EN 60721-1:1995

Overview

EN 60721-1:1995 (CLC adoption) - Classification of environmental conditions - Part 1: Environmental parameters and their severities - defines a framework for describing the environmental influences that electrotechnical products may encounter during transportation, storage, installation and use. The standard specifies environmental parameters and a limited set of severity levels so manufacturers, test houses and specifiers can consistently characterize conditions for design, testing and documentation.

Key topics

• Environmental parameters: a structured set of environmental influences used to describe conditions affecting electrotechnical products (for example: temperature, humidity, mechanical influences, contamination and corrosive atmospheres).
• Severity levels: a limited, standardized range of severities that qualify how severe each environmental parameter may be.
• Application phases: clear differentiation of conditions encountered during transport, storage, installation and operation/use, enabling appropriate specification for each lifecycle stage.
• Classification methodology: consistent terminology and classification approach to enable unambiguous communication of environmental requirements between suppliers, manufacturers and test laboratories.
• Documentation and specification: guidance for incorporating environmental classifications into product specifications, technical datasheets and test plans.

Note: EN 60721-1 establishes the classification framework; subsequent parts of the EN/IEC 60721 series provide application guidance and test methods.

Applications

• Product design and engineering: define environmental requirements early in the design cycle to select materials, components and protective measures.
• Environmental testing and QA: create reproducible test specifications and acceptance criteria for laboratories and quality assurance teams.
• Procurement and supply chain: include standardized environmental classes in purchase specifications and supplier contracts to avoid mismatched expectations.
• Installation and maintenance planning: assess suitability of equipment for intended sites (transport routes, storage facilities, installation environments).
• Certification and compliance: provide a common reference when demonstrating that products meet specified environmental robustness.

Who uses this standard

• Electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers
• Design engineers and systems integrators
• Test laboratories and environmental testing specialists
• Quality, procurement and regulatory teams
• Maintenance and installation planners

Related standards

• EN/IEC 60721 series (other parts that extend classification, test conditions and methods)
• Complementary environmental test standards used by test laboratories and product certifiers

Keywords: EN 60721-1, classification of environmental conditions, environmental parameters, environmental severities, electrotechnical products, environmental testing, transport storage installation use.