MIL-STD-810H

MIL-STD-810H is a series of tests designed to test the limits of equipment under various conditions based upon where is it they are expected to be used (environment) or transported (shocks). There are approximately 30 tests that cover a large array of conditions and situations. In regards to Panasonic Toughbooks, the most commonly requested information pertains to three tests: the drop test, the water/dust test and the hot/low temperatures test. MIL-STD-810H also provides guidance for environmental design/test tailoring. We’ll give you a brief description below.

DROP TEST

The MIL-STD-810H drop test is designed to measure the resistance to shock of all equipment surfaces: all faces, edges, and corners. In total, 26 drops are necessary to perform the complete drop test. Since tests are done to test specific areas of the equipment, manufacturers can divide the 26 drops over five different devices. After each drop, the equipment is inspected for damage.

The surface for the drop test is two inches of plywood layered on top of concrete so if you drop your Toughbook onto a hard surface like marble or directly onto concrete you should expect different results. The test results for each of the qualifying Toughbook models can vary from three feet to six feet.

WATER/DUST TEST

MiL-STD-810H tests equipment for their resilience to Immersion, Rain, Humidity and Dust. The tests measure how much water or particles (dust, sand) can penetrate the equipment and is usually stated as an Ingress Protection Rating or IP Rating. It’s important to note that the test determines resistance and doesn’t necessarily mean the equipment is water-tight or dust-tight. Water and dust may enter the equipment but it should not impair the functioning of the equipment.

See IP Codes for more information.

HOT/LOW TEMPERATURES TEST

The hot/low temperatures test could be relevant if you live in an area or plan on operating your Toughbook in an area with extreme conditions whether its desertic or frozen. There are two tests that cover three procedures.

Procedure 1 tests to see if the exposure to extremes temperatures while in storage will impair the equipment from functioning later.

Procedure 2 tests if the equipment works properly and normally under extreme conditions. The temperatures can either be sustained or be varied, to simulate day/night cycles or exposure to heat/cold sources.

Procedure 3 tests for hot temperatures. The equipment is stored under a temperature that exceeds the equipment’s maximum functioning temperature then ran at its specified running temperature. For cold weather, the test manipulates the equipment when wearing heavy winter gear.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN/TEST TAILORING GUIDANCE

The goal of environmental design/test tailoring is to provide an up-front explanation of how to implement the environmental tailoring process throughout the materiel acquisition cycle. The primary emphases is tailoring a materiel item's environmental design and test limits to the conditions that the specific materiel will experience throughout its service life, and establishing laboratory test methods that replicate the effects of environments on materiel, rather than trying to reproduce the environments themselves. The goal is to provide an up-front explanation of how to implement the environmental tailoring process throughout the materiel acquisition cycle

The following Panasonic Toughbooks we offer qualify as MIL-STD-810H:

Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55 (3' drop, shock, vibration, sand, dust, altitude, freeze/thaw, high/low temperature, high temperature tactical, temperature shock, humidity)*

*Information obtained from Panasonic and is deemed to be reliable.

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