This document is used for testing electromechanical elementary relays (electromechanical relays, reed relays, reed contacts, reed switches and technology combinations of these) and for evaluating their ability to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use.

This document defines a standard test method to simulate impacts of sulfuric atmospheres to relays. The test conditions simulate an artificial situation and allow a performance comparison for usability of the devices under test (DUT) with regard to known and existing switching solutions.

The test is a static test without actual operation of the DUT to simulate a worst-case scenario for corrosion, since corrosion increases over time. The corrosion layer can potentially create contact sticking, increase resistance or other undesired effects in the relay. Those aspects can be affected by DUT actuations during the test, which can destroy the corrosion layers or hide relevant long-term effects.

In addition to polluted atmospheres, the suitability of the DUT for use and/or storage in corrosive atmospheres can be assessed in a salt-laden atmosphere as described in IEC 63522-44.