Sand and Dust — MIL-STD-810

The sand and dust test examines two distinct phenomena. In the fine dust procedure, the goal is to see whether dust ingresses into the equipment and accumulates on moving parts. In the blowing sand procedure, the abrasion of surfaces by larger particles impacting at high speed is assessed.

The purpose is to verify equipment operating in desert and unpaved field settings does not lose function due to dust ingress and its optical/mechanical surfaces are not degraded by sand abrasion.

• Field equipment and enclosures
• Optical and electro-optical systems
• Ventilated electronic enclosures
• Engine and air intake systems
• Equipment on helicopters and UAVs

• MIL-STD-810environmental engineering assessments and laboratory tests test

Procedure

Fine dust ingress and/or blowing sand abrasion

Dust/sand type

Test dust with the particle distribution defined in the standard

Air velocity and concentration

From the exposure scenario in the specification

Temperature

Applied together with high temperature, if required

• Sand and dust test chamber and feed system
• Air velocity and concentration measurement equipment
• Temperature and humidity control setup
• Functional check and leak-tightness measurement equipment
• Optical surface inspection setup

• The specimen must represent the final configuration of the design being qualified.
• The product's environmental life cycle profile and procurement specification must be supplied together with the test.
• If the unit is to be operated during the test, power, load and monitoring interfaces must be provided.
• The functional check procedure and success criterion must be provided in writing by the manufacturer.
• Tests may be destructive; the qualification specimen must be set aside from series use.

Exposure duration for each procedure is defined in the specification; the overall study usually takes several days. Reorienting the specimen to expose every surface adds to the duration.

1. 1The procedures to apply and the exposure scenario are determined.
2. 2A functional check and visual inspection are performed before the test.
3. 3The specimen is placed in the chamber with its critical surfaces facing the flow.
4. 4Dust or sand is blown at the defined concentration and air velocity.
5. 5The specimen is operated if required, and the exposure is repeated with a different orientation.
6. 6Deposits on the external surface are cleaned per the standard at the end of exposure.
7. 7The specimen is opened to examine internal deposits and a functional check is performed.

The severity level and acceptance criterion come not from the method standard but from the specification the product is subject to: for MIL-STD-810 applications, the product's environmental life cycle profile and procurement specification are decisive; for DO-160 applications, it is the category corresponding to the equipment's installation zone on the aircraft. This page therefore gives no numerical limit.

The result is assessed on the equipment maintaining function and the absence of internal dust deposits that would impede it. In the sand procedure, clouding of optical surfaces and coating abrasion are additionally examined.

• Equipment identification, part number and configuration
• Standard, revision and method/section number applied
• Selected severity level or category and its basis
• Test rig, mounting arrangement and measurement points
• Functional checks performed before, during and after the test
• Measurement results, observations and photographs
• Non-conformities and any test deviations
• A statement that the result applies only to the specimen submitted for testing

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.

• MIL-STD-810 (environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests)
• The procuring authority's technical specification and qualification plan
• AQAP / NATO quality assurance requirements (where applicable)

The section below describes the field that the Sand and Dust 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.

• High Temperature
• Temperature Shock
• Low Pressure
• Acceleration
• Salt Fog
• Rain
• Explosive Atmosphere
• Environmental Qualification
• EMI/EMC
• Ballistic Testing
• Blast
• Shock