MIL-STD-810 G Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests

The MIL-STD-810G test standard contains planning and engineering direction for considering the influences that environmental stresses have on materiel throughout all phases of its service life.

It is important to note that the MIL STD 810G testing document does not impose design or test specifications. Instead, 810-G describes the environmental tailoring process that results in realistic designs and test methods based on system performance requirements.

MIL-STD 810G represents the seventh version of the MIL 810 test specification. Like the previous versions, this standard was approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense (DoD). Even though the testing is designed for DoD products, this standard can be applied to test commercial products.

What is Different About Version G of MIL-STD 810 Versus Previous Versions?

MIL-STD-810G consolidated the basic MIL-810F with its three change notices to result in one comprehensive document. It also includes a number of corrections, significant changes, and additions to the comprehensive 810F. These additions include five new test methods.

These five new test methods are:

The version G test standard outlines the importance of working with a MIL-STD-810G test lab for three classes of people. The first are program managers. These are people who, among other responsibilities, ensure the proposed concepts and systems are valid and functional in their intended operational environments.

The second group is environmental engineering specialists. These are individuals who enter the acquisition process early to assist combat and materiel developer tailoring efforts. They prepare life cycle environmental profiles. They also draft tailored design criteria and test programs.

The third group is the design, test, and evaluation community. This is the group whose analysts, engineers, and facility operators use tailored designs and tests to meet user needs.

To see previous versions of the test standard, please click on one of the links below.

How is MIL-STD 810G Testing Applied to Products?

This military environmental testing 810 standard contains three distinct sections. These sections each serve a specific purpose and are associated with determining the detrimental effects the environment can have on a product.

Part one of the standard spells out a disciplined, tailored approach for acquiring systems. The objective is for the product to withstand the stresses of climatic, shock and vibration environments that they expect to see in their service lives.

Part two also serves as an important part of the environmental tailoring process. The section of 810G testing contains tailoring information, environmental stress data, and laboratory test methods. The environmental data contained in these methods are meant to assist.

This information alone should not be used exclusively to define environmental stresses that material will encounter throughout its service life. Ultimately, this will help engineers to tailor analyses and tests to specific material and its defined life cycle. It is not valid to call out all of the methods in this standard in a blanket fashion.

It is also not valid, once an 810 method is determined appropriate, to regard the environmental stress data, test criteria, and procedures in the method as unalterable. The lone exception to this is Method 528, which is the mechanical vibrations of shipboard equipment.

Part three of this test standard provides planning guidance for realistic consideration of climatic conditions. These conditions can occur in various stages including research, development, test, and evaluation. It is important to consider the entire life cycle. It is also crucial to consider the various climatic regions throughout the world.

This section helps achieve the objective of developing products that will perform adequately under the environmental conditions likely to be found throughout their life cycle in the areas of intended use.

What are the objectives of MIL-STD-810/G?

Developing a compliant product includes considering a number of objectives. Working with the MIL-STD-810G testing lab is one portion of this process. The MIL test standard outlines information to:

  • Define the environmental stress sequences, durations, and levels of life cycles for the product, its components and materials.
  • Serve as a resource to develop analysis and test criteria tailored to the product and its environmental life cycle.
  • Evaluate product performance when exposed to a life cycle of environmental stresses.
  • Identify deficiencies, shortcomings, and defects in product design, materials, manufacturing processes, packaging techniques, and maintenance methods.
  • Demonstrate the compliance with contractual requirements for the product.

What are other testing areas not covered in MIL-810G?

The basis of MIL-810-G is environmental analysis, design analysis and lab testing. These are all valuable tools, but do not cover all of the effects a product could face in operation or transit. These additional events may impact performance or the integrity of the product in service. Furthermore, the combination of various events can present additional challenges as well.

These additional events include but are not limited to the following:

  • General electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing is not included in MIL-STD-810G.
  • There are other specific EMC/EMI tests also not included. These EMC tests are lightning and magnetic effects.
  • The effects of nuclear, biological, chemical weapons or their effects are not included in the test standard.
  • Specific aspects of munitions and pyrotechnics safety testing are absent from military standard 810-G testing.
  • The testing of piece parts such as bolts, wires, transistors and integrated circuits is not considered in the test program.
  • The testing of packaging performance or packaging design is absent from MIL-810G testing.
  • The suitability of clothing or fabric items that are described in specific specifications are addressed in other military test standards but not MIL 810 G.
  • The effects of environmental stress screening (ESS) methods and procedures should be considered for military products. However, the specific test requirements are not included in MIL-STANDARD-810-G.
  • Neither reliability testing nor safety testing are addressed in this particular test standard.

Expert MIL-STD-810 Testing Lab

As an ISO-17025 accredited test lab, Keystone Compliance is accredited to complete a full MIL-STD-810 test program. Our test facility includes nearly 10 EMC test chambers, several shakers, dozens of climatics chambers and other necessary equipment.

We take a consultative approach and assist our customers throughout the entire test program. If failures arise, we assist in isolating them and finding potential solutions. Contact us to see why so many manufacturers partner with Keystone Compliance.

In addition to environmental testing, Keystone Compliance also has a full scope of EMC/EMI lab testing. Please visit our EMC website to learn more about our capabilities including shielding effectiveness, ESD, lightning, HEMP and many other types of EMC testing. We are also an ISTA-accredited package testing lab. We offer full package testing capabilities including testing to ISTA and ASTM standards.

The MIL-STD-810 test specification includes the following test methods and sections. For more information on each type of testing, please click on the associated links.