Testing and Certifications of Peli Cases

The Peli protective case range has been a favourite of amateurs and professionals alike in a multitude of sectors for over four decades. As many a Peli fan will know, we tout are cases as being the best on the market due to their virtually indestructible and impenetrable nature. But just how do we guarantee that our cases are impact-resistance, watertight, airtight and crush-proof? In this post we go over the various testing procedures Peli cases go through and the certifications that they have or are manufactured to qualify for.

Peli Lab Testing

Many of Peli’s customers, such as Military and OEM customers, often need to certify the cases will perform to specific requirements. Under precise control conditions we subject our cases to a battery of rigorous lab tests including drop, vibration, leak, heat and dust tests. Below are the specifications for those tests.

Military Certifications - DEF-STAN

Defence Standard, or DEF-STAN for short (as well as the Military Standard MIL-STD used in the U.S.) was established after WWII and provides uniform requirements and ensures interoperability for the UK armed forces and their secondary industries. Originally focused on engineering and technical requirements, processes, procedures, practise and methods, Def-Stan certification now represents the ability to withstand extreme conditions. This is where Peli comes into the equation.

To be DEF-STAN certified, Peli cases must undergo rigorous testing to ensure compliance with the Defence Standards (as well as STANAG – The NATO STANdardisation AGreement). Below are some of the tests. Thanks to Peli UK for the information:

1. Vibration Test K DEF STAN 81-41
   
   At 25ºC, 2 hours of vibration at amplitude of ± 0.23” (± 6 mm) peak (0.46” DA) from 5 to 9 Hz and ± 2 g peak from 9 to 350 Hz and a sweep rate of 0.75 ± 0.25 octave.
   
   
2. Low Temperature Test G DEF STAN 81-41
   
   Decrease temperature to -20 ± 2ºC for 16±5 hours and afterwards return to 20±10ºC.
   
   
3. Dry Heat Test C DEF STAN 81-41
   
   Increase temperature from 25 ± 10ºC to 55 ± 2ºC, humidity not exceeding 75%, and maintain conditions for 48 ± 1 hours. Return temperature to 20 ± 10ºC.
   
   
4. Impact (Vertical) Test E DEF STAN 81-41
   
   At 25±10ºC, the case is dropped from a height of 1000±5 mm making sure that the impact is received in all angles of the case.

A4A Specification 300

Airlines for America (A4A), formerly known as Air Transport Association of America (ATA), is an American trade association and lobbying group based in the United States that represents major North American airlines. The Airlines for Europe (A4E) group was subsequently formed and modelled after the A4A.

The A4A Specification 300 establishes regulations that ensure effective packaging for supplies and equipment shipped by airlines. It stipulates, for example, that a shipping case be able to withstand a minimum of 100 shipments, have durable recessed handles, be coated with non-corrosive products, and have rounded well-constructed edges.

The rating and approval of a case for shipment on airlines are made up of the following categories:

1. Category I
   Designed for over 100 uses. Can be constructed of metal, plastic or fiberglass.
   
   
2. Category II
   Designed for 10 uses. Can be constructed of wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.
   
   
3. Category III
   Designed for single use

Although each case needs to be certified individually, Peli cases are manufactured to be able to meet the requirements set forth by the A4A Spec 300.

Ingress Protection

Lastly, we have Ingress Protection, which we covered extensively in a previous post.
The Ingress Protection Code, also known as simply IP Code, is a ratings system developed and maintained by the International Electrotechnical Commission, which is an international standards organisation that prepares and publishes international standards for electrical, electronics and other related technologies. IP ratings are used to rate the degree of protection or sealing effectiveness in enclosures against the intrusion of objects such as water or dust.

The IP Code comes in a standard format with the letters “IP” followed by two digits, each corresponding to the level of protection against solids and liquid ingress. All Peli cases are rated IP67 meaning they are completely dust-proof and waterproof for up to depths of 1 metre for 30 minutes.

Lifetime Guarantee

Having stated the above, there could be a world in which your Peli case could get damaged despite the certifications and rigorous testing to achieve those certifications (perhaps not this world, although our cases have even travelled into space). If that’s the case, we guarantee our cases for a lifetime against breakage or defects in workmanship.
Have a look at all our cases, click on the button below.