019 classifies groups of environmental parameters and their severities to which products are subjected when installed for stationary use at non-weatherprotected locations. Weatherprotected locations where products can be mounted for stationary use permanently or temporarily are addressed in IEC 60721-3-3.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 1995 and Amendment 1:1996. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) Clause 1: reworded.
b) Clause 2: normative references have been updated.
c) Clause 3: definitions have been updated.
d) Clause 4: reworded and simplified.
e) Clause 5: revised and updated. Several classes have been replaced by completely new classes based on the use of new information obtained from referenced technical reports.
f) Defined values of chemically active substances are now by reference to ISO 9223.
g) Tables 1 through 5: updated.

IEC 60721-2-4:2018 is also available as IEC 60721-2-4:2018 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60721-2-4:2018 presents a broad division into types of solar radiation areas. It is intended to be used as part of the background material when selecting appropriate severities of solar radiation for product applications. All types of geographical areas are covered, except areas with altitudes above 5 000 m. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1987 and Amendment 1:1988. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Figures updated including the addition of global irradiation information
- Format updated.

IEC 60068-2-5:2018 is now available as IEC 60068-2-5:2018 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-5:2018 specifies the methods for testing equipment or components under simulated solar radiation conditions. This document is applicable to the equipment and components at the surface of the earth. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition of published in 2010. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- the title of this document has been modified;
- the current thermal effect test method, specified as "Test method Sa" has been retained and the weathering test method specified as "Test method Sb" has been added.

IEC 60721-2-7:2018 addresses the occurrence of fauna and flora, including its main effects on electrotechnical products. Exposure and damage from the effects of fauna and flora can occur at almost any time in a product's life cycle. Moreover, there are many agents of attack with various actions.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1987. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- This edition has been entirely rewritten.
This bilingual version (2018-11) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2018-03.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

IEC 60721-3-2:2018 RLV contains both the official IEC International Standard and its Redline version. The Redline version is not an official document, it is available in English only and provides you with a quick and easy way to compare all the changes between the official IEC Standard and its previous edition.
IEC 60721-3-2:2018 classifies the groups of environmental parameters and their severities to which a product is subjected while being transported and handled. The most commonly used methods of transportation and handling have been taken into account, including the following:
- road transport: cars, trucks;
- rail transport: trains, trams;
- water transport, inland and maritime: ships;
- air transport: aircraft, jet, propeller, helicopter;
- handling equipment: cranes, transport lifts, cableways, persons;
- conveyors;
- hand trollies.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 1997, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a. Clause 1: reworded and added handling.
b. Clause 2: updated normative references.
c. Clause 3: updated definitions.
d. Clause 4: reworded and simplified.
e. Clause 5: revised and updated. Several classes have been replaced by completely new classes based on the use of new information obtained from referenced Technical Reports.
f. Table 1 through Table 5: updated.
g. Table 6 added.
h. Old annexes A to C removed except Clause A.3 that is incorporated in Clause 5.
i. New Annex A.
The contents of the corrigendum of November 2018 have been included in this copy.

IEC 60721-3-1:2018 is also available as IEC 60721-3-1:2018 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60721-3-1:2018 classifies the groups of environmental parameters and their severities to which products together with their packaging, if any, are subjected when stored. The environmental conditions specified in this document are limited to those which can directly affect the products or their ultimate performance. Only environmental conditions as such are considered. No special description of the effects of these conditions on the products is given. Environmental conditions directly related to fire or explosions are not included. Conditions of stationary use, portable and non-stationary use, use in vehicles and ships, and conditions of transportation are given in other subparts of the IEC 60721-3 series. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 1997, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a. Clause 3: reworded and simplified.
b. Clause 4: reworded and simplified.
c. Clause 5: Annex C has been incorporated in Clause 5.
d. 5.2: all existing climate classes have been replaced by completely new classes. The new classes are divided into 3 groups. The reason for the new classes is the latest revision of IEC 60721-2-1 which incorporated new climate types.
e. 5.3: new classes for solar radiation and snow load.
f. 5.6: all existing classes for mechanically active substances have been replaced by completely new classes.
g. 5.7: all existing classes for mechanical conditions have been replaced by completely new classes.
h. Table 1: new climatic classes with new severities.
i. Table 2: new classes for solar radiation and snow load.
j. Table 5 new mechanically active substances classes.
k. Table 6: new mechanical conditions classes.

IEC 60068-3-6:2018 is available as IEC 60068-3-6:2018 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-3-6:2018 provides a uniform and reproducible method of confirming that temperature and humidity test chambers, without specimens, conform to the requirements specified in climatic test procedures of IEC 60068-2 (all parts). This document is intended for users when conducting regular chamber performance monitoring. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2001. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Confirmation procedures are clarified.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

IEC 60068-3-5:2018 is now available as IEC 60068-3-5:2018 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-3-5:2018 provides a uniform and reproducible method of confirming that temperature test chambers, without specimens, conform to the requirements specified in climatic test procedures of IEC 60068-2 (all parts) and other standards. This document is intended for users when conducting regular chamber performance monitoring. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2001. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Confirmation procedures are clarified.
This bilingual version (2019-05) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2018-01.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

IEC 60068-2-52:2017 is now available as IEC 60068-2-52:2017 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-52:2017 specifies the application of the cyclic salt mist test to components or equipment designed to withstand a salt-laden atmosphere as salt can degrade the performance of parts manufactured using metallic and/or non-metallic materials. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 1996. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- the entire content has been harmonized with ISO 9227 as far as possible;
- an introduction has been added;
- the scope has been simplified;
- normative references have been updated;
- the general description of the test has been changed;
- a dry chamber has been added to the test apparatus;
- severities have been changed to test methods;
- test methods 7 and 8 have been added;
- information on the test report has been added;
- Figure 1 has been changed to Table 1;
- a typical test apparatus example has been added in a new Annex A;
- a description of each test method has been added in a new Annex B;
- bibliographical references have been added.
This bilingual version (2019-07) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in 2017-11.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.

IEC TR 62131-6:2017(E) reviews the available dynamic data relating to the transportation of electrotechnical equipment. The intent is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in IEC 60721 (all parts).

IEC 60068-2-18:2017 is now available as IEC 60068-2-18:2017 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-18:2017 provides methods of test applicable to products which, during transportation, storage or in service, can be subjected to falling water drops, impacting water, immersion or high pressure water impact. The primary purpose of water tests is to verify the ability of enclosures, covers and seals to maintain components and equipment in good working order after and, when necessary, under a standardized drop field or immersion in water.
These tests are not corrosion tests and cannot be considered and used as such.
Established water tests in other standards are not intended to simulate natural rainfall and their quoted intensities are too high to be adopted for that purpose. Therefore, in addition to the high-intensity severities, test R includes an artificial rain test based upon natural conditions but not taking into account high wind speeds generally associated with natural rain.
Guidance is given on the applicability of the tests and the severities to be selected.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2000. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a. addition of the new test method Rb 3.

IEC 60068-2-39:2015 provides a description of test methods and guidance for testing of equipment or components under combined temperature or temperature and humidity with low air pressure tests. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1976 and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) preferred severities of the IEC 60068 series;
b) combined temperature, humidity and low air pressure.

IEC TR 62131-5:2015(E) reviews the available dynamic data relating to the handling of electrotechnical equipment. The intention is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in the IEC 60721 series.

IEC 60068-2-60:2015 is available as IEC 60068-2-60:2015 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-60:2015 determines the corrosive influence of operating and storage indoor environments on electrotechnical products components, equipment and materials, particularly contacts and connections, considered separately, integrated into a subassembly or assembled as a complete equipment. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 1995, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- updated IEC format;
- updated normative references list;
- addition of information of the working volume;
- revision of the test procedure;
- revision of the figures in Annex B.

IEC 60068-2-75:2014 provides three standardized and coordinated test methods for determining the ability of a specimen to withstand specified severities of impact. It is used, in particular, to demonstrate an acceptable level of robustness when assessing the safety of a product and is primarily intended for the testing of electrotechnical items. It consists of the application to the specimen of a prescribed number of impacts defined by their impact energy and applied in the prescribed directions. This part of IEC 60068 covers energy levels ranging from 0,14 J (joules) to 50 J (joules). This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1997, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical change with respect to the previous edition:
- reconsideration of some values in Tables 1 and 2. Although some values are no longer recommended, they have been retained as alternatives for historical consistency purposes.

IEC 60721-2-9:2014 is intended to be used to define the strategy for arriving at an environmental description from measured data when related to a product's life cycle. Its object is to define fundamental properties and quantities for characterization of storage, transportation and in-use shock and vibration data as background material for the severities to which products are liable to be exposed during those phases of their lifecycle.

IEC 60068-1:2013 includes a series of methods for environmental testing along with their appropriate severities, and prescribes various atmospheric conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of specimens to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. Although primarily intended for electrotechnical products, this standard is not restricted to them and may be used in other fields where desired. Other methods of environmental testing, specific to the individual types of specimen, may be included in the relevant specifications. The framework of environmental test tailoring process is given in order to assist the production of test specifications with appropriate tests and test severities. This seventh edition cancels and replaces the sixth edition, published in 1988, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below:
- updated normative reference list;
- indication of normative and informative annexes;
- new informative Annex C, Environmental test tailoring.

IEC 60721-2-1:2013 presents classifications of open-air climates in terms of temperature and humidity. It is intended to be used as part of the background material when selecting appropriate temperature and humidity severities for product testing and application. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1982, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with respect to the previous edition are in the definitions of climate types.

IEC 60721-2-3:2013 presents a selection of different values of air pressure appearing in nature. It is intended to be used as part of the background material when selecting appropriate severities of air pressure for product applications, which products are liable to be exposed during storage, transportation and use. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1987, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with regard to the previous edition are as follows:
- removal of figures for decreasing cooling efficiency for altitude;
- simplification of Table 1;
- additional formula for calculating air pressure from altitude.

IEC 60068-2-57:2013 provides a standard procedure for determining, by the time-history and sine-beat methods, the ability of a specimen to withstand specified severities of transient vibration. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 1999. It also replaces IEC 60068-2-59:1990, which will be withdrawn. This edition includes only minor technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- editorially combines IEC 60068-2-57 and IEC 60068-2-59;
- the title has been modified to include a sine beat method.
This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 60068-1:1988.

IEC 60068-2-65:2013 provides standard procedures and guidance for conducting acoustic tests in order to determine the ability of a specimen to withstand vibration caused by a specified sound-pressure level environment to which it is, or is liable to be, subjected. This second edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 1993, and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- minor technical and editorial changes were made throughout the document as originally requested by the DE National Committee;
- following comments at the CD stage, particularly from the UK National Committee, significant technical and editorial additions were made to the standard for acoustic testing employing the progressive wave tube technique.

IEC 60068-2-55:2013 provides a standard procedure for determining the ability of a specimen to withstand specified severities of bounce, e. g. when transported as loose cargo on wheeled vehicles. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1987, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below: This new edition allows for loose cargo testing in a more general sense. The test is no longer aligned with a special testing machine but allows for use of any suitable equipment such as electrodynamic or servo-hydraulic shaker tables. Moreover, sinusoidal and random vibration can be used. The previous rotation table motions are included in Annex A as historical methods.
This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 60068-1:1988.

IEC 60721-2-2:2012 presents fundamental properties, quantities for characterization, and a classification of environmental conditions dependent on precipitation and wind relevant for electrotechnical products. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1988, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with regard to the previous edition are as follows:
- subclause Precipitation: simplified;
- data not possible to validate are removed;
- subclause Wind: text rewritten;
- Table 1 simplified and aligned with definition used by [1];
- subclause Hail: data added;
- formula changed;
- formula for impact energy added;
- subclause Snow: text changed and aligned with definitions used by [1];
- Table 3 removed;
- subclause Normal rain: text has been modified and numeric values removed;
- subclause Driving rain: text has been modified and numeric values removed;
- subclause Formation of ice: text has been modified and numeric values removed;
- subclause Drifting snow: text added;
- subclause Wind force: formula changed;
- Figure 1 to 5 removed.

IEC 60068-2-78:2012 is available as IEC Standards+ 60068-2-78:2012 which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60068-2-78:2012 establishes a test method for determining the ability of components or equipment to withstand transportation, storage and use under conditions of high humidity. The object of this standard is to investigate the effect of high humidity at constant temperature without condensation on a specimen over a prescribed period. It is applicable to small equipment or components as well as large equipment, and can be applied to both heat-dissipating and non-heat-dissipating specimens. This second edition cancels and replaced the first edition, published in 2001 and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes editorial and format changes with respect to the previous edition:
- The test chamber from IEC 60068-3-6 has been introduced.

IEC/TR 62130:2012(E), which is a technical report, provides traceable recommendations from validated field data for updating IEC 60721-2-1.

IEC 60068-3-1:2011 provides guidance regarding the performance of cold and dry heat tests. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1974, and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with regard to the previous edition are as follows:
- removal of guidance regarding thermal characteristics of chamber walls;
- revision of sections that address environmental chambers that do not use movement of air for temperature control.

IEC/TR 62131-2:2011(E) reviews the available dynamic data relating to electrotechnical equipment transported in fixed wing jet transport aircraft. The intent is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in IEC 60721.

IEC/TR 62131-4:2011(E) reviews the available dynamic data relating to electrotechnical equipment transported by road vehicles. The intent is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in IEC 60721. For each of the sources identified the quality of the data is reviewed and checked for self consistency. The process used to undertake this check of data quality and that used to intrinsically categorize the various data sources is set out in IEC/TR 62131-1.

IEC/TR 62131-3:2011(E) reviews the available dynamic data relating to electrotechnical equipment transported by rail vehicles. The intent is that from all the available data an environmental description will be generated and compared to that set out in IEC 60721. For each of the sources identified the quality of the data is reviewed and checked for self consistency. The process used to undertake this check of data quality and that used to intrinsically categorize the various data sources is set out in IEC/TR 62131-1.

IEC/TR 62131-1:2011(E) reviews the essentially empirical data validation procedure adopted to establish confidence in the data utilized by the other Parts of IEC/TR 62131. The adoption of a validation procedure was necessary, due the lack of fully validated data sets. This technical report is intended to be generic in nature and is normally expected to be adopted as far as is practical within the circumstances of any particular data item.

IEC 60068-2-53:2010 provides a description of test methods and guidance for testing equipment or components under combined climatic and dynamic conditions. The purpose of combined testing is to investigate to what extent the equipment or components are affected by combined climatic and dynamic tests. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition of IEC 60068-2-50, published in 1983, the first edition of IEC 60068-2-51, published in 1983 and the first edition of 60068-2-53, published in 1984 and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with respect to the previous editions of all three standards cited above is to update and group tests. In this way it allows for the possibility to use different kinds of vibration excitation:
- sine, random or mixed mode;
- or shocks, with different tests for climatic conditions;
- cold, dry heat, change of temperature or constant and cyclic damp heat.

IEC 60068-2-14:2009 provides a test to determine the ability of components, equipment or other articles to withstand rapid changes of ambient temperature. The exposure times adequate to accomplish this will depend upon the nature of the specimen. The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern:
- merging of the previous version of IEC 60068-2-14 with IEC 60068-2-33: Guidance on change of temperature tests;
- updating of the figures, changes to some of the wording and editorial corrections made for clarification.

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.

IEC 60068-2-31:2008 deals with a test procedure for simulating the effects of rough handling shocks, primarily in equipment-type specimens, the effects of knocks, jolts and falls which may be received during repair work or rough handling in operational use. This procedure does not simulate the effects of impacts received during transportation as loosely constrained cargo. Where the effects of loose cargo transportation are to be assessed, test Ee: Bounce should be used. Also this procedure does not simulate the effects of shock applied to installed equipments. Where this effect is to be assessed refer to test Ea: Shock. Testing should only be specified for equipment likely to receive such rough handling, for example those of small to medium size and mass, and should only be applied to those faces and corners where there is a risk of such treatment being encountered. In general, equipment which is frequently handled and serviced (for example field equipment and unit spares) can be considered at risk, whereas equipment forming an integral part of a permanent installation would not normally be considered at risk and need not be tested. Testing may not be applicable to fragile unprotected equipment of irregular shape (for example aircraft nose radar) which, when removed from the installation would be contained in a handling frame or jig. It may however be applicable to these items of equipment when they are in their transit case or in their handling frame or jig. For equipment which stands only on one face (for example the normal base) the test is generally only applied to that face. Shock tests are performed on the specimen when fixed to the test machine. Drop and topple, free fall, repeated free fall and bounce tests are performed with the specimen free. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1969 and constitutes a technical revision. The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern the introduction of soft packaging tests, where appropriate. This new edition of IEC 60068-2-31 now incorporates the second edition of IEC 60068-2-32 (1975).

IEC 60068-2-64:2008 demonstrates the adequacy of specimens to resist dynamic loads without unacceptable degradation of its functional and/or structural integrity when subjected to the specified random vibration test requirements. Broadband random vibration may be used to identify accumulated stress effects and the resulting mechanical weakness and degradation in the specified performance. This information, in conjunction with the relevant specification, may be used to assess the acceptability of specimens. This standard is applicable to specimens which may be subjected to vibration of a stochastic nature resulting from transportation or operational environments, for example in aircraft, space vehicles and land vehicles. It is primarily intended for unpackaged specimens, and for items in their transportation container when the latter may be considered as part of the specimen itself. However, if the item is packaged, then the item itself is referred to as a product and the item and its packaging together are referred to as a test specimen. This standard may be used in conjunction with IEC 60068-2-47:2005, for testing packaged products. If the specimens are subjected to vibration of a combination of random and deterministic nature resulting from transportation or real life environments, for example in aircraft, space vehicles and for items in their transportation container, testing with pure random may not be sufficient. See IEC 60068-3-8:2003 for estimating the dynamic vibration environment of the specimen and based on that, selecting the appropriate test method. The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern the removal of Method 1 and Method 2, replaced by a single method, and replacement of Annex A with suggested test spectra and removal of Annex C. Also included in this revision is the testing of soft packed specimens.

IEC 60068-2-27:2008 provides a standard procedure for determining the ability of a specimen to withstand specified severities of non-repetitive or repetitive shocks. The purpose of this test is to reveal mechanical weakness and/or degradation in specified performances, or accumulated damage or degradation caused by shocks. In conjunction with the relevant specification, this may be used in some cases to determine the structural integrity of specimens or as a means of quality control. This test is primarily intended for unpackaged specimens and for items in their transport case when the latter may be considered to be part of the specimen. If an item is to be tested unpackaged, it is referred to as a test specimen. However, if the item is packaged, then the item itself is referred to as a product and the item and its packaging together are referred to as a test specimen. When used in conjunction with IEC 60068-2-47, this standard may be used for testing packaged products. This possibility was included in the 2005 version of IEC 60068-2-47 for the first time. This standard is written in terms of prescribed pulse shapes. Guidance for the selection and application of these pulses is given in Annex A and the characteristics of the different pulse shapes are discussed in Annex B. Wherever possible, the test severity and the shape of the shock pulse applied to the specimen should be such as to reproduce the effects of the actual transport or operational environment to which the specimen will be subjected, or to satisfy the design requirements if the object of the test is to assess structural integrity (see Clauses A.2 and A.4). For the purposes of this test, the specimen is always mounted to the fixture or the table of the shock testing machine during testing. The major changes with regard to the previous edition concern:
- the merging of IEC 60068-2-29 into this edition of IEC 60068-2-27; Part 2-29 will be withdrawn as soon as this edition is published;
- the introduction of soft packaged specimens as defined in the IEC ad hoc working group document agreed in Stockholm:2000.