prEN IEC 61969-3:2026

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Mehanske strukture za električno in elektronsko opremo - Ohišja na prostem - 3.
del: Okoljevarstvene zahteve, preskusi in varnostni vidiki
Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Outdoor enclosures - Part
3: Environmental requirements, tests and safety aspects
Mechanische Bauweisen für elektrische und elektronische Einrichtungen -
Außengehäuse - Teil 3: Umgebungsanforderungen, Prüfungen und Sicherheitsaspekte
Structures mécaniques pour équipement électrique et électronique - Enveloppes de plein
air - Partie 3: Exigences et essais d'environnement, et aspects liés à la sécurité
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 61969-3:2026
ICS:
31.240 Mehanske konstrukcije za Mechanical structures for
elektronsko opremo electronic equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

48D/803/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 61969-3 ED5
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2026-03-20 2026-06-12
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
48D/786/CD, 48D/793A/CC
IEC SC 48D : MECHANICAL STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
Germany Mr Bernd Komanschek
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):

TC 48,SC 48B
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Environment,Safety
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TITLE:
Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Outdoor enclosures - Part 3:
Environmental requirements, tests and safety aspects

PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2029
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IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
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IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
CONTENTS . 3
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Classification of environmental conditions . 10
5 Environmental test conditions . 10
5.1 General . 10
5.2 Pass/fail criteria tests. 11
5.3 Climatic tests . 11
5.4 Biological tests . 12
5.5 Tests of resistance against chemically active substances . 13
5.6 Tests of resistance against mechanically active substances. 13
6 Mechanical tests . 14
6.1 Operational related mechanical tests . 14
6.2 Transport tests . 15
6.3 Lifting and stiffness test . 15
7 Safety aspects . 15
7.1 General . 15
7.2 Locking devices . 15
7.3 Vandalism resistance . 15
7.4 Firearms resistance (optional for outdoor metal enclosures) . 16
8 Seismic requirements . 16
9 Electromagnetic shielding performance . 16
10 Thermal management . 16
11 Acoustic noise emission . 16
Annex A (normative) Rainstorm degree of protection of outdoor enclosures, WP code,
test methods and assessment criteria . 17
A.1 General . 17
A.2 Designation. 17
A.2.1 Arrangement of the WP code . 17
A.2.2 Rainstorm degree of protection . 18
A.3 General requirements for tests . 18
A.3.1 Atmospheric conditions . 18
A.3.2 Test specimen . 18
A.3.3 Application of test conditions and interpretation of test results . 21
A.4 Test facility . 22
A.5 Test procedure. 24
A.5.1 Test conditions . 24
A.5.2 Test procedure . 25
A.6 Acceptance conditions . 26
Bibliography . 27

Figure A.1 – Test specimen dimensions . 19
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
Figure A.2 – Test specimen (Horizontal) . 20
Figure A.3 – Test specimen (vertical) . 20
Figure A.4 – Example of test specimen installation . 21
Figure A.5 – Example of test facility configuration . 22
Figure A.6 – Example of water spray nozzle and anemometer installation . 23

Table 1 – Pass/fail criteria tests . 11
Table 2 – Climatic conditions for environmental classes 1 and 2 . 11
Table 3 – Biological tests . 12
Table 4 – Tests of resistance against chemically active substances . 13
Table 5 – Mechanical tests (operational) . 14
Table A.1 – Rainstorm degree of protection . 18
Table A.2 – Test conditions . 24

IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Outdoor
enclosures -
Part 3: Environmental requirements, tests and safety aspects

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for
standardization comprising all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees).
The object of 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, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC
Publication(s)"). 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. 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 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 IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted
by IEC National Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that
the technical content of IEC Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the
way in which they are used or for any misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC
Publications transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional
publications. Any divergence between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or
regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies
provide conformity assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity.
IEC is not responsible for any services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including
individual experts and members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for
any personal injury, property damage or other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct
or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and expenses arising out of the publication, use
of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced
publications is indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve
the use of (a) patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability
of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document,
IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which may be required to implement this document.
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which
may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch. IEC shall not be
held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 61969-3 has been prepared by subcommittee 48D: Mechanical structures for electrical and
electronic equipment, of IEC technical committee 48: Electrical connectors and mechanical
structures for electrical and electronic equipment. It is an International Standard.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2023. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) Added the newly defined rainstorm degree of protection (see 3.1) with the associated new
WP code (see 3.2) and the rainstorm resistance test as a reference test in Clause 6. Annex
A provides details of rainstorm degree of protection, the relevant WP code and defines the
test method and evaluation criteria Annex A.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
INTRODUCTION
IEC 61969 series consists of:
– a design guidelines general part: IEC 61969-1:2023;
– a coordination dimensions standard: IEC 61969-2;
– an environmental requirements and tests, safety aspects standard: IEC 61969-3 (this
document).
This document provides basic environmental requirements and tests, as well as safety aspects,
to be used for outdoor enclosures in absence of local regulatory documents, or of application-
specific environmental test requirements.
This document provides manufacturers and users of generic outdoor enclosures with minimum
performance compliance criteria. The thermal management solution depends on the specific
environment of the outdoor enclosure.
Since forced air heat dissipation and acoustic noise are closely related, noise limitations are
typically defined by local regulatory documents.
It is responsibility of the outdoor enclosure vendor to provide a solution for thermal management
within the local regulatory noise limitations.
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
1 Scope
This part of IEC 61969 specifies a set of basic environmental requirements and tests, as well
as safety aspects for outdoor enclosures for electrical and electronic equipment, under
conditions of non-weather protected locations above ground.
The purpose of this document is to define a minimum level of environmental performance in
order to meet requirements of storage, transport and final installation. The intention is to
establish basic environmental performance criteria for outdoor enclosure compliance.
The products covered by IEC 61969 series are empty enclosures for outdoor locations, to be
equipped with application-specific combinations of electrical and electronic equipment, and to
be used at non-weather protected locations above ground.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60068-2-1, Environmental testing - Part 2-1: Tests - Test A: Cold
IEC 60068-2-2, Environmental testing - Part 2-2: Tests - Test B: Dry heat
IEC 60068-2-6, Environmental testing - Part 2-6: Tests - Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal)
IEC 60068-2-10, Environmental testing - Part 2-10: Tests - Test J and guidance: Mould growth
IEC 60068-2-11, Environmental testing - Part 2-11: Tests - Test Ka: Salt mist
IEC 60068-2-14, Environmental testing - Part 2-14: Tests - Test N: Change of temperature
IEC 60068-2-27, Environmental testing - Part 2-27: Tests - Test Ea and guidance: Shock
IEC 60068-2-30, Environmental testing - Part 2-30: Tests - Test Db: Damp heat, cyclic (12 h +
12 h cycle)
IEC 60068-2-60, Environmental testing - Part 2-60: Tests - Test Ke: Flowing mixed gas
corrosion test
IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 60721-3-2, Classification of environmental conditions - Part 3-2: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities - Transportation and Handling
IEC 60721-3-4, Classification of environmental conditions - Part 3-4: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities - Stationary use at non-weather protected
locations
IEC 60794-1-21, Optical fibre cables - Part 1-21: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods
IEC 61300-2-10, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and
measurement procedures - Part 2-10: Tests - Crush and load resistance
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
IEC 61300-2-56:2020, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test
and measurement procedures - Part 2-56: Tests - Wind resistance of mounted housing
IEC 61439-5, Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Part 5: Assemblies for
power distribution in public networks
IEC 61587-1, Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Tests for IEC
60917 and IEC 60297 series - Part 1: Environmental requirements, test setups and safety
aspects
IEC 61587-2, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment - Tests for IEC 60917 and 60297
- Part 2: Seismic tests for cabinets and racks
IEC 61587-3, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment - Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC
60297 - Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets and subracks
IEC 61969-1:2023, Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Outdoor
enclosures - Part 1: Design guidelines
IEC 62194, Method of evaluating the thermal performance of enclosures
IEC 62262, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against
external mechanical impacts (IK code)
IEC 62368-1, Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1:
Safety requirements
ISO 3744, Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise
sources using sound pressure — Engineering methods for an essentially free field over a
reflecting plane
ISO 4892-2, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 2: Xenon-arc
lamps
ISO 4892-3, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 3: Fluorescent
UV lamps
ETSI EN 300 019-2-2, Environmental Engineering (EE) – Environmental conditions and
environmental tests for telecommunications equipment – Part 2-2: Specification of
environmental tests – Transportation
ETSI EN 300 019-2-4, Environmental Engineering (EE) – Environmental conditions and
environmental tests for telecommunications equipment – Part 2-4: Specification of
environmental tests – Stationary use at non-weatherprotected locations
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
– IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
3.1
Rainstorm degree of protection
degree of protection against water ingress into an enclosure when exposed to both rain and
wind simultaneously, verified by standardized test methods
3.2
WP code
code system indicating the degree of sealing provided by an enclosure against the ingress of
water during the simultaneous application of conditions equivalent to rain and wind, and
providing additional information related to such protection
3.3
water leak
phenomenon in which water leaks to the inside through the airtight material (waterproof
material) installed in the test specimen
3.4
steady wind
wind that maintains a constant velocity
4 Classification of environmental conditions
The environmental operating conditions are derived from IEC 60721-3-4, with the focus on
empty outdoor enclosures relevant requirements. Two classes of environmental performance
are described:
– class 1: Non-weather protected locations, standard performance: Covers all regions with a
moderate climate;
– class 2: Non-weather protected locations, extended performance: Covers regions with an
extremely cold or extremely warm climate.
The individual outdoor enclosure tested to these basic environmental test requirements may
claim compliance to either class 1 or class 2 or a combination of class 1/class 2.
5 Environmental test conditions
5.1 General
The minimum tests and test severities for the non-weather protected conditions as defined in
IEC 60721-3-4 can be found as:
– climatic conditions (K) given in Table 2;
– biological conditions (B) given in Table 3;
– chemical active substance (C) given in Table 4;
– mechanical active substance (S) given as pass/fail criterion PF2 in Table 1;
– mechanical conditions during operation (M) given in Table 5;
Two classes of test severities for the operating conditions are defined, each corresponding to
the relevant class of environmental performance defined in Clause 4:
– class 1 for operating conditions in temperate climatic environments. The reference for this
environment in IEC 60721-3-4 is 4K26/4Z4/4B2/4C2/4S12/4M11;
– class 2 for operating conditions with more extreme tropical and polar conditions
4K25/4Z5/4B2/4C2/4S12/4M11 and 4K27/4Z5/4B2/4C2/4S12/4M11 from IEC 60721-3-4.
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
5.2 Pass/fail criteria tests
Table 1 contains the pass/fail criteria tests that shall be performed after the climatic tests (Table
2), the biological tests (Table 3), the resistance against chemically active substances tests
(Table 4) and the mechanical tests (Table 5). When the same test specimen is used for several
tests, it is allowed to perform the relevant pass/fail tests at the end of the test sequence.
Table 1 – Pass/fail criteria tests
Environmental
Test severity
parameters
Test Acceptance conditions
and test
Class 1 Class 2
methods
Examination of the No defects which would adversely affect product performance.
internal and external
parts.
Inspection with the
naked eye for flaws,
Visual
PF1
deformation, surface
examination
changes, rust, cracks
or other
deteriorations that
could impair
functionality.
Protection IP5X The protection is satisfactory if talcum powder has not
against ingress accumulated in a quantity or location such that, as with any
PF2
of dust other kind of dust, it could interfere with the correct operation
a
of the equipment or impair safety. No dust shall deposit where
IEC 60529
it could lead to tracking along the creepage distance.
IPX4 If any water has entered, it shall not:

– be sufficient to interfere with the correct operation of the
equipment or impair safety;
– deposit on insulation parts where it could lead to tracking
along the creepage distance;
– reach live parts or windings not designed to operate when
wet;
Protection
– accumulate near the cable end or enter the cable if any.
against ingress
PF3
of water
If the enclosure is provided with drain-holes, it should be
proved by inspection that any water which enters does not
IEC 60529
accumulate and that it drains away without doing any harm to
the equipment.
For enclosures without drain-holes, the relevant product
standard shall specify the acceptance conditions if water can
accumulate to reach live parts.
IPX5 No ingress of water
a
The IP5X pass/fail criterion for protection against ingress of dust is used to cover the mechanical active
substance condition 4S12 of IEC 60721-3-4.
5.3 Climatic tests
The climatic tests from Table 2 shall be performed on test specimens with hinges, locks and
handles in operating condition.
Table 2 – Climatic conditions for environmental classes 1 and 2
Environmental Test severity
Test parameters and Pass/fail criteria to be checked
Class 1 Class 2
test methods
a −40 °C for −50 °C for Visual examination (PF1)
Cold
16 h 16 h
K1
Protection against ingress of dust (PF2) and water
IEC 60068-2-1:
(PF3) after test.
Test A
IEC CDV 61969-3 © IEC 2026
Environmental Test severity
Test parameters and Pass/fail criteria to be checked
Class 1 Class 2
test methods
b +85 °C for 16 h Visual examination (PF1)
Dry heat
K2
Protection against ingress of dust (PF2) and water
IEC 60068-2-2:
(PF3) after test.
Test B
Change of Temperature range: Visual examination (PF1)
temperature −40 °C to + 85 °C
Protection against ingress of dust (PF2) and water
IEC 60068-2-14: Dwell time at extreme (PF3) after test.
Test Nb temperatures: 4 h
K3
Rate of change of
...