Regulatory Compliance Testing of the Transportation Industry: EMC/EMI, Climatic, and Mechanical Testing
The transportation industry plays a crucial role in global commerce and mobility, encompassing various modes such as rail, automobile, air, and sea transportation. Ensuring the safety and reliability of transportation systems is important, and this is where testing and compliance come into play.
Keystone Compliance specializes in providing essential testing services to guarantee that transportation equipment meets stringent industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Contact us to see why hundreds of manufacturers each year trust Keystone with their regulatory compliance testing needs. Request a quote to start the testing process.
Importance of EMC/EMI and Environmental Testing in Transportation
EMC/EMI Testing
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) testing are crucial in assessing how electronic components in transportation systems interact with electromagnetic fields and ensuring they function reliably without causing or being affected by unwanted electromagnetic energy.
Environmental Testing
This testing assesses equipment durability and performance under various environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, vibration, and exposure to chemicals. It helps in ensuring that transportation equipment can withstand the diverse conditions it may encounter during operation.
Standards in Transportation Testing
Testing standards play a vital role in the transportation industry by setting benchmarks for equipment performance and safety.
These standards are critical in ensuring that transportation equipment can withstand a range of environmental conditions, thereby enhancing the safety, reliability, and performance of transportation systems.
They guide manufacturers and designers in developing equipment that meets rigorous industry and regulatory standards. They also play a key role in the transportation industry’s commitment to safety and quality.
SAE J1455
SAE J1455, Recommended Environmental Practices for Electronic Equipment Design in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications, provides comprehensive guidelines for the design of electronic systems and components in heavy-duty vehicles.
The SAEJ1455 standard also addresses various environmental factors impacting the performance and reliability of these systems. Key aspects of the standard include:
Environmental Factors: SAE J1455 covers a wide range of environmental factors that affect electronic equipment in heavy-duty vehicles. This includes mechanical, chemical, and biological stresses.
Testing Protocols: The standard references other test protocols to evaluate the resistance of components to environmental conditions like corrosion caused by salt spray atmospheres.
Specific Tests: The standard includes various tests, such as temperature cycle tests, thermal shock tests, thermal humidity cycling, and salt spray tests (ASTM B117). It also encompasses tests for exposure to chemicals and oils, fungus, dust and sand, gravel bombardment, altitude, mechanical vibration and shock, and combined environmental testing.
ISO 16750: Road Vehicles – Environmental Conditions and Testing for Electrical and Electronic Equipment
ISO 16750 is a series of standards providing guidance on environmental conditions commonly encountered by electrical and electronic systems in automobiles. It specifies requirements and tests across various conditions:
- ISO 16750-1: Addresses general conditions.
- ISO 16750-2: Focuses on electrical loads.
- ISO 16750-3: Covers mechanical loads.
- ISO 16750-4: Pertains to climatic loads.
- ISO 16750-5: Deals with chemical loads.
AREMA Part 11.5.1: Communications & Signals Testing
This standard, recommended by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), specifies environmental requirements for electrical and electronic equipment used in railroad signal systems.
It covers aspects like temperature (operating and storage), relative humidity (operating and storage), vibration, mechanical shock, EMI, dielectric strength, and abrasive environment.
EN 50155: Rolling Stock – Electronic Equipment Testing
EN 50155 compliance testing is a European standard that covers electronic equipment used on rolling stock for railway applications.
The standard addresses various aspects of this electronic equipment, including temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, and other parameters.
MIL-STD-810
MIL-STD-810, developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, is a comprehensive standard that emphasizes tailoring an equipment’s environmental design and test limits to the conditions it will experience throughout its service life.
The standard covers a broad range of environmental conditions including altitude testing, exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, humidity, fungus, salt fog for rust testing, sand and dust exposure, explosive atmosphere, leakage, acceleration, shock and transport shock, gunfire vibration, and random vibration. Although initially prepared for military applications, MIL-STD-810 is also widely applied in commercial products.
Common Industries Associated with Transportation
Several industries are intricately linked to transportation. Industries include automotive manufacturing, aerospace, maritime, and rail industries. These sectors depend heavily on transportation testing and compliance standards to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of their equipment and services.
Keystone Compliance’s Role in Transportation
Keystone Compliance has established itself as an expert in transportation testing, covering different sectors such as rail, automobile, air, and sea transportation. They offer a range of testing services, including Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and environmental testing, which are critical in evaluating the resilience and performance of transportation equipment under various conditions.
Additionally, Keystone Compliance’s 40,000 lb/f shaker exemplifies the advanced testing equipment necessary for conducting these rigorous tests. Keystone’s environmental capabilities include altitude, corrosion, immersion, rain spray, salt fog, shock, temperature, and vibration testing.
Accreditation and Global Recognition
Keystone Compliance’s ISO 17025 accreditation is significant as it facilitates global recognition of their test results, which is crucial for manufacturers aiming to meet international standards and market their products worldwide.
Expert Transportation Compliance and Certification Testing Laboratory
In addition to transportation testing, Keystone Compliance provides certification testing for dozens of industries such as automotive, railway, industrial, military, and aerospace. Our engineering provides constant communication throughout the entire testing program. We give companies the peace of mind that all of their regulatory compliance testing needs are met under one roof.
Request a quote to receive competitive pricing, globally recognized reports, and expert certification testing assistance.
Transportation-Related Environmental Testing Scope
- Blowing Dust & Sand
- Blowing Rain
- Body Mounted – Shock & Simulated Long-Life Vibration
- Cold Start
- Contamination by Fluids
- Corrosion
- Damp Heat and Dry Heat
- Defrost & Thaw
- Dust Tight with Pressure
- Exploratory Sine Sweep
- External Icing & Freezing Rain
- Functional Random Vibration
- Fungus
- High & Low Temperature
- Humidity
- Impact Resistance
- Indoor Corrosion Protection
- Ingress Protection
- IP5X Dust
- IPX6 Powerful Water Jets
- Loose Cargo Vibration
- Mechanical Shock
- Oil Resistant Paint Film
- Operating Temperature
- Pyro Shock
- Rainfall
- Salt Fog Testing
- Salt Water Immersion
- Shock – Fork Lift Handling
- Shock – Incline or Horizontal Impact
- Shock – Rotational Drop & Tip/Tip Over
- Solar Radiation
- Soldering Heat
- Splash Proof IPX4
- Temperature Cycling
- Transient Drop
- Vibration – Random Functional, Sinusoidal & Long Life
- Water Ingress Including Hose Down, Immersion & Spray
- Water Spray
- Wind and Rain
Transportation-Related EMC Testing Scope
- Battery Bus Continuous Voltage
- Battery Bus Cranking Operation
- Battery Bus Normal Operation & Reverse Polarity
- Broadband Electromagnetic Radiated Emissions
- CE101, 102, 106, 114, 115, 116, 117
- RS101 & 103
- RE102
- Combination Wave
- Conducted Disturbance & Emissions
- Conducted Immunity & Susceptibility
- Dielectric Strength Testing
- Dips
- EFT
- Electrical Transients
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
- Flicker
- Fluctuations, Dips and Short Interruptions of VDC Power Supply
- Harmonics
- High Potential AC / DC
- Immunity to Electromagnetic Radiation
- Imported Transients Susceptibility
- Insulation
- Magnetic Immunity
- Narrowband Electromagnetic Radiated Emissions
- Power Line AF & RF
- Proximity Fields from RF Wireless
- Pulsed Magnetic Field Immunity
- Radiated Disturbance & Emissions
- Radiated Immunity & Susceptibility
- Radio Transmitter and Cellular Telephone (RTCT) Tests
- Receiver Edge Distortion
- Receiver Insensitivity & Sensitivity
- Receiver Noise Rejection
- Reverse Polarity Protection for DC Inputs
- Ring Wave
- Shielding Effectiveness
- Signal Line RF
- Signaling Speed
- Surge
- Terminating Resistors
- Transient Associated with Failed Crank
- Transmitter End of Frame, Fault Tolerance and Signal Waveform