Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment - Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 series - Part 1: Environmental requirements, test setups and safety aspects
2Expert Interpretation
This document interprets the IEC 61587-1:2022 standard, covering environmental requirements, test setups, and safety aspects of the mechanical structures of electrical and electronic equipment, including climate, static and dynamic loads, and stability testing, and provides classification and implementation guidelines.
Standard Overview and Background
IEC 61587-1:2022 is the fifth edition of the standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It specifies environmental requirements, test setups, and safety aspects for the mechanical structures of electrical and electronic equipment (such as cabinets, racks, subracks, plug-in units, etc.). This standard aims to provide a unified test methodology for products in the IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 series, ensuring product reliability under manufacturing, transportation, storage, and end-use conditions. Compared to the fourth edition, the main technical changes in this edition include: a revised title, revisions to the new test setups in Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and the addition of random vibration testing, etc.
Environmental Testing Classification
The standard classifies environmental conditions according to IEC 60721-3 and IEC 60654-4, including climatic testing and industrial atmospheric testing.
Climate testing covers cold, hot dry, and hot humid cycles, categorized into C1, C2, and C3, corresponding to different severity levels of application environments (e.g., offices, production workshops, outdoor tropical climates). Industrial atmospheric testing is divided into A1, A2, and A3, targeting different concentrations of hazardous substances (e.g., sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide) and salt spray environments. After testing, visual inspection, grounding continuity verification, and electromagnetic shielding performance evaluation are required. Subrack and Plug-in Unit Mechanical Testing Mechanical testing includes static load testing and dynamic load testing (vibration and shock). The Static Load Classification (SLC) defines the load-bearing capacity of the subrack and chassis; for example, SLC01 corresponds to a single plug-in unit mass of 0.25 kg and a total static load of 35 N. Dynamic load testing selects a classification based on the application environment (DL01 to DL03, and DL11/DL12), with a sinusoidal vibration frequency range of 2-200 Hz, acceleration of 5-30 m/s², and shock acceleration of 70-250 m/s². The test must be conducted on a rigid fixture with a uniformly distributed load.| Static Load Classification | Single Plug-in Unit Mass (kg) | Total Static Load (N) |
|---|---|---|
| SLC01 | 0.25 | 35 |
| SLC02 | 0.50 | 70 |
| SLC03 | 0.70 | 98 |
| SLC04 | 1.00 | 140 |
| SLC05 | 1.50 | 210 |
Stabilistic Testing of Cabinets and Racks
Stabilistic testing of cabinets and racks includes rated load testing (NL), vertical structural testing (VT), and stiffness testing (ST). NL testing uses three types of dummy loads (M3/M4, M5, M6), corresponding to different application scenarios (such as IT equipment, industrial installations). Classifications range from NL01 to NL05, with rated loads ranging from 200kg to 1500kg. VT testing assesses vertical stability by applying a tensile force P1 (3000-22500N). ST testing assesses horizontal stiffness by applying a force P2 (500-3750N). Combined test levels (SL) combine the three, such as SL06 corresponding to NL03+VT3+ST3.
| Classification | Rated load (kg) | VT force (N) | ST force (N) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL04 | 200 | 3000 | 500 |
| SL05 | 400 | 6000 | 1000 |
| SL06 | 800 | 12000 | 2000 |
| SL11 | 1000 | 15000 | 2500 |
| SL12 | 1500 | 22500 | 3750 |
Dynamic Testing and Safety Aspects
Dynamic testing (vibration and shock) for cabinets and racks is classified as DL04-DL07, with sinusoidal vibration acceleration of 5-20 m/s² and shock of 40-250 m/s². The samples must be fixed to a vibration table to simulate actual installation conditions. Safety aspects include IP protection rating (IEC 60529), IK shock test (IEC 62262), protective grounding (resistance ≤0.1Ω), material flammability (V2 level), and stability requirements.
For server racks with casters, new stability tests (rolling, threshold, obstruction, and ground contact tests) have been added, categorized as CST01-CST04. Implementation Recommendations: Designers should select the appropriate classification level based on the target application to optimize costs. For example, C1, A1, and SLC02 are sufficient for general office environments, while C2, A2, and SLC05 may be required for industrial sites. For server racks, it is recommended to refer to the SL combination test report to ensure the structure meets safety requirements. Manufacturers should cite the classification codes in the standard when labeling product performance for easy comparison by users. The new version introduces random vibration and caster stability tests to meet the needs of data centers and mobile applications, and their adoption in relevant products is recommended.