STEST

MIL-STD-810

Standard Control and Testing Services

MIL-STD-810 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

The MIL-STD-810 standard was first issued by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1962. It was developed to evaluate the resistance of military equipment and systems to harsh environmental conditions. Over time, it has become an internationally recognized reference not only for military systems but also for documenting the environmental durability of products in the defense, aerospace, automotive, railway, and electronics sectors.

Version Year Key Developments
MIL-STD-810A 1962 Initial release defining fundamental environmental test methods.
MIL-STD-810B / C / D 1970 – 1980 Test methodologies were enhanced; vibration and shock test methods were introduced.
MIL-STD-810E / F 1990s – 2000 Improved alignment between laboratory testing and field conditions; test procedures were modernized.
MIL-STD-810G 2008 Expanded and detailed test scope and procedures.
MIL-STD-810G Change 1 2014 Clarified multi-axis applications for vibration and shock testing. Temperature and thermal shock procedures were updated. Reporting requirements were further detailed.
MIL-STD-810H 2019 Adapted to modern test infrastructures; test tolerances and procedures were revised.
MIL-STD-810H Change 1 2022 Method 509 (Salt Fog/Corrosion Testing) was restructured. Corrosion Screening, Design Corrosion Verification, and Natural Environment procedures were introduced.

MIL-STD-810 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Purpose:

MIL-STD-810 is a standard developed to evaluate the durability and reliability of products under real operational conditions. It tests product performance against environmental stresses such as extreme temperature, humidity, vibration, shock, water exposure, and corrosion.

Scope:

Environmental Factors: Temperature, humidity, temperature shock, vibration, shock, rain, icing, sand, dust, corrosion, and solar radiation tests.
Fields of Application: Defense and military systems, aerospace, automotive and railway vehicles, electronic and industrial products.

MIL-STD-810G TEST SCOPES

MIL-STD-810G is a defense testing methodology standard consisting of 3 sections, 29 test methods, and 3 annexes, comprising a total of 804 pages of environmental testing procedures.

Method Tests
500.5Low Pressure (Altitude) **
501.5High Temperature **
502.5Low Temperature **
503.5Temperature Shock **
504.1Contamination by Fluids
505.5Solar Radiation (Sunshine) **
506.5Rain **
507.5Humidity **
508.6Fungus *
509.5Salt Fog **
510.5Sand and Dust **
511.5Explosive Atmosphere
512.5Immersion *
513.6Acceleration *
514.6Vibration **
515.6Acoustic Noise
516.6Shock **
517.1Pyroshock
518.1Acidic Atmosphere
519.6Gunfire Shock
520.3Temperature, Humidity, Vibration, and Altitude
521.3Icing / Freezing Rain **
522.1Ballistic Shock
523.3Vibro-Acoustic / Temperature
524Freeze-Thaw *
525Time Waveform Replication
526Rail Impact
527Multi-Exciter Testing
528Mechanical Vibrations of Shipboard Equipment

MIL-STD-810H TEST SCOPES

MIL-STD-810H is a defense testing methodology standard consisting of 3 sections, 29 test methods, and 3 annexes, comprising a total of 1,089 pages of environmental testing procedures.

Method Tests
500.6Low Pressure (Altitude) **
501.7High Temperature **
502.7Low Temperature **
503.7Temperature Shock **
504.3Contamination by Fluids
505.7Solar Radiation (Sunshine) **
506.6Rain **
507.6Humidity **
508.8Fungus *
509.7Salt Fog **
510.7Sand and Dust **
511.7Explosive Atmosphere
512.6Immersion *
513.8Acceleration *
514.8Vibration **
515.8Acoustic Noise
516.8Shock **
517.8Pyroshock
518.2Acidic Atmosphere
519.8Gunfire Shock
520.5Temperature, Humidity, Vibration, and Altitude
521.4Icing / Freezing Rain **
522.2Ballistic Shock
523.4Vibro-Acoustic / Temperature
524.1Freeze-Thaw *
525.2Time Waveform Replication
526.2Rail Impact
527.2Multi-Exciter Testing
528.1Mechanical Vibrations of Shipboard Equipment

MIL-STD-810 G/H STANDARD COMPARISON

Method MIL-STD-810G MIL-STD-810H Difference / Update
503.6 / 503.7
Temperature Shock		 Procedures (I-A, I-B, I-C, I-D) are defined; however, the number of shocks is not explicitly specified. Procedures are retained; a rule stating that “at least three shocks shall be applied in case of uncertainty” has been added. Restart conditions in the event of equipment malfunction are also defined. Version H clarified the number of test cycles and defined interruption and restart procedures.
505.6 / 505.7
Solar Radiation		 Spectral power distribution is defined with limited detail. Radiation source characteristics are not extensively specified. Tolerance tables for spectral power distribution were added. Clear requirements were introduced for source calibration, radiation intensity, and test facility conditions. Version H made solar radiation testing more measurable and controlled.
506.5 / 506.6
Rain		 Droplet size and pressure are specified, but tolerances are limited. Droplet size, pressure, and water flow rates were more strictly defined. Additional rules were introduced for equipment malfunction during testing. Version H tightened realism and repeatability parameters for rain testing.
509.6 / 509.7
Salt Fog		 Salt deposition rate is provided using general values. More precise ranges for salt deposition rate were defined. Salt fog collection devices and reference documentation became mandatory. Version H clarified measurement and reporting requirements to improve result traceability.
514.7 / 514.8
Vibration		 Random and sinusoidal vibration tests are defined, but tolerances are broad. RMS and spectral density tolerance tables were introduced for random vibration. Procedure III (large assemblies/transport) was further detailed for sinusoidal testing. Version H detailed control strategies and tightened tolerances for vibration testing.
MIL-STD-810H_CHG-1.pdf
Change document (CHG-1) for MIL-STD-810H, covering official updates and revision notes.
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MIL-STD-810F-1.pdf
MIL-STD-810F document defining environmental test methods and application principles.
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Mil-Std-810-G.pdf
MIL-STD-810G (2008 edition). Reference document for legacy systems and comparative studies.
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MIL-STD-810H.pdf
Core MIL-STD-810H standard defining current environmental test methods and guidelines.
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RTCA-DO-160G.pdf
Environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment (RTCA DO-160G).
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MIL-STD-810G_CHG-1.pdf
Change document (CHG-1) for MIL-STD-810G, including official revisions and amendments.
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