EN 60721-3-1:1997

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2001
Classification of environmental conditions - Part 3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities - Section 1: Storage
Classification of environmental conditions -- Part 3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities -- Section 1: Storage
Klassifizierung von Umweltbedingungen -- Teil 3: Klassen von Umwelteinflußgrößen und
deren Grenzwerte -- Hauptabschnitt 1: Langzeitlagerung
Classification des conditions d'environnement -- Partie 3: Classification des groupements
des agents d'environnement et de leurs sévérités -- Section 1: Stockage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60721-3-1:1997
ICS:
19.040 Preskušanje v zvezi z Environmental testing
okoljem
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

NORME
CEI
INTERNATIONALE
IEC
60721-3-1
INTERNATIONAL
Deuxième édition
STANDARD
Second edition
1997-02
Classification des conditions d’environnement –
Partie 3:
Classification des groupements des agents
d’environnement et de leurs sévérités –
Section 1: Stockage
Classification of environmental conditions –
Part 3:
Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 1: Storage
 IEC 1997 Droits de reproduction réservés  Copyright - all rights reserved
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Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
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International Electrotechnical Commission
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For price, see current catalogue

60721-3-1  IEC:1997 − 3 −
CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . 5
Clause
1 Scope and object. 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Definitions . 9
4 General . 9
5 Classification of groups of environmental parameters and their severities. 11
6 Sets of environmental condition class combinations . 15
Tables
1 Classification of climatic conditions. 17
2 Classification of special climatic conditions . 21
3 Classification of biological conditions . 21
4 Classification of chemically active substances. 23
5 Classification of mechanically active substances. 25
6 Classification of mechanical conditions . 25
7 Sets of environmental class combinations. 25
Figure 1 . 27
Annexes
A Summary of conditions covered by the classes . 29
B Summary of conditions covered by the sets of class combinations. 37
C Explanation of the environmental conditions in tropical areas as specified
in classes 1K10 and 1K11. 39

60721-3-1  IEC:1997 − 5 −
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
___________
CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS –
Part 3: Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 1: Storage
FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization
comprising all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to
promote international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic
fields. To this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt
with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations
liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the
two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the
form of standards, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National Committees in that
sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60721-3-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 75:
Classification of environmental conditions.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1987, amendment 1
(1991) and amendment 2 (1993). The third amendment led to the publication of this
consolidated edition.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
75/277/FDIS 75/296/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
IEC 721 consists of the following parts, under the general title Classification of environmental
conditions:
−
Part 1: 1990, Environmental parameters and their severities
− Part 2: Environmental conditions appearing in nature
− Part 3: Classification of groups of environmental parameters and their severities.
Annexes A, B and C are for information only.

60721-3-1  IEC:1997 − 7 −
CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS –
Part 3: Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 1: Storage
1 Scope and object
This section of IEC 60721-3 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 standard are limited to those which may 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.
Transfer during storage is not included in the classification.
Environmental conditions directly related to fire or explosion and conditions related to ionizing
radiation are excluded. Any other unforeseen incidents are also excluded. The possibility of
their occurrence should be taken into account in special cases. Offshore locations 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 sections of IEC 60721-3.
The object of this standard is to classify environmental parameters and their severities to which
a product may be exposed during storage.
A limited number of classes of environmental conditions is given, covering a broad field of
application. The user of this standard should select the lowest classification necessary for
covering the conditions of intended storage.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this section of IEC 60721-3. At the time of publication, the editions
indicated were valid. All normative documents are subject to revision, and parties to
agreements based on this section of IEC 60721-3 are encouraged to investigate the possibility
of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. Members of
IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
IEC 721-1: 1990,
Classification of environmental conditions − Part 1: Environmental
parameters and their severities
Amendment 1 (1992)
IEC 721-2-1: 1982, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 2: Environmental
conditions appearing in nature − Temperature and humidity
Amendment 1 (1987)
60721-3-1  IEC:1997 − 9 −
IEC 721-3-0: 1984, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 3: Classification of groups
of environmental parameters and their severities − Introduction
Amendment 1 (1987)
IEC 60721-3-2: 1997, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 3: Classification of
environmental parameters and their severities − Section 2: Transportation
IEC 721-3-3: 1994, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 3: Classification of
environmental parameters and their severities − Section 3: Stationary use at weatherprotected
locations
IEC 721-3-4: 1995, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 3: Classification of
environmental parameters and their severities − Section 4: Stationary use at non-
weatherprotected locations
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this section of IEC 721-3, the following definitions apply, in addition to the
definitions in clause 3 of IEC 721-1:
3.1 storage: The product is placed at a certain site for long periods, but not intended for use
during these periods.
3.2 weatherprotected location: A location at which the product is protected from weather
influences:
− totally weatherprotected location: direct weather influences are totally excluded;
(enclosed location)
− partially weatherprotected location: direct weather influences are not completely
(sheltered location) excluded
3.3 non-weatherprotected location: A location at which the product is not protected from
direct weather influences.
4 General
For further general guidance, see IEC 721-3-0.
The severities specified are those which will have a low probability of being exceeded. All
specified values are maximum or limit values. These values may be reached, but do not occur
permanently. Depending on the local situation, there may be different frequencies of
occurrence related to a certain period of time. Such frequencies of occurrence have not been
included in this standard, but should be considered for any environmental parameter.
They should additionally be specified, if applicable. Information on the duration and frequency
of occurrence is given, as clause 6, in amendment 1 to IEC 721-3-0.
Attention is drawn to the fact that combinations of the environmental parameters given may
increase the effect on a product. This applies especially to the presence of high relative
humidity in addition to biological conditions, or to the presence of chemically or mechanically
active substances.
60721-3-1  IEC:1997 − 11 −
It is recognized that extreme or special environmental conditions may exist. Specifications for
products to be stored under such special conditions are a matter of negotiation between
supplier and user.
5 Classification of groups of environmental parameters and their severities
A number of classes for climatic conditions (K), special climatic conditions (Z), biological
conditions (B), chemically active substances (C), mechanically active substances (S), and
mechanical conditions (M) are specified in tables 1 to 6.
This classification allows a number of possible combinations of environmental conditions which
bear upon products wherever stored. It represents the real situation concerning world-wide
conditions of storage, due to local influences of open-air climate, etc.
For certain environmental parameters, it has not yet been possible to specify quantitative
severities.
For a given location or product, reference should be made to the total set of classes, for
example:
1K2/1Z1/1B1/1C2/1S1/1M3
See also clause 6.
Annex A contains a summary of the conditions covered by each class.
5.1 Climatic conditions
The climatic conditions specified for classes 1K1 to 1K11 refer to the conditions of storage of
products. They have been experienced world-wide over a long period of time, taking into
account all the parameters that can influence them, such as external (open-air) climatic
conditions, type of building construction, temperature/humidity controlling systems, and internal
conditions, for example heat dissipation from other equipment, presence of humans, etc. The
conditions should cover all normal cases, but not exceptional events.
Climatic conditions in tropical areas, as specified in classes 1K10 and 1K11, are explained in
annex C.
When selecting appropriate classes, attention should be paid to the fact that the climatic
conditions inside buildings depend on the outside (open-air) conditions, especially air
temperature and solar radiation, and the type of building construction. Walls with good thermal
insulation or high thermal capacity can consistently smooth the peaks of outside air
tem
...