IPC SM 840 New Revision E on Permanent Solder Mask just released

IPC-SM-840, Revision E, on Qualification and Performance of Permanent Solder Mask has just been released and is available from Document Center Inc.

The new 19-page standard establishes the requirements for the evaluation of liquid and dry film solder mask material and for the determination of the acceptability of use on a standard printed board system.  It provides two classes of requirements, T and H, to reflect functional performance requirements and testing severity based on industry/end use requirements. Coverage is given to adhesion, material qualification, resistances to solvents, and electrical requirements.

The new Revision E incorporates requirements for flexible cover materials used as a flexible dielectric protective layer over etched conductors and other conductive features.

Copies of this popular IPC document and all IPC publications are available from Document Center Inc. at our website www.document-center.com.  You can also reach us by phone at 650-591-7600, fax at 650-591-7617, and via email at info@document-center.com.

We’ll be happy to assist you with any Standards needs you may have.

New MIL-STD-464 Revision C: Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Requirements for Systems

MIL-STD-464C, the Department of Defense’s primary Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standard for systems, has just been released.  It is one of Document Center’s best selling military documents.

It is the latest in a long line of standards that goes back to at least MIL‑I‑6051, “Interference Limits and Methods of Measurement; Aircraft Radio and Electronic Installations,” released in 1950. The MIL‑STD‑464 replaced MIL-I-6051D and several other documents in 1997.

MIL‑STD‑464 is the DoD top‑level EMC (aka E3, electromagnetic environmental effects) requirement set for procurement of complete or modified systems.  This might be airborne, sea, space, and ground systems (like a tank or a submarine), including associated ordnance.

This standard contains two sections, the main body and an appendix. The main body of the standard specifies a baseline set of requirements. The appendix portion provides rationale, guidance, and lessons learned for each requirement to enable the procuring activity to tailor the baseline requirements for a particular application. The appendix also permits Government and Industry personnel to understand the purpose of the requirements and potential verification methodology for a design. The appendix is not a mandatory part of this document.

The document states that changes are too numerous to identify due to the extent of the modifications.  However, apart from a few changes to section 2, the revisions seem to cluster in section 3.

This standard, previous editions, and all other publicly distributed DoD standards are available from Document Center Inc. via our website, www.document-center.com, email (info@document-center.com), phone (650-591-7600), and fax (650-591-7617).

Feel free to contact our expert sales staff with any additional questions you might have.

MIL-STD-1285 D, Marking of Electrical and Electronic Parts, has a New Change Notice 1 dated 11/10/2010

MIL-STD-1285, Revision D, has just been revised by Change Notice 1.  The standard, titled Marking of Electrical and Electronic Parts, has been required for use by military contractors since the 1960’s.

Here’s a summary of the changes that Change 1 makes to the MIL-STD-1285D:
1.  Foreword change DSCC name to DLA Land and Maritime
2.  Paragraph 2.2.1 changed the URL for the ASSIST quicksearch web site.
3.  Paragraph 2.3, add a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for all documents sited; delete cancel document
“ANSI Y10.5” and add “IEEE 280”.
4.  Paragraph 2.4, changed to include the words “Unless otherwise noted herein or in the contract”.
5.  Paragraph 4.3, replaced cancel document “ANSI Y10.5” with superseded document “IEEE 280”.
6.  Paragraph 6.7 changed “Changes from previous issue” paragraph.
7.  Appendix K, paragraph K.2.2.1, changed the URL for the ASSIST quicksearch web site.
8.  Appendix K, Section K.2.3, changed to include the words “Unless otherwise noted herein or in the contract”.
9.  Appendix L, paragraph L.2.2.1, changed the URL for the ASSIST quicksearch web site.
10.  Appendix L, Section L.2.3 changed to include the words “Unless otherwise noted herein or in the contract”.
11.  Appendix N, Title change.
12.  Appendix N, paragraph N.2.2.1, changed the URL for the ASSIST quicksearch web site.
13.  Appendix N, paragraph N.2.3, add Non-Government publication paragraph.
14.  Appendix N, paragraph N.2.4, changed to include the words “Unless otherwise noted herein or in the contract”.
15.  Appendix N, paragraph N.3.1.1, add “card holders” to existing paragraph.
16.  Appendix N, paragraph N.3.1.2, rename paragraph title.
17.  Appendix N, paragraph N.3.1.2.1, rewritten paragraph.
18.  Appendix N, paragraph N.3.1.2.2, editorial changes.
19.  Appendix N, add paragraphs N.3.1.3, N.3.1.4, and N.3.1.4.1.
20.  Concluding material, changes “Air Force-11” to “Air Force-85” and the ASSIST quicksearch web site.

The new consolidated edition is available at our Document Center Inc. website (www.document-center.com) or by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Please contact us with any and all questions on government and industry standards.

The perils of using free sites for Mil Specs and Standards

There have been a number of sites cropping up on the Internet that offer U.S. military documents for free.  As with most free things, it’s buyer beware!

We speculate that these sites are being generated as a easy method for generating advertising revenue on the various Mil Spec and Standard numbers.  However, for the user of these sites, there are 2 major drawbacks to relying on them for your documentation.

1.  The sites are not maintained, so that the document you download may not be the correct and latest edition of the document.

2.  The sites do not offer monitoring services, so that when the document changes you are not going to be notified.

If you need to comply with military specifications and standards, you need Document Center Inc. to be your supplier of choice.  We have been selling these documents since 1982 and have a long history of providing customers with timely delivery at fair prices for these items.

We monitor over 400,000 standards for our customers, notifying them of changes either on a nightly or bi-monthly basis.  The notification service is either free with the purchase of the standard or can be purchased separately.

Just because a site claims to have “every spec” or “mil-standard” doesn’t mean it’s so.

Contact us at www.document-center.com, by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Our standards experts can help you identify the correct document for your needs, and will help keep you up-to-date as well!

MIL-E-17555H has been cancelled without replacement

MIL-E-17555H with Amendment 2, Electronic and Electrical Equipment, Accessories, and Provisioned Items (Repair Parts): Packaging of, has been cancelled.  The document has no replacement.

This will create a challenge for military contractors who provide the Dept. of Defense with electronic and electrical equipment and components.

Should you need a copy of the MIL-E-17555, Revision H or Revision G, they are available from Document Center Inc.   You can also get just the cancellation notice if you need it for your records.  Because the document is canceled, you’ll need to contact Document Center Inc. directly or use our website, www.document-center.com, to get a quote.  We can be reached at 650-591-7600 (phone), 650-591-7617 (fax) or info@document-center.com (email).

New JEDEC JESD22-A110D Released

JESD-22-A110 Revision D, Highly Accelerated Temperature and Humidity Stress Test (HAST),  has just been released in November.  It is one in a series of specialized tests for solid state devices maintained by the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association.

The purpose of this test method is to evaluate the reliability of nonhermetic packaged solid state devices in humid environments. It employs severe conditions of temperature, humidity, and bias that accelerate the penetration of moisture through the external protective material (encapsulant or seal) or along the interface between the external protective material and the metallic conductors which pass through it.

The change made to the new  JESD22-A110 D, compared to its predecessor, JESD22-A110 C (January 2009) is the addition of  Note 1 and Note 2 in Clause 4.5.

The change to the JESD22-A110 C compared to the JESD22-A110 B, was the addition of a note in Clause 4.4.

Copies of this standard may be purchased from Document Center Inc. at it’s website (www.document-center.com) or by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Document Center Inc. carries all the JEDEC standards under license agreement with the association.

Just Released – the New BS EN 61010-1:2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use. General requirements

The new 2010 Edition of BS EN 61010 Part 1 was just published this month (November 2010).  The new document replaces the previous 2001 Edition for this item.  It is in stock and available for purchase from Document Center Inc.  on our website www.document-center.com.

This revised edition provides a presumption of conformity with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and is also essential for compliance with Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the United Kingdom.

With presumption of conformity with the LVD 2006/95/, BS EN 61010-1 will enable manufacturers to fit CE marking in respect to the safety requirements contained within the LVD and the corresponding national laws.

BS EN 61010-1 also covers a large number of products that are outside the scope of the LVD [50-1000 V], but are covered by either the General Product Safety Directive or the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act: as such, compliance with BS EN 61010-1 is an indicator of compliance with good engineering practice.

This standard aims to ensure the safety of anyone that uses this type of electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use.

Who is this standard for?

BS EN 61010 Part 1 is intended for use by anyone in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) industry who sells or manufactures or supplies measurement, control and laboratory equipment or related components and assemblies.

BS EN 61010-1 describes the general safety requirements for electrical equipment used in laboratories. It provides the general requirements and identifies the risks users and operator could face, and the manufacturer’s design requirements and tests needed to reduce these risks.

This part of BSEN61010 specifies the general safety requirements that professional and non-professional operators should follow when using electrical equipment in industrial processes, laboratories and educational settings, and includes:

  • Electrical test and measurement equipment
    This is equipment which by electrical means tests, measures, indicates or records one or more electrical or physical quantities, also non-measuring equipment such as signal generators, measurement standards, voltage sources, transducers, transmitters, etc.

This includes bench-top power supplies intended to aid a testing or measuring operation on another piece of equipment. Power supplies intended to power equipment are within the scope of the BS EN 61558 series.

  • Electrical industrial process-control equipment
    This is equipment which controls one or more output quantities to specific values, with each value determined by manual setting, by local or remote programming, or by one or more input variables
  • Electrical laboratory equipment
    This is equipment which measures, indicates, monitors or analyses substances, or is used to prepare materials, and includes in vitro diagnostic (IVD) equipment

This equipment may also be used in areas other than laboratories, for example self-test IVD equipment may be used in the home and inspection equipment to be used to check people or materials during transportation.

What’s been changed for the new edition?

Significant changes to BS EN 61010-1 include:

BS EN 61010-1 applies to the equipment and their accessories wherever they are used, not just for professional use as previously. There is also clarification that equipment used to check people or materials during transportation is within scope.

Foreseeable misuse and ergonomic aspects have been included and a new clause has been added to address risk assessment for hazards not covered in the standard.

A further major change is the removal of test and measurement circuits to a new BS EN 61010-2-030. Any equipment containing these circuits will have to comply with this Part 2 as well as Part 1.

Electrical requirements have been added for solid insulation and thin-film insulation. Insulation requirements for mains circuits of overvoltage category II up to 300 V, and for secondary circuits are also covered.

It now contains additional requirements for protection against mechanical hazards and environments not covered by the standard. A section on dealing with risk assessment is also included.

  • Surface temperature limits have been modified to conform to the limits of EN 563
  • Radiation requirements have been modified, and take into account a distinction between intended emission and unintended emission.
  • Requirements for reasonably foreseeable misuse and ergonomic aspects.
  • Methods of reducing the pollution degree of a microenvironment.
  • Requirements for the qualification of coatings for protection against pollution
  • Explanation of how to determine the working voltage of a mains circuit.

Contents of BS EN 61010-1 contain:

  • Scope and object
  • Environmental conditions
  • Normal environmental conditions
  • Extended environmental conditions
  • Normative references
  • Terms and definitions
  • Equipment and states of equipment
  • Parts and accessories
  • Quantities
  • Tests
  • Safety terms
  • Insulation
  • Tests
  • Sequence of tests
  • Reference test conditions
  • State of equipment
  • Testing in single fault condition
  • Application of fault conditions
  • Duration of tests
  • Conformity after application of fault conditions
  • Marking and documentation
  • Marking
  • Identification
  • Mains supply
  • Fuses
  • Terminals, connections and operating devices
  • Switches and circuit-breakers
  • Equipment protected by double insulation or reinforced insulation
  • Field-wiring terminal boxes
  • Warning markings
  • Durability of markings
  • Documentation
  • Equipment ratings
  • Equipment installation
  • Equipment operation
  • Equipment maintenance and service
  • Integration into systems or effects resulting from special conditions
  • Protection against electric shock
  • Requirements
  • Exceptions
  • Determination of accessible parts
  • Examination
  • Openings above parts that are hazardous live
  • Openings for pre-set controls
  • Limit values for accessible parts
  • Levels in normal condition
  • Levels in single fault condition
  • Primary means of protection
  • Enclosures and protective barriers
  • Basic insulation
  • Impedance
  • Additional means of protection in case of single fault conditions
  • Protective bonding
  • Supplementary insulation and reinforced insulation
  • Protective impedance
  • Automatic disconnection of the supply
  • Current- or voltage-limiting device
  • Connections to external circuits
  • Terminals for external circuits
  • Circuits with terminals which are hazardous live
  • Terminals for stranded conductors
  • Insulation requirements
  • The nature of insulation
  • Insulation for mains circuits of overvoltage category ii with a nominal supply voltage up to 300 V
  • Insulation for secondary circuits derived from mains circuits of overvoltage category ii up to 300 V
  • Procedure for voltage tests
  • Humidity preconditioning
  • Test procedures
  • Constructional requirements for protection against electric shock
  • Insulating materials
  • Colour coding
  • Connection to the mains supply source and connections between parts of equipment
  • Mains supply cords
  • Fitting of non-detachable mains supply cords
  • Plugs and connectors
  • Disconnection from supply source
  • Requirements according to type of equipment
  • Disconnecting devices
  • Protection against mechanical hazards
  • Sharp edges
  • Moving parts
  • Risk assessment for mechanical hazards to body parts
  • Limitation of force and pressure
  • Gap limitations between moving parts
  • Stability
  • Provisions for lifting and carrying
  • Handles and grips
  • Lifting devices and supporting parts
  • Wall mounting
  • Expelled parts
  • Resistance to mechanical stresses
  • Enclosure rigidity tests
  • Static test
  • Impact test
  • Drop test
  • Equipment other than hand-held equipment and direct plug-in equipment
  • Hand-held equipment and direct plug-in equipment
  • Protection against the spread of fire
  • Eliminating or reducing the sources of ignition within the equipment
  • Containment of fire within the equipment, should it occur
  • Constructional requirements
  • Limited-energy circuit
  • Requirements for equipment containing or using flammable liquids
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Permanently connected equipment
  • Other equipment
  • Equipment temperature limits and resistance to heat
  • Colour coding
  • Connection to the mains supply source and connections between parts of equipment
  • Mains supply cords
  • Fitting of non-detachable mains supply cords
  • Plugs and connectors
  • Disconnection from supply source
  • Requirements according to type of equipment
  • Disconnecting devices
  • Protection against mechanical hazards
  • Risk assessment for mechanical hazards to body parts
  • Limitation of force and pressure
  • Gap limitations between moving parts
  • Stability
  • Provisions for lifting and carrying
  • Enclosure rigidity tests
  • Equipment other than hand-held equipment and direct plug-in
  • Hand-held equipment and direct plug-in equipment
  • Protection against the spread of fire
  • Eliminating or reducing the sources of ignition within the equipmen
  • Containment of fire within the equipment, should it occur
  • Constructional requirements
  • Limited-energy circuit
  • Requirements for equipment containing or using flammable liquids
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Permanently connected equipment
  • Equipment temperature limits and resistance to heat
  • Surface temperature limits for protection against burns
  • Temperatures of windings
  • Temperature measurement of heating equipment
  • Equipment intended for installation in a cabinet or a wall
  • Resistance to heat
  • Integrity of clearances and creepage distances
  • Non-metallic enclosures
  • Insulating material
  • Protection against radiation, including laser sources, and against sonic and ultrasonic pressure
  • Protection against liberated gases and substances, explosion and implosion
  • Components and subassemblies
  • Protection by interlocks
  • Hazards resulting from application
  • Reasonably foreseeable misuse
  • Ergonomic aspects
  • Risk assessment
  • Measuring circuits for touch current
  • Standard test fingers
  • Measurement of clearances and creepage distances
  • Parts between which insulation requirements are specified
  • Guideline for reduction of pollution degrees
  • Routine tests
  • Leakage and rupture from fluids under pressure
  • Qualification of conformal coatings for protection against pollution
  • Line-to-neutral voltages for common mains supply systems
  • Risk assessment
  • Index of defined terms
  • Bibliography
  • Measurements through openings in enclosures
  • Maximum duration of short-term accessible voltages in single fault condition
  • Capacitance level versus voltage in normal condition and single fault condition
  • Acceptable arrangement of protective means against electric shock
  • Examples of binding screw assemblies
  • Distance between conductors on an interface between two layers
  • Distance between adjacent conductors along an interface of two inner layers
  • Distance between adjacent conductors located between the same two layers
  • Detachable mains supply cords and connections
  • Impact test using a sphere
  • Flow chart to explain the requirements for protection
  • Against the spread of fire
  • Baffle
  • Area of the bottom of an enclosure to be constructed as specified in ball-pressure test apparatus
  • Flow chart for conformity options
  • Measuring circuit for a.c. with frequencies up to 1 MHz and for d.c.
  • Measuring circuits for sinusoidal a.c. with frequencies up to 100 Hz and
    for d.c
  • Current measuring circuit for electrical burns
  • Current measuring circuit for wet contact
  • Rigid test finger
  • Jointed test finger
  • Examples of methods of measuring clearances and creepage distances
  • Protection between hazardous live circuits and accessible parts
    Protection between hazardous live circuits and circuits which
  • Accessible external terminals
  • Protection between a hazardous live internal circuit and
  • An accessible part which is not bonded to other accessible parts
  • Protection between a hazardous live primary circuit and
  • Protection of external accessible terminals of two hazardous live circuits
  • Conformity verification process
  • Test sequence and conformity
  • Iterative process of risk assessment and risk reduction
  • Risk reduction
  • Distance between conductors on an interface between two layers
  • Distance between adjacent conductors along an interface of an inner layer
  • Distance between adjacent conductors located between the same two layers
  • Example of recurring peak voltage
  • Symbols
  • Tightening torque for binding screw assemblies
  • Multiplication factors for clearances of equipment rated for operation at altitudes up to 5 000 m
  • Clearances and creepage distances for mains circuits of overvoltage category II up to 300 V
  • Test voltages for solid insulation in mains circuits of overvoltage category II up to 300 V
  • Clearances and test voltages for secondary circuits derived from MAINS
  • Circuits of overvoltage category II up to 300 V
  • Creepage distances for secondary circuits
  • Minimum values for distance or thickness
  • Distances between terminals and foil
  • Correction factors according to test site altitude for test voltages for clearances
  • Values for physical tests on cord anchorages

New ASTM A240 2010A Edition Released

ASTM A240 / A240M – 10a, Standard Specification for Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip for Pressure Vessels and for General Applications, has just been released by ASTM International. The standard is a widely used specification for Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel.

It covers chromium, chromium-nickel, and chromium-manganese-nickel stainless steel plate, sheet, and strip for pressure vessels and for general applications. The steel described by the standard shall conform to the requirements as to chemical composition specified. Additionally, it shall conform to the mechanical properties specified.

The document features both inch-pound and metric measurements. This is notated in the document number (the A240/A240M means A240 inch-pound units/A240 Metric units).

All current ASTM standards and many obsolete revisions are available from Document Center Inc. on the website www.document-center.com, and by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) and email (info@document-center.com). Should you have any questions about this or any other standard, please get in touch.

Toy Safety Standards – European Standards

The strong connection between European Union legislation and the corresponding “harmonized” standards has resulted in several important toy safety standards required for the sale of toys in Europe.  Released as EN standards, they can only be purchased as reprints available from each country in Europe as they are adopted.  Here’s the list of European Toy Safety Standards available in the official English language editions (BS-EN) from Document Center Inc.

EN-71-1 (BS-EN-71-1 – currently BS EN 71-1:2005+A9:2009),  Safety of toys. Mechanical and physical properties

BS EN 71-1 specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.  It applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behavior of children.

BS EN 71-1 is aimed at reducing the risks which are not evident to users. It does not cover inherent dangers (e.g. instability of scooters, sharp needles in a sewing kit etc.) that are obvious to children or the persons in charge of them. Assuming that the toys are used in the manner for which they are intended, they should not present any further risk to children for whom they are intended.

BS EN 71-1 includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. It also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labeling.

EN-71-2 (BS-EN-71-2 – currently BS EN 71-2:2006+A1:2007), Safety of toys. Flammability

BS EN 71-2 covers the flammable materials which are prohibited in all toys and the requirements concerning flammability of certain toys when exposed to fire.

The tests described in this standard are used for determining the flammability of toys under the test conditions specified, the results cannot be considered as providing overall proof of the possible fire hazards of toys or their material when subjected to other types of flame.

The standard also lists the toys which are considered to present the greatest hazard to children.

EN-71-3 (BS-EN-71-3 – currently BS EN 71-3:1995, BS 5665-3:1995), Safety of toys. Specification for migration of certain elements

This part of this European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for the migration of the elements antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium from toy materials and from parts of toys except materials not accessible.

Requirements are included for the migration from the following toy materials:

  • coatings of paints, varnishes, lacquers, printing inks, polymers and similar coatings
  • polymeric and similar materials, including laminates, whether textile reinforced or not, but excluding other textiles
  • paper and paper board
  • textiles, whether natural or synthetic
  • glass/ceramic/metallic materials
  • other materials whether mass colored or not (e.g. wood, fiber board, hard board, bone and leather)
  • materials intended to leave a trace (e.g. the graphite materials in pencils and liquid ink in pens)
  • pliable modeling materials, including modeling clays, and gels
  • paints, varnishes, lacquers, glazing powders and similar materials in solid or in liquid form appearing as such in the toy.

Toys and parts of toys which, due to their accessibility, function, mass, size or other characteristics, obviously exclude any hazard due to sucking, licking or swallowing, bearing in mind the normal and foreseeable behavior of children, are not covered by this standard.

Packaging materials are not included unless they are part of the toy or have intended play value.

EN-71-4 (BS-EN-71-4 – currently BS EN 71-4:2009), Safety of toys. Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities

This part of the European Standard EN 71 specifies requirements for the maximum amount of certain substances and preparations used in experimental sets for chemistry and related activities. These substances and preparations are chemicals classified as dangerous by the Directives on dangerous substances and dangerous preparations  (including substances which have been self-classified according to the requirements of these Directives), substances and preparations which in excessive amounts may harm the health of the children using them but which are not classified as dangerous by the above mentioned Directives and any other chemical substances and preparations delivered with the toy.

This standard applies to chemistry sets and supplementary sets. It also covers toys for experiments within the fields of mineralogy, biology, physics, microscopy and environmental science whenever they contain one or more chemical substances and/or preparations. It also specifies requirements for marking, contents list, instructions for use and for equipment intended for carrying out the experiments. Other chemical toys are specified in EN 71-5.

NOTE:  The terms substance and preparation as used in directives 67/548/EEC  and 1999/45/EC  are also used in the REACH Regulation Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. This latter regulation requires also that account be taken of the emerging international standards in the regulation of chemicals such as the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals. The EU has now proposed a timetable for the introduction of GHS and it is expected that the above two mentioned directives will be repealed on 1 June 2015. In the GHS regulation the term ‘mixtures’ rather than ‘preparation’ is used. Preparations and mixtures should be considered synonymous; both are mixtures or solutions of substances that do not react with each other.

EN-71-5 (BS-EN-71-5 – currently BS EN 71-5:1993+A2:2009, BS 5665-5:1993), Safety of toys. Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets

This part of EN 71 specifies requirements and test methods for the substances and materials used in chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets.
It specifies:

  • the maximum amounts of substances and preparations classified as dangerous by the definitions in Directives 67/548/EEC  and 88/379/EEC ;  and
  • the maximum amounts of substances and preparations which in excessive amounts may harm the health of children using them and which are not covered by the above mentioned Directives;  and
  • the maximum amounts for other substances or preparations delivered with the toy.

Additionally, requirements are specified for markings, warning, safety rules, contents list, instructions for use and first aid information.

This Part of EN 71 applies to:

  • plaster of Paris (gypsum) molding sets;
  • ceramic and vitreous enameling materials supplied in miniature workshop sets;
  • oven hardening plasticized PVC modeling clay sets;
  • plastic molding sets;
  • embedding sets;
  • photographic developing sets;
  • adhesives, paints, lacquers, varnishes, thinners and cleaning agents (solvents) supplied or recommended in model sets.

EN-71-6 (BS-EN-71-6 – currently BS EN 71-6:1995, BS 5665-6:1995), Safety of toys. Graphical symbols for age warning labelling

This European Standard, a part of the EN 71 series, specifies requirements for the use and design of a graphical symbol for age warning labeling on toys not suitable for children under 3 years of age.

This standard does not apply to toys which on account of their function, dimensions, characteristics, properties or other cogent grounds are manifestly unsuitable for children under 3 years of age.

The purpose of the symbol is to inform adults that the toy might be hazardous to a child under 3 years of age.

EN-71-7 (BS-EN-71-7 – currently BS EN 71-7:2002), Safety of toys. Finger paints. Requirements and test methods

This part of EN 71 specifies requirements for the substances and materials used in finger paints and applies to finger paints only.

Additional requirements are specified for markings, labeling and containers.

EN-71-8 (BS-EN-71-8 – currently BS EN 71-8:2003+A4:2009), Safety of toys. Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use

This part of EN 71 specifies requirements and test methods for activity toys for domestic family use often attached to or incorporating a crossbeam, and similar toys intended for children under 14 years of age to play on or in and to bear the mass of one or more children. This part of EN 71 also specifies requirements for:

– separately sold accessories for, and components of activity toys;

– separately sold swing elements that are ready for use on or in combination with activity toy;

– construction packages for activity toys including components used to build activity toys according to a scheduled building instruction.

The scope excludes equipment intended for use in schools, kindergartens, public playgrounds, restaurants, shopping centers and similar public places dealt with in EN 1176 part 1 to 6.

EN-71-9 (BS-EN-71-9 – currently BS EN 71-9:2005+A1:2007), Safety of toys. Organic chemical compounds. Requirements

This Part 9 of the document EN 71 for safety of toys specifies requirements for the migration or content of certain hazardous organic chemical compounds from/in certain toys and toy materials (see Table 1) by the following exposure routes:
– mouthing
– ingestion
– skin contact
– eye contact
– inhalation
when used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behavior of children and the function and design of the toy.
This document does not contain requirements for chemical toys, experimental sets or finger-paints, which are addressed by other parts of EN 71.
Packaging materials used with toys are not within the scope of the document unless they form part of the toy or have intended play value.

EN-71-10 (BS-EN-71-10 – currently BS EN 71-10:2005), Safety of toys. Organic chemical compounds. Sample preparation and extraction

BS EN 71-10 is a safety standard that helps to ensure that toys sold in the European Community are safe for children. The standard lays down the procedures to be followed when sampling and extracting toys and toy materials prior to chemical analysis. BS EN 71-10 is intended to be used in conjunction with BS EN 71-9, which stipulates requirements for organic chemicals in toys, and BS EN 71-11, which specifies the methods of analysis to be used for the determination of these organic chemicals. The standard is aimed at toy manufacturers, toy importers, enforcement authorities and test houses.

EN-71-11 (BS-EN-71-11 – currently BS EN 71-11:2005), Safety of toys. Organic chemical compounds. Methods of analysis

BS EN 71-11 is a safety standard that helps to ensure that toys sold in the European Community are safe for children to play with. The standard specifies the methods of analysis to be used for the identification and determination of organic chemicals in toys and toy material extracts. Methods have been elaborated and validated for various types of chemicals, e.g. flame retardants, colorants and preservatives. BS EN 71-11 is intended to be used in conjunction with BS EN 71-9, which stipulates requirements for organic chemicals in toys, and BS EN 71-10, which lays down the procedures to be followed when sampling and extracting toys prior to chemical analysis. The standard is aimed at toy manufacturers, toy importers, enforcement authorities and test houses.

EN-62115 (BS-EN-62115 – currently BS EN 62115:2005), Electric toys. Safety

BS EN 62115 is the European Standard which deals with the safety of toys that have at least one function dependent on electricity.

Examples of toys also within the scope of this standard are:

– Constructional sets
– Experimental sets
– Functional toys (models that have a function similar to an appliance or installation used by adults)
– Video toys (toys consisting of a screen and activating means, such as a joystick or keyboard. Separate screens having a rated voltage exceeding 24 V are not considered to be a part of the toy).

Additional requirements for experimental sets are given in Annex A.

Toys using electricity for secondary functions are within the scope of BS EN 62115.

A doll’s house having an interior lamp is an example of such a toy.

Additional requirements for toys incorporating lasers and light-emitting diodes are given in Annex E.

In order to comply with this standard, electric toys also have to comply with EN 71, since it covers hazards other than those arising by the use of electricity.

Transformers for toys and battery chargers are not considered to be a toy, even if supplied with it.

If it is intended that a child also plays with the packaging, the latter is considered to be part of the toy.

BS EN 62115 does not apply to:

  • Toy steam engines;
  • Scale models for adult collectors;
  • Folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles for adult collectors;
  • Sports equipment;
  • Aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water;
  • Equipment intended to be used collectively in playgrounds;
  • Amusement machines (IEC 60335-2-82);
  • Professional toys installed in public places (shopping centers, stations, etc.);
  • Products containing heating elements intended for use under the supervision of an adult in a teaching context;
  • Portable child-appealing luminaires (IEC 60598-2-10);
  • Christmas decorations.

All these toy standards and more are available from Document Center Inc. at www.document-center.com, or by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) and email (info@document-center.com).  And please feel free to comment or check in with us should you have any questions about these or any other standards.

MIL-PRF-19500 New Revision P on Semiconductor Devices Released 10/20/2010

MIL-PRF-19500 (formerly MIL-S-19500) titled Semiconductor Devices, General Specification for, has just been revised. This specification is one of the top Semiconductor specs for use by the Department of Defense.

The release of new 170 page Revision P requires compliance by April 20th, 2011.  Changes from the previous Revision N are extensive and are not noted in the margins, as is sometimes the case.

This specification covers the general requirements for semiconductor devices used in electronic equipment procured by the U.S. military.  The semiconductor devices covered by it are unique due to the fact that these devices must be able to operate satisfactorily in systems under demanding conditions such as: 20 g’s vibration, 100 g’s of shock, salt atmosphere, wide temperature range (e.g. -55°C to +150°C).  In addition, these requirements are verified under a qualification system.  Commercial components are not designed to withstand these environmental conditions.

MIL-PRF-19500P establishes the general performance requirements for semiconductor devices.  Detail requirements and characteristics are specified in the specification sheet.  Revisions to this specification and it’s corresponding specification sheets are structured to assure the interchangeability of devices of the same part type regardless of manufacturing date code or conformance inspection (CI) completion date.

Five quality levels for encapsulated devices are provided for in this specification, differentiated by the prefixes JAN, JANTX, JANTXV, JANJ, and JANS. Eight radiation hardness assurance (RHA) levels are provided for the JANTXV and JANS quality levels. These are designated by the letters M, D, P, L, R, F, G, and H following the quality level portion of the prefix. Two quality levels for unencapsulated devices are provided for in this specification, differentiated by the prefixes JANHC and JANKC.

The main body of this document specifies the performance requirements and requires the manufacturer to verify that their devices are capable of meeting those performance requirements.

Appendix A contains definitions of terms used throughout the specification.  Appendix B contains abbreviations and symbols.  Appendix C contains the Quality Management (QM) Program.  Appendix D contains the quality system.  Appendix E contains the standard verification system for qualified products.  Appendix F has been canceled.  Appendix G contains discrete semiconductor die/ship lot acceptance.  Appendix H contains critical interface and materials for semiconductor devices.

The document number was changed from MIL-S-19500 to MIL-PRF-19500 during the Mid-1990’s Mil Spec Reform to designate the performance specification status of the document.

Should you want to purchase a copy of this new specification, a previous edition, or any MIL Spec or Standard that’s publicly distributed, please go to our website, www.document-center.com, or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re always happy to be of assistance to you.