ABSTRACT: This document replaces SR-3166.

This document, developed with an industry group, presents generic requirements for environmental stressing applied to telecommunications products. Environmental stressing involves the application of multiple stress stimuli beyond specification limits to reveal latent defects in assemblies, sub-systems, and systems. Latent defects present in incoming parts and those created in manufacturing are turned into failure-inducing patent defects. Root causes are analyzed and the problems corrected before the products reach customers, thereby reducing early life failures. During environmental stressing, conditions do not simulate operating environments, and are outside product specifications.

The objective of environmental stressing is to improve product reliability and robustness for the customer.

To be most effective, environmental stressing should be performed as early as possible in the product life cycle.