CASCADE ™

Testing Services
www.cascadetek.com

Cascade Tek is an A2LA Our with environmental stress testing laboratory is equipped
a full range of climatic and dynamic capabilities.
certified testing lab
Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com 1
Table of Contents
Page 3
Salt Fog & Cyclic Corrosion
Accelerated Aging | Shelf Life | Photostability Testing
Sand and Dust Testing Cascade TEK is an Accredited
Product Testing Laboratory
Page 4
HALT / HASS Testing
UV Exposure Testing
Water Ingress Protection (IP)

Page 5 Accreditation by the American Association

Temperature & Humidity Cycling
for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
Large Walk-in Chamber
Vibration Testing & Shock Testing

Page 6
Thermal Shock Testing
HAST Testing
Package Testing & Transportation Simulation
Cascade TEK is certified for
Package Testing by the ISTA
Page 7 (International Safe Transit Association)
Aerospace Testing & Avionics Testing
Rapid Decompression
Acceleration Testing

Page 8
Blowing Rain
Contact Cascade TEK Approved to Perform MIL-STD 202 by
the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

About Cascade TEK

Cascade TEK was founded in 1992 and today we are proud to serve the Pacific Northwest
as the premier environmental test lab and chamber sales/service organization.

Whether you need to establish product reliability, equip your own laboratory, or maintain
existing test equipment - Cascade TEK can assist from start to finish. Our testing facility
carries multiple industry accreditations including A2LA, DSCC, and ISTA.

We stand 100% behind what we deliver. Should you ever have any questions or comments,
don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

2 Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com

 Salt Spray, Salt Fog, & Cyclic Corrosion
Cascade TEK’s Salt Fog chambers use standard, accredited methods to
test the corrosion resistance of products in harsh environments. Salt Fog
Testing is typically performed on coated or painted samples for marine,
automotive, and military equipment. Salt Fog Testing is also an excellent
way to test the permeability of coatings and seals.

Custom test durations, photographic or visual inspection, • MIL-STD 883

product marking or scribing can all be tailored to your • MIL-STD 1344A
requirements. • RTCA DO-160
• IEC 68 Part 2
POPULAR SALT SPRAY, SALT FOG AND CYCLIC • SAE J1455
CORROSION TESTS INCLUDE: • SAE J2334
• ASTM B117 Salt Fog • SAE J 1211
• ASTM D3359 Coating Adhesive • GM 9540P
• MIL-STD 810F
• MIL-STD 202G

Accelerated Aging and Shelf Life Testing

Cascade TEK performs Shelf-Life and Accelerated Aging tests to help
identify the potential for seal and burst strength, leaks, film delamination
in medical device and pharmaceutical packaging. This series of tests
is popular in biomedical research, pharmaceutical and medical device
packaging & are required by the FDA.

POPULAR ACCELERATED AGING TEST PROTOCOLS

• ASTM F-1980-99, Standard Guide for accelerated aging of
sterile medical device packages
• ANSI / AAMI / ISO 11607-1997 1st Edition - Packaging
for terminally sterilized medical devices
• FDA Q1B - Photostability Testing of New Drug
Substances and Products

Sand and Dust Testing

Dust creates a harsh operating conditions to chassis, underhood and
exterior mounted devices of all sorts. Exposure to fine dust causes
problems with moving parts, forms conductive bridges and acts as an
absorbent – collecting water vapor. Many components can tolerate finer
grade dust, but larger particles can completely inhibit mechanical action.

Dust Test specifications are designed to test a COMMON SAND AND DUST TESTS PERFORMED AT
component’s resistance to a dust filled environment. In a CASCADE TEK:
dust test chamber, a specific type of dust is injected and • SAE J1455
agitated throughout the chamber. The dust then settles, • SAE J-575
covering the product under test. • IEC Ingress Protection (IP) tests for the
protection against solid foreign objects

Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com 3

 HALT / HASS TESTING
Highly Accelerated Life Testing, (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress
Screening (HASS) are extremely effective tools to establish infant mortality
or identify hidden, latent defects within a product.

Cascade TEK’s HALT/ HASS test set up features multiple response channels,
dedicated technicians and complete reporting capabilities.

Testing Method: Random vibration in six degrees stress and fatigue. Large vibration table features 3/8th
of freedom, combined with very rapid temperature -16 inserts on 4” grid for product mounting options.
transitions subject the product to increasing amounts of

UV Exposure and Photostability Testing

Our UV or full spectrum sunlight simulates years worth of sunlight in days.
Cascade TEK has tested resins, plastics, paints, coatings, textiles, and papers
to determine the accelerated effect of sunlight exposure . Over the course
of a few days or weeks, our UV exposure tests will replicate the damage
that a product would see over the course of years. Our UV exposure testing
services apply to SAE automotive, MIL-STD, and ASTM recommended
protocols.
PHOTOSTABILITY TESTING POPULAR ASTM UV TESTS:
Cascade TEK performs Photostability testing to ASTM D3424
standards of the International Conference on Standard Test Methods for Evaluating the Relative Light
Harmonisation (ICH). The ICH Guideline notes that light fastness and Weatherability of Printed Materials
testing should be an integral part of stress testing.
Cascade TEK’s UV Chambers include light systems with ASTM D5071
Daylight lamps for full spectrum, artificial daylight Standard Practice for Exposure of Photodegradable
stability testing and Ultraviolet A lamps for near Plastics in a Xenon Arc Apparatus
ultraviolet testing to meet FDA and ICH requirements.
ASTM D6695
Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paint in a
Xenon Arc Apparatus

Water Ingress Protection (IP Testing)

Cascade TEK is accredited to perform water ingress testing that satisfies
NEMA 250 and IEC 60529 specifications. This water ingress testing
provides a timed exposure to directed, splashing water via a specific hose
connection. Water flow rate is strictly controlled for measurable results.

NEMA enclosure ratings for water are published by the TYPICAL IP TESTING INCLUDES:
National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA) and • NEMA 250 4X
have been adopted by UL, CSA and other North American • IEC 60529 IP X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8 (Drip/
conformance bodies. International standards use IEC IP Waterproofness/Immersion)
ratings. • IEC 60529 IP 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X (Protection Against
Solid Foreign Objects)

4 Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com

 Temperature and Humidity Cycling
Cascade TEK’s test lab in Hillsboro, Oregon is stocked with rows and rows
of temperature and humidity chambers. We have the test capabilities to
help our customers design products to survive the harsh environments
seen in field use. Thankfully, there is a broad range of test specifications
(MIL-STD, SAE, ASTM) to help determine the most appropriate test
profile for your product. Ask us for help.

POPULAR TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY TESTS: • RTCA DO-160

• MIL-STD 810 • SAE J1455
• MIL-STD 202 • SAE J1211
• MIL-STD 883 • IEC 68
• MIL-STD1334 • Bell Core GR63

Large Walk-In Temperature and

Humidity Test Chambers
Cascade TEK’s large walk-in chambers offer complete temperature and
humidity tests on large systems and batches of products to be exposed
to multiple temperature and humidity conditions. Walk in chambers
accommodate complete pallets or shipping containers for ISTA Package
Testing.

Side-wall access ports allow for the monitoring of WALK-IN CHAMBER TESTS INCLUDE:
temperature and the gathering of data from the • Automotive Testing
products being tested while the test is being conducted. • Electronics Testing
• Aerospace Testing
• ASTM and ISTA Preconditioning Requirements
• Temperature and Humidity Cycling Tests

Vibration Testing and Shock Testing

Cascade TEK’s vibration test lab is equipped for testing products large and
small. Our combination of electro-mechanical, hydraulic and mechanical
vibration test systems cover a wide range of popular vibration/shock tests.
Each vibration test set up allows for testing products in different orienta-
tions, with multiple response channels monitoring the action on the prod-
uct. Our 1000g, free-fall shock tower provides a variety of the most rigorous
shock waves for military, avionics, medical and automotive industries.
VIBRATION AND SHOCK TESTING SERVICES INCLUDE: • Transportation Simulation / Bounce Tests: Large, Heavy
• Vibration : Random, Sine Sweep, Sine on Random, Pallets
Resonance Search and Dwell • HALT/HASS: Highly Accelerated Life Testing
• Shock : Classical, Half Sine, Saw-Tooth • Combined Temperature and Vibration Tests: Stress
• Drop Tests : Free Fall, Package Drop, Bench Handling Screening, “Shake & Bake”

Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com 5

 Thermal Shock Testing
Thermal Shock Testing is performed to determine the ability of
components to withstand sudden changes in temperature and the
overall effects of thermal expansion and contraction. The component is
automatically transferred between different temperature “zones” – hot,
cold and/or ambient with various soak and dwell times in each zone.
Cascade TEK’s offers a variety of thermal shock tests with complete test
data and reporting capabilities.
POPULAR THERMAL SHOCK TESTS: THERMAL SHOCK TESTING SERVICES INCLUDE:
• MIL-STD 810 • Custom Testing Protocols
• MIL-STD 883: Air to Air Thermal Shock • Multiple Thermal Shock Chambers
• MIL-STD 202 Temperature Shock • Consultation on Industry Protocols
• JESD22-A106: Temperature Cycling

Highly Accelerated Stress Testing - HAST

HAST (Highly Accelerated Stress Test) reduces the time it takes to complete
humidity testing for semiconductors. By elevating temperatures above
100°C and increasing the pressure, humidity tests can be made faster while
maintaining the same failure mechanisms. Tests can be completed in days,
not weeks. Any product or material testing process that requires humidity
testing may benefit from switching to HAST.

COMMON HAST TESTING METHODS: • IEC Publication 60749 Amendment 1: Damp Heat,
• JEDEC Standard No.22-110B: Highly Accelerated Steady State Highly Accelerated
Temperature and Humidity Stress Test • EIAJ ED-4701 Method B-123: Unsaturated Vapor
• JEDEC Standard No.22-118: Accelerated Moisture Pressure Test
Resistance - Unbiased HAST
• IEC Publication 60068-2-66 (1994-6): Damp Heat Steady
State

ISTA Package & Transportation Testing

Cascade TEK is a certified package testing lab by the International Safe
Transit Association (ISTA). Our package testing lab is capable of performing
a wide variety of tests called out in ISTA specifications. When a package
passes an ISTA test, you can be assured it will protect the product from
expected hazards experienced in everyday shipping. ISTA specifications
often include: drop testing, transportation simulation, compression testing,
as well as temperature and humidity conditioning.
PACKAGING & TRANSPORTATION TESTS INCLUDE: • Temperature / Humidity Preconditioning
• Product on Pallet Vibration Testing • Bounce Testing
• Package Drop Testing • Bench Handling
• Compression Testing

6 Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com

 Aerospace Testing & Avionics Testing
For the aviation, avionics and aerospace industries, Cascade TEK offers
special expertise in the tests required by RTCA DO-160. This organization
develops recommendations regarding communications, navigation,
surveillance and air traffic system issues. RTCA recommendations are
used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Cascade TEK is a
member in good standing with RTCA.

RTCA DO-160 TESTS INCLUDE:

• Rapid Decompression
• Operating Shock
• Crash Safety Shock
• Salt Spray
• Freezing Rain
• Combined Altitude and Temperature
• Temperature and Humidity Cycling

Rapid Decompression Testing

Rapid decompression testing is intended for equipment installed in
pressurized areas of an aircraft required to operate during and following
an emergency decent.

We commonly perform Rapid Decompression testing to MIL-STD, RTCA/

D0-160 and will work with you to tailor the testing to any specification
needed.

The complete RTCA/DO-160 test specification
defines a series of environmental test conditions for
airborne equipment. It has been used as a standard
for environmental qualification testing since 1958. It is
also referenced in FAA Advisory Circulars as a means
of environmental qualification for TSO authorization.
Cascade TEK is a member in good standing of RTCA.
CASCADE TEK’S RAPID DECOMPRESSION TESTING
SERVICES:
• Data Logging, Test Certifications & Formal Reports of
Decompression Tests
• Meets RTCA DO-160 and MIL-STD Regulations
• Customized Test Protocols to Fit Your Needs

Acceleration Testing
Cascade TEK’s centrifuge is one of the largest available in a commercial
lab. With an 8’ Arm and up to 100g’s of acceleration, it’s ideal for the Crash
Safety testing required by RTCA DO-160. The crash safety test verifies that
equipment will not detach from its mountings or separate and become
dangerous during an emergency landing.

Cascade TEK is a member in good standing of RTCA.
Our lab can perform the wide variety of tests called
out in the categories required by RTCA within DO-160:
altitude, ground survival low and high temp, operating
high temp, rapid decompression, temperature variation,
standard humidity.
ACCELERATION TESTING SERVICES INCLUDE:
• Large Centrifuge For Crash Safety / Avionics Testing
• Various Acceleration Rates
• Extended “G” Force Observations
• Aerospace RCTA DO-160 Compliance

Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com 7

 Blowing/Freezing Rain Reliability Testing
Cascade TEK offers Blowing/Freezing Rain testing that complies with MIL-
STD-810F. We recommend using a blowing rain evaluation when trying to
determine the effects of rain, water spray and dripping. This is applicable for
products and instruments that will be used out-of-doors, in high condensation
environments where dripping may occur and in situations where water
pooling may occur. Cascade TEK routinely performs MIL-STD-810F Procedure
I – Rain and Blowing Rain and MIL-STD-810F Procedure III – Drip.
FREEZING RAIN TEST
Cascade TEK performs MIL-STD 810 Section 521 and RTCA
DO-160 Freezing Rain that require a measured build up of ice
onto the product.

CASCADE TEK’S BLOWING/FREEZING RAIN EVALUATION

HELPS DETERMINE:
• The Effect of Water Exposure at High Velocity
• Any Physical Deterioration Due to Rain
• Premature Electrical Failure of Fuses
• Interference of Radio Communication
• Effectiveness of Protective Water Covers, Cases and Seals
• Effectiveness of Water Removal Systems

For More Information about Cascade TEK and the testing services we offer, visit us online at
www.cascadetek.com or call 1.888.835.9250.

CASCADE ™

5245-A NE Elam Young Pkwy,

Hillsboro, OR 97124
1.888.835.9250
www.cascadetek.com

8 Cascade TEK • Testing Services • 1.888.835.9250 • www.cascadetek.com