What Is Salt Mist?
Sea salt fog testing is a cyclic exposure (IEC 60068-2-52) in which the sample is subjected to alternating periods of salt fog spraying and moist soaking; It is the test where corrosion and functional deterioration are evaluated.
Purpose of Salt Mist
The aim is to verify that equipment to be used in the marine environment maintains its function and structural integrity under salt accumulation and moisture conditions.
Which Products Is Salt Mist Applied To?
- Navigation and deck equipment
- Marine electrical panels and enclosures
- Fasteners and connectors
- Outdoor deck lighting and sensors
In Which Sectors Is Salt Mist Used?
Standards Related to Salt Mist
- IEC 60068-2-52 (Kb: cyclic salt fog)
- IEC 60945maritime navigational and radio communications equipment test
- ISO 9227tuz sisi korozyon testi test
- ASTM B117tuz sisi (salt spray) korozyon testi test
- Marine Equipment DirectiveEU ship equipment directive test
- IMO RequirementsInternational Maritime Organization requirements test
- SOLAS EquipmentEquipment covered by the safety of life at sea convention test
Salt Mist Conditions
- Solution
- Sodium chloride solution defined in IEC 60068-2-52
- Cycle
- Spraying period followed by high humidity holding period is applied alternately
- level of violence
- Selected according to the specification from the levels defined in the standard
- Function
- The function is tested at the end of the experiment and, if necessary, during the experiment.
Equipment for Salt Mist
- Recirculating salt mist cabin
- Humidity conditioning chamber
- Solution-preparation and pH-measurement rig
- Function-monitoring equipment
Sample Requirements for Salt Mist
- The specimen must be in operating configuration
- Lid and gasket layout must be final
- The severity level must be defined in the specification
- Washing and drying after the experiment should be done according to the standard.
Duration of Salt Mist
Typically 1–4 weeks depending on severity level.
Salt Mist Procedure
- 1The intensity level and number of cycles are determined.
- 2The specimen is placed in the chamber.
- 3Spraying and moist holding cycles are applied.
- 4The sample is removed, washed and dried according to the standard.
- 5Corrosion is assessed and function tested.
Salt Mist Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criteria are given in the specification: continued function and absence of unacceptable corrosion.
Evaluation of Results
Cycling salt fog (IEC 60068-2-52) and continuous salt fog (ASTM B117) are not the same test and their results are not comparable. Marine approvals often require the rolling method; A continuous spray report may not be accepted.
Salt Mist Report
- Standard and level of severity applied
- Solution and chamber conditions
- Number of cycles and duration
- Corrosion assessment
- Function results
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Ship Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU (MED)
- Class society rules
Denizcilik Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Salt Mist test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Marine testing shows that equipment used on board withstands the marine environment and shipboard operating conditions. The character of the environment is decisive: continuous salt-laden humidity, rolling and pitching, engine-borne vibration, limited opportunity for maintenance and the difficulty of evacuation in the event of a failure.
The most distinctive aspect of the field is the CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE. A device that fails ashore is replaced; a navigation device that fails at sea means the ship does not know its position. Durability expectations and the certification burden for marine equipment are therefore markedly higher than for comparable equipment ashore.
Navigation and communication equipment is assessed under IEC 60945; this standard carries environmental durability, EMC and functional requirements together and distinguishes categories according to where the equipment will be mounted on board: protected, exposed deck and submerged categories are subject to different requirements.
On the digital interface side the IEC 61162 series is used. This is the body of protocols enabling devices on the bridge to talk to one another; in integrated bridge systems it must be shown that data exchange between devices works correctly.
On the shipboard electrical installation side the IEC 60092 series applies: cable types, installation rules, protection coordination and fire behaviour. Flame spread and halogen-free construction carry particular weight for cables on board, because smoke in an enclosed space directly obstructs evacuation.
On the shock side, naval vessels carry their own regime: the MIL-S-901 high-impact shock test simulates the effect of an underwater explosion. Testing at this scale is not required for civil ships, but vibration and inclination/roll tests are standard.
On the regulatory side the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) is decisive: equipment within scope carries the "wheelmark" and this is a regime SEPARATE from CE. Behind the requirements stand the SOLAS convention and International Maritime Organization resolutions; the scope list is updated regularly.
Classification societies add a second layer. DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, Bureau Veritas and similar bodies issue their own type approvals; a shipyard usually requires both the wheelmark and the relevant class approval. The two processes do not substitute for one another.
Method groups in this field
Environmental durability
Temperature, humidity, salt fog, vibration, rain and immersion under IEC 60945; levels according to the mounting category.
Electromagnetic compatibility
The EMC sections of IEC 60945; emission and immunity requirements specific to the shipboard environment.
Mechanical
Vibration, shock, inclination and roll tests; MIL-S-901 high-impact shock for naval vessels.
Electrical installation
Cable and installation requirements under the IEC 60092 series; cable fire behaviour and halogen-free construction.
Digital interface
Data interface conformity under the IEC 61162 series and integrated bridge system compatibility.
Fire safety
Reaction to fire, smoke and toxicity for shipboard interior materials; fire resistance for hoses and penetrations.
Commonly confused in this field
- The wheelmark is not the CE marking; it is a different regulatory regime with its own scope list.
- MED approval and classification society type approval do not substitute for one another; a shipyard usually requires both.
- The IEC 60945 category selection depends on the mounting location; an approval obtained for a protected area is not valid for an exposed deck.
- An approval obtained for a civil ship does not satisfy naval shock requirements.
- An onshore EMC report is not sufficient for marine use; IEC 60945 defines its own limits and set-ups.
- Scope lists are updated; equipment once outside the scope may later fall within it.
Which decisions these results support
- Marine equipment type approval and the wheelmark
- Classification society type approval
- Compliance with shipbuilding and shipyard procurement specifications
- Shock qualification in naval programmes
- Verification of integrated bridge system compatibility
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Salt Mist
According to which standard is Salt Mist made?
Salt Mist is executed in scope IEC 60068-2-52 (Kb: cyclic salt fog), IEC 60945, ISO 9227 and ASTM B117. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Salt Mist apply to?
Mainly applied to Navigation and deck equipment, Marine electrical panels and enclosures, Fasteners and connectors and Outdoor deck lighting and sensors. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Salt Mist done?
The determining parameters are: Solution — Sodium chloride solution defined in IEC 60068-2-52, Cycle — Spraying period followed by high humidity holding period is applied alternately and level of violence — Selected according to the specification from the levels defined in the standard. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Salt Mist?
The specimen must be in operating configuration, Lid and gasket layout must be final and The severity level must be defined in the specification. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Salt Mist take?
Typically 1–4 weeks depending on severity level. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Salt Mist result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criteria are given in the specification: continued function and absence of unacceptable corrosion.