ISO 9022-8:2015

Overview - ISO 9022-8:2015 (Optics and photonics - Environmental test methods)

ISO 9022-8:2015 defines standardized laboratory methods to assess the pressure-resistance and immersion resistance of optical instruments and devices that include optical components. The standard covers three conditioning methods - high internal pressure, low internal pressure, and immersion - and specifies environmental conditions, preconditioning, exposure severities, and evaluation criteria to determine how optical, climatic, mechanical, chemical, and electrical performance characteristics are affected.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Conditioning methods
  • Method 80: High internal pressure (clean dry air or dry nitrogen; RH < 30%).
  • Method 81: Low internal pressure (similar environmental control).
  • Method 82: Immersion (open water container or water pressure chamber using softened/demineralized water).
• Degrees of severity
  • Immersion depths defined in the standard: 1, 4, 10, 50, 200, 400 m (±10%).
  • Pressure differences and exposure times are tabulated for pressure tests (degrees of severity).
• Preconditioning and recovery
  • For immersion, specimens are preconditioned at 40 °C ± 2 °C and relative humidity < 40% for 4 hours before exposure; the same conditioning is used as recovery before final assessment.
• Test conditions and limits
  • Immersion water temperature: 10 °C to 25 °C; specimen temperature must not be lower than water temperature nor exceed it by more than 10 K during exposure.
• Measurement and recording
  • Pressure-change time history should be recorded; if a recorder is unavailable, plot the pressure curve from at least 10 equally spaced measurements.
• Evaluation criteria
  • Optical surfaces should show no persistent moisture film. Moisture is acceptable only if it disappears during heating and does not reappear within 24 hours.
  • For sealed designs, the specification must define methods to detect internal moisture penetration.
• State of operation
  • Tests refer to state of operation 1 or 2; specific measurement and motion controls apply when state 2 is required.

Applications and users

• Who uses the standard
  • Optical and photonics manufacturers, environmental test laboratories, quality and reliability engineers, R&D teams, and procurement/specification writers.
• Practical applications
  • Verifying pressure and immersion resistance of cameras, binoculars, optical sensors, underwater optics, instrument housings and assemblies that combine optical and electronic/mechanical parts.
  • Supporting product design decisions, conformity assessment, failure analysis, and claims for ruggedness or IP-like environmental performance.

Related standards

• ISO 9022 series (general framework): ISO 9022‑1 (Definitions, extent of testing) and other parts addressing cold/heat/humidity, mechanical stress, dust, salt mist, solar radiation, etc. Refer to the ISO 9022 family for combined or complementary environmental tests.

Keywords: ISO 9022-8:2015, optics and photonics, environmental test methods, high internal pressure, low internal pressure, immersion, pressure-resistance, optical instruments, conditioning methods.