Background information

MIL-STD-810: mislabelling with a military standard?

8.5.2019

Translation: machine translated

More and more products are certified with the US military standard "MIL-STD-810". Like IP certification, it stands for notebooks, smartphones and wearables that can withstand particular environmental stresses. But is this really true?

The US technical military standard MIL-STD-810 actually specifies environmental test conditions for military equipment. Very similar to IP certification. The military standard has also been used for electronic products for some time now. Especially for notebooks, smartphones and smartwatches. However, in contrast to Ingress Protection certification, the imprint of the military standard only offers limited added value: the information content is as meaningful as the imprint "as if made by hand" on a crisps packet.

What is the military standard supposed to achieve?

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the USA spent an incredible 649 billion US dollars on military and armaments in 2018. That is more than 35 per cent of global defence spending (1.8 trillion US dollars). The war game is profitable. At least for certain circles that own the right shares or bonds. But every now and then, military armament also brings improvements for ordinary people - quite apart from war.

In addition to a number of technical achievements, the military standard MIL-STD-810 is one of them. The first version of the standard was created in the early 1960s. It has since been revised seven times. Currently standardised products come with the sixth revision "G" from 2008.

The seventh version has been available since 31 January 2019. The document, which describes all test methods and conditions, comprises 1089 pages with revision "H" and is therefore very detailed.

The following tests are part of the military standard:

Test (paragraph)	Designation	German designation
500.6	Low Pressure (Altitude)	Low air pressure at high altitude
501.7	High Temperature	High temperature
502.7	Low Temperature	Low temperature
503.7	Temperature Shock	Temperature shock
504.3	Contamination by fluids	Contamination by liquids
505.7	Solar Radiation (Sunshine)	Solar irradiation
506.6	Rain	Rain
507.6	Humidity	Air humidity
508.8	Fungus	Fungal infestation
509.7	Salt Fog	Salt spray
510.7	Sand and Dust	Sand and dust
511.7	Explosive Atmosphere	Explosive atmosphere
512.6	Immersion	Submersion
513.8	Acceleration	Acceleration
514.8	Vibration	Vibrations
515.8	Acoustic Noise	Noise
516.8	Shock	Mechanical shock
517.3	Pyroshock	Fire shock
518.2	Acidic Atmosphere	Corrosive atmosphere
519.8	Gunfire Shock	Shock from gunfire
520.5	Combined Environments (temperature, altitude, humidity, input electrical power, vibration)	Combined environmental conditions (temperature, altitude, humidity, electrical energy, vibration)
521.4	Icing / Freezing Rain	Freezing rain
522.2	Ballistic Shock	Ballistic shock
523.4	Vibro-Acoustic / Temperature	Vibroacoustics / temperature
524.1	Freeze / Thaw	Freezing / defrosting
525.2	Time Waveform Replication	Practical vibration tests
526.2	Rail Impact	Train impact
527.2	Multi-exciter test	Structure and function test for materials in a specific environment
528.1	Mechanical Vibrations of Shipboard Equipment (Type I - Environmental and Type II - Internally Excited)	Environmental influences and vibration in ship scaffolding

What does the military standard really do?

If, after looking at the table, you think that your smartphone with military certification is protected against thermal shock or fungal attack, you're wrong. And here's the thing:

In order for a manufacturer to be allowed to label its product with the "MIL-STD-810" label, this product must pass just one of the 29 tests.

This sheds a whole new light on the military standard. For us customers, this means that the certification does not contain any clear information.

Want an example? Take a look at the product in our shop.LG V40 ThinQ the specifications, both "IP68" and "MIL-STD-810" are listed under "Resistance". IP68 clearly defines that the product is dustproof and protected against permanent immersion. You won't find out anything about the military standard. At least not unless you take the time to research it on the manufacturer's website.

Even marketing texts on the web contain countless references to the standard that simply don't say anything. An example from the digitec shop would be this Samsung smartphone: "Designed to go with you wherever you go. With IP68*- and MIL-STD 810G**-, the Galaxy XCover 4 is so robust that it's perfect for harsh conditions."

Here you have to go to the double asterisk on the website and read the small print to find out more. That is, if the small print exists at all.

More customer scams?

But even if you find small print and details about the tests that were actually carried out, the standard remains highly questionable. Because there are even more inconsistencies:

In comparison to IP certification, the military standard is not binding. This means that the test methods described on 1089 pages can be adapted to the device to be tested as required. In addition, the manufacturers are allowed to test independently.

Independent test laboratories are therefore just as little prescribed as compliance with the test procedures described. There are also no minimum targets to be achieved for the individual tests. This means that the standard loses a lot of credibility. Of course there will be manufacturers who carry out the tests conscientiously and whose products are therefore well protected against some environmental damage. But if everyone is allowed to do as they please, this is no longer a standard.

For us customers, this means that we should not pay any attention to promises such as "MIL-STD-810H approved", "MIL-STD-810H certified", "designed according to MIL-STD-810H" or "passed MIL-STD-810H test". As long as there is no detailed description of the tests from the manufacturer, we should rather orientate ourselves on IP certifications.

Another little excitement at the end: According to statements from various sites and forums, there are also manufacturers who do not carry out any tests at all, but still advertise with MIL-STD-810. Even the English Wikipedia entry states: "When queried many manufacturers admit no testing has actually been done and that the product is merely designed/engineered/built-to comply with the standard." .

In German:

When asked, many manufacturers admit that no testing has been carried out and that the product is merely designed, engineered and built to comply with the standard.

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Martin Jud

Senior Editor

martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.ch

I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.

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