Standard 62368-1 sets the safety requirements for Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment, and has been implemented in most countries and regions. Therefore, if a product complies with the requirements of 62368-1, it becomes an important step towards entering the international market.
Among them, Appendix Y occupies a significant portion in the 62368-1 standard. The following will introduce it from the perspectives of scope of application, typical test items, and precautions.
I. Scope of Application
Appendix Y mainly applies to the following two types of products:
1. **Outdoor Equipment**: Audio, video, information, and communication technology equipment intended for installation in outdoor environments (such as outdoor displays, communication base stations, etc.).
2. **Outdoor Enclosures**: Protective structures for accommodating outdoor equipment (such as waterproof cabinets, dust-proof boxes, etc.), which must meet the additional requirements of Appendix Y.
II. Typical Test Items
1. **Y.2 UV Radiation Resistance**: Non-metallic components should be sufficiently resistant to degradation by ultraviolet radiation and prevent brittleness or discoloration due to long-term exposure to sunlight;
The ultraviolet radiation test method refers to Appendix C of this standard, which includes C.1 tensile strength or flexural strength tests (for Parts providing mechanical support), Charpy impact or Izod impact or tensile impact tests (for Parts providing impact resistance), and C.2 UV light conditioning test.
After the test, the samples should not show any obvious deterioration signs, such as cracks or delamination, and must achieve a performance retention rate of 70% or more.
2. **Y.3 Resistance to corrosion**: Metallic parts of outdoor enclosures, with or without protective coatings, shall be resistant to the effects of water-borne contaminants.
Specifically, it includes Y.3.2 salt spray test and Y.3.3 water-saturated sulfur dioxide gas, with a test period consisting of two identical and consecutive 12-day cycles. After the test, the outdoor enclosure should not show rust or oxidation of the protective coating, cracking or other deterioration affecting the following safety aspects:
———Continuous prevention of contact with level 2 energy sources and level 3 energy sources, including after mechanical strength tests, and
———Continuous prevention of dust and water from entering; And
———continued provision of earth continuity.
However, the surface corrosion of the protective coating is disregarded.
3. **Y.4 Gasket**: To prevent the spillage and leakage of oil, or the influence of water and dust, the rubber or thermoplastic material sealing gasket provided on the outdoor enclosure, or the sealing gasket made of synthetic rubber, should comply with the requirements of Y.4 to prevent the failure of sealing due to aging.
Among them, if the sealing gasket is to prevent the influence of oil spillage and leakage, the Y.4.5 oil resistance test should be carried out. After oil immersion at 25℃ +/- 3℃ for 70 hours, the expansion amount of the sealing gasket material shall not exceed 25%, and the contraction amount shall not exceed 1%.
If the sealing gasket is to prevent the influence of water and dust, the Y.4.3 tensile strength and elongation rate test or the Y.4.4 compression test should be carried out. Taking the tensile strength and elongation rate test as an example, after being placed in a circulating air condition of 69 ℃~70 ℃ for 168 hours, the tensile strength of the sample shall not be lower than 75% of the original before aging, and the elongation rate shall not be lower than 60% of the original before aging. And after the test, the material shall have no obvious deterioration, deformation, melting or cracking, and after being bent normally by hand, the material shall not have a hardening phenomenon.
4. **Y.5 Protection of equipment within an outdoor enclosure**: Equipment within an outdoor enclosure shall have adequate protection from the effects of moisture and excessive dust. For equipment with a pollution level of 2, if the dust-proof and water-proof level reaches IP54 or above, it can be considered to meet the requirements of this chapter.
5. **Y.6 Mechanical Strength of enclosure**: Outdoor enclosures and outdoor equipment shall have adequate mechanical strength and shall provide protection against access to class 3 energy sources within the equipment throughout the intended ambient operating range.
For equipment made of polymer materials, before the impact test, its outdoor housing should undergo a low-temperature pre-treatment of -33 ℃ (if no minimum environmental temperature is specified) for 24 hours. Then, immediately after removing from the environmental test chamber, the T.6 impact test should be carried out within 2 minutes. After the test, the dust-proof and water-proof level shall still comply with the requirements of Y.5.
III. Notes
1. **Y.2 UV Radiation Resistance **: Due to the need for pre-treatment tests to be conducted under paired enclosed carbon arc lamps with continuous irradiation capability for at least 720 hours or under xenon arc lamps with continuous irradiation capability for at least 1000 hours, which takes at least one month, it is recommended that manufacturers choose suppliers with anti-UV capabilities when selecting plastic casings to exempt from this test.
2. **Y.3 Resistance to corrosion **: If the metal material is copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or bronze or brass with a content of at least 80%, then this test can be exempted. Therefore, these materials also belong to the materials that manufacturers prioritize when designing products.
BTL currently has the capability to conduct Appendix Y tests for 62368-1, and has obtained recognition from CNAS/A2LA/CBTL and other certifications. For some outdoor products such as outdoor cameras, professional monitors, and outdoor displays, we have accumulated a large amount of project testing experience. We can provide complete testing services for various manufacturers and issue test reports with the relevant certifications, offering customers a more efficient one-stop service.
