EN 60721-3-2:1997

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2001
Classification of environmental conditions - Part 3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities - Section 2: Transportation
Classification of environmental conditions -- Part 3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities -- Section 2: Transportation
Klassifizierung von Umweltbedingungen -- Teil 3: Klassen von Umwelteinflußgrößen und
deren Grenzwerte -- Hauptabschnitt 2: Transport
Classification des conditions d'environnement -- Partie 3: Classification des groupements
des agents d'environnement et de leurs sévérités -- Section 2: Transport
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60721-3-2:1997
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
60721-3-2
INTERNATIONAL
Deuxième édition
STANDARD
Second edition
1997-03
Classification des conditions d’environnement –
Partie 3:
Classification des groupements des agents
d’environnement et de leurs sévérités –
Section 2: Transport
Classification of environmental conditions –
Part 3:
Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 2: Transportation
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60721-3-2  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. 9
6 Sets of environmental condition class combinations . 11
Tables
1 Classification of climatic conditions. 13
2 Classification of biological conditions . 15
3 Classification of chemically active substances. 15
4 Classification of mechanically active substances. 17
5 Classification of mechanical conditions . 17
6 Sets of environmental class combinations. 19
Annexes
A Survey of conditions affecting the choice of environmental parameters and their
severities. 21
B Summary of conditions covered by the sets of class combinations. 41
C Explanation of the environmental conditions in tropical areas as specified
in classes 2K6 and 2K7 . 43

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 5 −
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
_________
CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS –
Part 3: Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 2: Transportation
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 60721-3-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 75:
Classification of environmental conditions.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1985, 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
75/278/FDIS 75/293/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of 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.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 7 −
CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS –
Part 3: Classification of groups of environmental parameters
and their severities –
Section 2: Transportation
1 Scope and object
This section of IEC 60721-3 classifies the groups of environmental parameters and their
severities to which a product is subjected while being transported from one place to another
after being made ready for dispatch from the manufacturing factory.
The most commonly used methods of transportation have been taken into account, including
the following:
− road transport: cars, lorries, trucks, animals, conveyors;
− rail transport: trains, trams, conveyors;
− water transport, inland and maritime: ships, hovercraft, conveyors;
− air transport: aircraft, conveyors;
− vertical transport: cranes, transport lifts, cableways.
The environmental conditions specified in this section are those met by the product being
transported. If the product is packed, the environmental conditions apply to the package
containing the product. Only severe conditions, which may be harmful to products, are
included.
Conditions for storage and use are given in other sections of IEC 721-3.
The object of this standard is to classify groups of environmental parameters and their
severities to which a product will be exposed when being transported on ground, water and in
air, including loading and unloading.
A limited number of classes of environmental conditions are given, covering a broad field
of application. The user of this standard should select the lowest classes necessary covering
each of the conditions of the intended transportation. Some guidance for this is given in
annex A.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this section of IEC 721-3. 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 721-3 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.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 9 −
IEC 721-1: 1990, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 1: Environmental
parameters and their severities
Amendment 1 (1992)
Amendment 2 (1995)
IEC 721-2-1: 1982, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 2: Environmental
conditions appearing in nature − Temperature and humidity
Amendment 1 (1987)
IEC 721-3-0: 1984, Classification of environmental conditions − Part 3: Classification of groups
of environmental parameters and their severities − Introduction
Amendment 1 (1987)
3 Definitions
For the purpose of the present section of IEC 721-3, the following definitions apply, in addition
to the definitions in clause 3 of IEC 721-1.
3.1 weatherprotected: The product, packed or unpacked, is contained within an enclosure
which affords some protection from the environment, ranging from a temperature controlled
container to a waterproof cover placed over the product. Ventilation ranges from controlled air
flow to the raising of part of a waterproof cover to allow for natural air flow.
3.2 non-weatherprotected: The product, packed or unpacked, is not protected in any way
from the environment.
4 General
Reference to IEC 721-3-0 is strongly recommended in order to avoid misuse of the classes
defined in other sections of IEC 721-3.
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 situation, there may be different frequencies of occurrence
related to a certain period of time. Such frequencies of occurrence have not yet 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 conditions of chemically or mechanically
active substances.
5 Classification of groups of environmental parameters and their severities
A limited number of classes for climatic conditions (K), biological conditions (B), chemically
active substances (C), mechanically active substances (S) and mechanical conditions (M) are
given in tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. For a given product, reference should be made to the total set
of classes, for example 2K2/2B1/2C2/2S2/2M3.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 11 −
See also clause 6.
The basis of these classes is explained in clause A.2 of annex A.
Climatic conditions in tropical areas as specified in classes 2K6 and 2K7 are explained in
annex C.
The combination of the lowest classes 2K1/2B1/2C1/2S1/2M1 forms the conditions to which a
product will be subjected when being transported under very restricted conditions. The
combination of the highest classes 2K5/2B3/2C3/2S3/2M3 covers transportation under a very
wide variety of conditions including very severe conditions.
A class with higher digit conditions normally includes all classes with lower digits.
For certain parameters it has not yet been possible to give quantitative values of severities.
A summary of the conditions covered by the classes is given in clause A.3 of annex A.
6 Sets of environmental condition class combinations
As indicated in clause 5, the classification allows a number of possible combinations of
environmental conditions bearing on products wherever used. The number of possibilities, and
thus the flexibility, is therefore very great. In practice, however, this flexibility is not always an
advantage when, for instance, environmental condition specifications for a certain location are
drawn up by different parties, invariably producing small but disturbing divergencies.
In order to limit the possibilities to general cases, standard sets of class combinations may be
selected from table 6. For a given location or product, reference may then be made to this
standard, for example IE22. Only when conditions are not considered to be covered by this
specification, is reference made to each class as indicated in clause 5. Alternatively, if some
severities of parameters deviate from that or those of the class combination, this should be
expressed by the addition to the set designation of the following phrase: “but . (parameter) .
(severity and unit)”, for example IE22 but sand 10 g/m .
Annex B gives a summary of conditions covered by the sets of class combinations.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 13 −
Table 1 − Classification of climatic conditions
Environmental Unit Class
6) 6)
parameter 2K1 2K2 2K3 2K4 2K5 2K5H 2K5L
2K6 2K7
a) Low air temperature °C +5 +5
−25 −25 −40 −65 −25 −65 −20
b) High air temperature, °C No +60 +70 +70 +85 +85 +70 +70 +85
air in unventilated
1)
enclosures
c) High air temperature, °C +40 +40 +40 +40 +55 +55 +40 +40 +55
air in ventilated
enclosures or outdoor
2)
air
d) Change of °C No +5/+30
−25/+25 −25/+30 −40/+30 −65/+30 −25/+30 −65/+30 −20/+30
3)
temperature, air/air
e) Change of °C No No +40/+5 +40/+5 +55/+5 +55/+5 +40/+5 +40/+5 +55/+5
3)
temperature, air/water
f) Relative humidity, not % 75 75 95 95 95 95 95 95 95
combined with rapid
°C +30 +30 +40 +45 +50 +50 +45 +45 +50
temperature changes
g) Relative humidity, % No No 95 95 95 95 95 95 95
combined with rapid
temperture changes:
°C
−25/+30 −40/+30 −65/+30 −25/+30 −65/+30 +5/+30 −20/+30
air/air at high relative
3)
humidity
h) Absolute humidity, No No 60 60 80 80 60 60 80
g/m
combined with rapid
temperature changes:
+70/+15 +70/+15 +85/+15 +85/+15 +70/+15 +70/+15 +85/+15
air/air at high water °C
4)
content
i) Low air pressure kPa 70 707070303030 3030
kPa/min No No No No 6 6 6 6 6
j) Change of air pressure
k) Movement of m/s No No 2020303030 3030
surrounding medium, air
mm/min No No 6 6 15 15 6 15 15
l) Precipitation, rain
m) Radiation, solar 700 700 1120 1120 1120 1120 1120 1120 1120
W/m
No No 600 600 600 600 600 600 600
n) Radiation, heat
W/m
o) Water from sources m/s No No 11333 33
5)
other than rain
p) Wetness None No No Conditions of wet surfaces
1) The high temperature of the surface of a product may be influenced by both the surrounding air temperature
given here and the solar radiation through a window or other opening.
2) The high temperature of the surface of a product is influenced by the surrounding air temperature given here
and the solar radiation defined below.
3) A direct transfer of the product between the two temperatures given is presumed.
4) The product is assumed to be subjected to a rapid decrease of temperature only (no rapid increase). The
figures of water content apply to temperatures down to the dew-point; at lower temperatures the relative humidity
is assumed to be approximately 100 %.
5) The figure indicates the velocity of water and not the height of water accumulated.
6) Further information on classes 2K6 (tropical damp) and 2K7 (tropical dry) is given in annex C.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 15 −
Table 2 − Classification of biological conditions
Environmental Unit Class
parameter
2B1 2B2 2B3
a) Flora None No Presence of mould, fungus, etc.
b) Fauna None No Presence of rodents or other animals harmful to
products:
excluding termites including termites
Table 3 − Classification of chemically active substances
Environmental Unit Class
parameter
2C1 2C2 2C3
a) Sea salts None No Conditions of salt mist Conditions of salt water
b) Sulphur dioxide 0,1 1,0 (0,3) 10 (5,0)
mg/m
3 3
0,037 0,37 (0,11) 3,7 (1,85)
cm /m
c) Hydrogen sulphide 0,01 0,5 (0,1) 10 (3,0)
mg/m
3 3
0,0071 0,36 (0,071) 7,1 (2,1)
cm /m
d) Nitrogen oxides 0,1 1,0 (0,5) 10 (3,0)
mg/m
(expressed in the
3 3 0,052 0,52 (0,26) 5,2 (1,56)
cm /m
equivalent values of
nitrogen dioxides)
e) Ozone 0,01 0,1 (0,05) 0,3 (0,1)
mg/m
3 3
0,005 0,05 (0,025) 0,15 (0,05)
cm /m
f) Hydrogen chloride 0,1 0,5 (0,1) 5,0 (1,0)
mg/m
3 3
0,066 0,33 (0,066) 3,3 (0,66)
cm /m
g) Hydrogen fluoride 0,003 0,03 (0,01) 2,0 (0,1)
mg/m
3 3 0,0036 0,036 (0,012) 2,4 (0,12)
cm /m
h) Ammonia 0,3 3,0 (1,0) 35 (10)
mg/m
3 3
0,42 4,2 (1,4) 49 (14)
cm /m
NOTES
1 The figures given are maximum values, occurring over a 30 min period per day.
2 The figures within brackets are the expected long-term mean values.
3 3 3
3 The values given in cm /m have been calculated from the values given in mg/m and refer to 20 °C and
101,3 kPa.
4 The table uses rounded values.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 17 −
Table 4 − Classification of mechanically active substances
Environmental Unit Class
parameter
2S1 2S2 2S3
a) Sand in air No 0,1 10
g/m
b) Dust sedimentation No 3,0 3,0
mg/(m ⋅h)
Table 5 − Classification of mechanical conditions
The mechanical conditions given apply to items placed on the floor of the transport
compartment.
Unit Class
Environmental
parameter
2M1 2M2 2M3
a) Stationary vibration
1)
sinusoidal :
displacement amplitude mm 3,5 3,5 7,5
acceleration amplitude    10 15 10  15 20  40
m/s
frequency range Hz 2-9 9-200 200-500 2-9 9-200 200-500 2-8 8-200 200-500
b) Stationary vibration,
1)
random :
2 3
acceleration spectral 1 0,3 1 0,3 3 1
m /s
density
frequency range Hz 10-200 200-2000 10-200 200-2000 10-200 200-2000
c) Non-stationary vibration
2)
including shock :
Shock response spectrum
type I,
100 100 300
m/s
peak acceleration â
Shock response spectrum
type II,
No 300 1000
m/s
peak acceleration â
d) Free fall:
mass less than 20 kg m 0,25 1,2 1,5
mass 20 kg to 100 kg m 0,25 1,0 1,2
mass more than 100 kg m 0,1 0,25 0,5
e) Toppling:
mass less than 20 kg None Toppling around any of the edges
mass 20 kg to 100 kg None No Toppling around any of the edges
mass more than 100 kg None No No Toppling around any of
the edges
f) Rolling, pitching:
3)
degree No
±35 ±35
angle
s No
period 8 8
g) Steady-state acceleration 20 20 20
m/s
h) Static load kPa 5 10 10
1)
The frequency range may be limited to 200 Hz for transportation on parts of the vehicle with high internal
damping.
2)
See figure 1.
3)
An angle of 35° only occurs temporarily, but angles up to 22,5° can be reached for long periods of time.

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 19 −
Table 6 − Sets of environmental class combinations
Condition Set of class combinations
IE21 IE22 IE23 IE24
Climatic 2K2 2K3 2K4 2K5
Biological 2B2 2B2 2B2 2B2
Chemically active substances 2C2 2C2 2C2 2C2
Mechanically active substances 2S2 2S2 2S2 2S3
1)
Mechanical 2M1 2M2 2M3
2M1
1)
The conditions of footnote 1 of table 5 are valid.
Example of durations for half-sine pulse:
Spectrum type I: duration 11 ms
Spectrum type II: duration 6 ms
Figure 1 − Model shock response spectra
(first order maximax shock response spectra)
For explanation see note 6 relating to table 1 of IEC 721-1

60721-3-2  IEC:1997 − 21 −
Annex A
(informative)
Survey of conditions affecting the choice of environmental
parameters and their severities
A.1  General
In this annex the basis of the classes is explained. A survey of conditions affecting the choice
of environmental parameters and their severities is given, together with a summary of the
conditions covered by each class, including samples of application.
A.2  Survey of conditions
For each environmental parameter the various possible conditions which will result in different
levels of environmental conditions are presented. An effort has been made to arrange the
conditions in order of increasing severities.
The first column of the tabulated subclauses A.2.1 to A.2.5 describes the conditions. In the
vertical columns headed “Class” the letter “x” indicates the conditions covered by the class.
The lowest class covering a certain condition may be found by reading horizontally from that
condition to the first “x” encountered.
The procedure of finding an appropriate class as described above is valid for all the
subclauses, but the first part of subclause A.2.1 contains the additional factor of type of climate
to which attention has to be paid.
The lowest class
...