Learn about U.S. Department of Defense MIL-810 Standards

What does it mean when a product says “MIL-STD-810” on the package label and the spec sheet? It might not mean what you think. MIL-STD-810 is a document developed by the U.S. Department of Defense advising its suppliers how to test their products for a range of military needs. For starters, it’s helpful to understand what MIL-STD-810 does not mean:

It’s not an official certification declaring how well the product performed on any of these tests.
It does not mean the U.S. military has tested or approved the product.
It does not mean the manufacturer hired an independent laboratory to conduct the testing (some companies test internally; others hire professional external labs).

So MIL-STD-810 is not quite the Good Housekeeping Seal. It simply states that a product was tested in specific ways for common scenarios. Of course, no laboratory can simulate everything that can happen in the real world, so buyers need to prepare for the reality that a radio tested for use, say, in high temperatures could still suffer a temperature-related failure on a blistering-hot oilfield. So when you see MIL-STD-810 on a product package or label, the next question you have to ask is whether the company has a track record for making products tough enough to withstand demanding environments. One such manufacturer is Vertex Standard, which builds an array of two-way radios for business, industrial and government users. What companies like Vertex Standard test for Vertex Standard’s EVX-530 line of digital two-way radios uses MIL-STD-810 to test for the effects of:

Low pressure
High temperature
Low temperature
Temperature shock
Solar radiation
Rain
Humidity
Salt fog
Dust
Vibration
Shock

Each company devises its own means to test its products, and each product is examined with a specific methodology. Key testing methods MIL-STD-810’s recommended testing methods are numbered at 500 or above. An article at GCN.com describes many of the most important testing methods: 501.5 and 502.5 — high and low temperature Method 501.5 wants to see how well the product will stand up to high temperatures while in storage and while in use. It exposes the product to both constant temperatures and widely varied temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Method 502.5 is a cold-weather version of 501.5 but has a novel twist: It also assesses how easy the product is to use in bulky winter attire. 506.5 and 512.5 — rain and immersion Process 506.5 tests for performance in steady rain, blowing rain and exposure to drips of water; 512.5 examines what happens when the product is totally dunked in water for extended periods of time at specific depths. Results can help companies determine the ingress protection, or IP, ratings of their products. 514.6 and 516.6 — Shock and vibration These are two of the most important tests for electronic devices because you need some reassurance that accidentally drop-kicking your walkie-talkie down a stairwell won’t turn it into a brick. The vibration test will put the product in a shaking device for extended periods, while the shock test will drop it from certain heights. The true value of MIL-STD-810 MIL-STD-810 is not just for high-stress environments like battlefields and amphibious landings. The U.S. military is almost a nation unto itself, with hospitals, restaurants, housing and emergency first response teams, all of which have sophisticated communication needs. All of its products, from ponchos to fighter planes, have to be tested to ensure the health and safety of U.S. soldiers. MIL-STD-810 helps great companies learn how to make great products. That, in turn, ensures that buyers can make more informed judgments about the durability of the products they buy.