EN 60945 Maritime Navigation and Radiocommunication Equipment and Systems
The EN 60945 test standard addresses the safety of life at sea. This standard provides general requirements for shipborne radio equipment and electronic navigation aids. There are three primary types of equipment covered by EN 60945 testing.
First, is shipborne radio equipment forming part of the global maritime distress and safety system. This is required by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The second type of equipment is shipborne navigational equipment required by the SOLAS.
The third type of equipment only applies to EMC testing. This is all other bridge-mounted equipment. This is equipment in close proximity to receiving antennas, and equipment capable of interfering with safe navigation of the ship and with radio-communications.
The EN-60945 testing standard specifies minimum performance requirements and methods of testing. It also outlines the required test results an EN 60945 test lab must provide.
What are the EN 60945 Test Methods for Environmental Testing?
To see the EMC Test Methods, please visit our EN-60945 EMC Testing page.
Durability and Resistance to Environmental Conditions
Methods of testing and required test results
Prior to testing, the EUT should be visually inspected. After inspection, it should be preconditioned and mechanically and electrically checked. The requirements are spelled out in the EN-60945 test spec. All tests shall be carried out with the EUT in its normal operational configuration. This includes mounting and supports, and with all mechanical arrangements secure.
Dry Heat Test
The dry heat testing is a storage test and applies to portable, exposed and submerged equipment. This test simulates the effects of temperature stress on equipment while in the non-operating mode. A temperature of +70 °C is the maximum Iikely to be encountered. This covers equipment in enclosed spaces on ships and in equipment exposed to the full effects of solar radiation in ports.
Dry Heat Functional Test
This test applies to portable, protected and exposed equipment. This test determines the ability of equipment to be operated at high ambient temperatures and to operate through temperature changes. The reasonable maximum air temperature likely to be encountered over the sea is +32 °C. The maximum solar gain at sea is +23 °C giving +55 °C as the maximum temperature likely to be encountered by ships at sea.
Damp Heat Test
The damp heat testing applies to portable, protected and exposed equipment. This test determines the ability of equipment to be operated under conditions of high humidity. A single cycle is used with an upper temperature limit of +40 °C. This is the maximum that occurs in the earth’s surface atmosphere with a relative humidity of 959’0.
Low Temperature Test
The low temperature testing is a storage test applied to portable equipment. This test simulates the effects of temperature stress on equipment in the non-operating mode. It is applied to the portable equipment because of the importance that emergency equipment functions correctly after prolonged non-operation.
Low Temperature Functional Test
Functional tests are conducted to determine the ability of equipment to be operated at low temperatures. They also allow equipment to demonstrate an ability to start up at low ambient temperatures.
Thermal Shock Test
Thermal shock testing applied to portable equipment. This test determines the ability of portable equipment to function correctly after sudden immersion in water from storage at high temperature.
Drop Test
The drop testing applies to portable equipment. The unit is essentially dropped on a hard surface. The drop test simulates the effects of a free fall of an equipment onto the deck “of a ship resulting from mishandling. It is applicable only to portable VHF radios, that are most likely to suffer mishandling.
Drop into Water Test
The drop into water testing simulates the effects of a free fall of an equipment into the sea from the deck of a ship 20 m above. It is applicable only to those portable equipment which have an operational requirement to be deployed in this way. It is not applicable to portable VHF radios, as there is no requirement for this equipment to float. This is one of several ingress protection tests associated with this standard.
Vibration Test
This test determines the ability of equipment to withstand vibration without resulting in mechanical weakness or degradation in performance. The test simulates the effect of vibration induced in a ship’s hull by its propeller and machinery. The vibration testing is generally at frequencies of up to 13 Hz and predominantly vertical.
The tests at higher frequencies simulate the effect of slamming which occurs in irregular stormy seas, and is predominantly horizontal. The test does not simulate the effect of regular seas giving the translational components of surging, swaying and heaving, and the corresponding rotational components of rolling, pitching and yawing. These generally produce accelerations too small to be of consequence to electronic equipment.
Rain Test
Rain testing applies to exposed equipment. This test simulates the effects of rain, sea spray and light breaking seas on equipment. It is applicable to exposed equipment mounted above deck level such as antennas. It is not applicable to portable equipment, as these are required to meet a more stringent immersion test. This IP code test only applies to exposed equipment.
Immersion Test
Immersion testing applies to different types of equipment in different ways.
- Submerged equipment
The immersion test of submerged equipment simulates the effects of water pressure on equipment intended to be mounted permanently under water.
- Portable equipment
The immersion test of portable equipment simulates the effects of water pressure on equipment which may be required to float free from a sinking ship.
- Portable equipment that might experience temporary immersion
Some temporary equipment might experience occasional submersion. This test simulates the effects of water pressure on VHF portable radio equipment which although not designed to float may experience a temporary immersion whilst attached to a survivor.
Solar Radiation Test
Solar radiation testing applies to portable equipment. This test simulates the effects of continuous solar radiation on equipment, which are intended to be mounted above deck levels and exposed to the weather.
Oil Resistance Test
Oil resistance testing applies to portable equipment. This test simulates the effects of mineral oil on equipment.
Corrosion Test
The corrosion testing or salt-mist testing applies to all equipment categories. The salt fog test determines the ability of an equipment to be exposed to a salt laden atmosphere without physical degradation. The cyclic nature of the test produces an acceleration of effects compared with service conditions.
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