Graphic: The publication of MIL-STD-810H came with many changes to the previous iteration, MIL-STD-810G. We'll discuss and list them out in this blog post.
Table of Contents
Note: Trenton Systems is not a compliance testing facility. We manufacture rugged servers and workstations that conform to military and industrial standards, such as MIL-STD-810 and DO-160, and we can ensure that our systems comply with these standards using our in-house testing equipment, or by sending our systems to a third-party compliance testing laboratory for validation, but our facility does not offer compliance testing services for products manufactured outside of Trenton Systems. For a list of laboratories that can assist you with your testing needs, please read this blog post, which lists the best compliance testing laboratories in the world.
Learn all about the different MIL-STD-810 test methods in our ongoing MIL-STD-810H series. Read the first installment here. Check out our MIL-STD-810 servers blog post to learn more about rugged computers and how they're enhancing military defense. You can also read our comprehensive MIL-STD-810 overview.
The United States Department of Defense officially released MIL-STD-810H, the successor to MIL-STD-810G, in January of 2019.
In this blog post, we’ll review MIL-STD, MIL-STD-810G, and include an outline of the changes made in MIL-STD-810H. Stick around for a comprehensive overview.
MIL-STD is just an acronym for military standard.
In the United States, military standards, or defense standards, are enforced by the U.S. Department of Defense and maintained by the Air Force, Army, and Navy.
If a product is MIL-STD-certified or MIL-STD-compliant, that product is compliant with certain requirements and standardization objectives set forth by the DoD.
According to the DoD, the purpose of military standards is to ensure the interoperability and commonality of products and equipment used in military applications.
“Standardization documents are developed and used for products, materials, and processes that have multiple applications to promote commonality and interoperability among the Military Departments and the Defense Agencies and between the United States and its allies, and to limit the variety of items in the military supply system,” the Department’s website states.
In a nutshell, by establishing equipment consistency and compatibility, these standards safeguard against equipment incongruity, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and worst-case scenario, failure in the field.
MIL-STD-certified products are usually designed to survive in extreme environmental conditions. This process is known as usually referred to as environmental stress testing, compliance testing, or ruggedization, which means to “strengthen for better resistance to wear, stress, and abuse,” according to Merriam-Webster.
Military standards are a vital part of product development for companies that sell equipment to the military, which needs to ensure that such equipment can sustain and continue operating properly in the face of extreme environments that could cause damage or malfunction.
MIL-STD is also sometimes referred to as a MIL-SPEC, which stands for military specification. When shopping for or reading about MIL-STD-certified computers, you’ll often see them referred to as a MIL-SPEC server, a MIL-SPEC workstation, or just "MIL-SPEC computer." This just means that they meet some sort of military specification, such as MIL-STD-810.
MIL-STD-810, officially entitled "Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests," is a military standard that outlines the testing and design requirements of equipment used by the military to verify the equipment's ability to sustain environmental stress incidents throughout its life cycle.
Some of the test methods and procedures that a MIL-STD-810-certified product may undergo include but are not limited to mechanical shock, vibration, temperature, low pressure (altitude), humidity, fungus, salt fog, and explosive atmosphere.
Testing and certifying equipment to these and other harsh conditions lets military contractors know that the products they’re purchasing are durable, reliable, sustainable, and fit for a solution that's being sold to the DoD for use in extreme environments.
Photo: Another test that a MIL-STD-810-certified rugged computer might undergo is the rain test, which assesses reliability in environments that receive a lot of rainfall, such as the Amazon Rainforest. It also tests for water spray or dripping during storage, transport and operation.
MIL-STD-810G is the precursory revision to MIL-STD-810H, the latest revision published in 2019.
The DoD published MIL-STD-810G in 2008 and revised it in 2014.
MIL-STD-810G is divided into three parts:
Test methods are what interest most contractors. A MIL-STD-810G-certified server may undergo a combination of assessments for resistance to gunfire shock, pyroshock, acoustic noise, immersion, contamination by fluids - any of the methods listed in document. Each of these methods include one or more testing procedures that allow test engineers tailor an assessment to a product's end environment.
For example, MIL-STD-810 immersion testing measures equipment's performance and durability while partially or totally immersed in water; therefore, the Navy might be interested in ensuring that a product they're purchasing is certified to this standard.
Check out our comprehensive blog post "MIL-STD-810 Overview: Everything You Need To Know" for a deeper dive into what makes a product MIL-STD-810G-compliant.
Photo: MIL-STD-810H includes changes to Acceleration, High Temperature, Low Temperature, Vibration, and more.
MIL-STD-810H, the latest revision of MIL-STD-810, includes numerous changes from its predecessor, MIL-STD-810G.
As you'll see, the standard underwent a multitude of changes and updates for its “H” iteration.
When reviewing the 1,089-page MIL-STD-810H, here’s what you can do to make your search for specific changes easier:
It's important to note that mechanical shock, one of the most widely used testing methods, underwent extensive changes for MIL-STD-810H and therefore does not include line revision indicators.
So, without further ado, changes to MIL-STD-810-H include but are not limited to:
Photo: An inside look at a Trenton Systems 4U Rugged Server, certified to MIL-STD-810 standards. A server certified to this standard is usually just referred to as a MIL-STD-810 server for short.
We at Trenton Systems hope this blog post will be a helpful resource to you as you review and familiarize yourself with the changes in MIL-STD-810H.
Trenton Systems’ rugged servers, workstations, and blade servers can be MIL-STD-810-certified to the following standards in-house: mechanical shock, vibration, temperature, and humidity. This includes our:
Contact us today to find out more about how we at Trenton Systems certify our made-in-USA rugged servers and workstations to military and industrial standards.
And for more information about MIL-STD-810 or to download previous revisions, visit the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology’s MIL-STD-810 Document Page.