BS EN IEC 60721-3-1:2018

What is BS EN IEC 60721-3-1- Classification of environmental conditions about? 

IEC 60721 is an international standard that discusses classification of environmental conditions.  

BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 is one of the parts in the series that classifies the groups of environmental parameters and their severities to which products together with their packaging, if any, are subjected when stored. The object of this document is to classify environmental parameters and their severities to which a product can be exposed during storage. 

The environmental conditions specified in BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 are limited to those which can directly affect the products or their ultimate performance. Only environmental conditions as such are considered. No special description of the effects of these conditions on the products is given. 

Note: Environmental conditions directly related to fire or explosions are not included in BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 

Who is BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 for- Classification of environmental conditions? 

BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 on the classification of environmental conditions is useful for: 

• Food and beverage industry 
• Packaging and transportation industry  
• Product designers 
• Quality control and testing agencies 

Why should you use BS EN IEC 60721-3-1- Classification of environmental conditions? 

There are many different sorts of environmental conditions, but there are two that are well known and accepted: natural or geographical environment and man-made environment conditions.  A product can be simultaneously exposed to a number of environmental parameters. For example, solar radiation and temperature, temperature and humidity, as well as vibration and temperature change. Combinations of the environmental parameters given may increase the effect on a product. Therefore, combined conditions should be considered in the design and evaluation of a product. 

A number of classes for climatic conditions (K), special climatic conditions (Z), biological conditions (B), chemically active substances (C), mechanically active substances (S), and mechanical conditions (M) are specified in BS EN IEC 60721-3-1. This classification allows a number of possible combinations of environmental conditions which bear upon products wherever stored. It represents the real situation concerning worldwide conditions of storage, for example, due to local influences of open-air climate. 

The guidelines in BS EN IEC 60721-3-1 help you classify environmental parameters and their severities to which a product can be exposed during storage. As a result, you can ensure that products designed can survive and operate in different environments. You can thus ensure products’ service or shelf-life can be optimized and wastages can be reduced.  

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN IEC 60721-3-1:2018 supersedes BS EN 60721-3-1:1997, which is withdrawn, BS EN IEC 60721-3-1:2018 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to BS EN 60721-3-1:1997: 

• Clause 3: reworded and simplified and clause 4: reworded and simplified 
• Clause 5: Annex C has been incorporated in Clause 5 
• 5.2: all existing climate classes have been replaced by completely new classes. The new classes are divided into 3 groups. The reason for the new classes is the latest revision of IEC 60721-2-1 which incorporated new climate types 
• 5.3: new classes for solar radiation and snow load 
• 5.6: all existing classes for mechanically active substances have been replaced be completely new classes