What is BS EN 61587-2 - Seismic tests for cabinets and racks about? 
Cabinets are useful in preventing electrical shock to equipment users and help in protecting the contents from the environment. BS EN 61587-2 is a part of an international multi-series standard that focuses on aspects of mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment. BS EN 61587-2 specifies seismic tests for cabinets and racks accommodated with IEC 60917 and 60297 series. BS EN 61587-2 applies, in whole or in part, only to the mechanical structures of cabinets and racks for electronic equipment according to the above-cited series of standards, while it does not apply to the electronic equipment or systems deemed to be installed within these mechanical structures.
BS EN 61587-2 aims to provide test conditions and criteria that constitute a reference to evaluate the ability of the mechanical structure of the cabinets or racks to acceptably withstand specified seismic intensities. For this purpose, BS EN 61587-2 specifies test specimen conditions, such as dimensions (i.e. height, width and depth) of the cabinet and the rack, load distribution, structural test condition and the required response spectra of single-axis or tri-axis acceleration as the seismic test wave condition. The single-axis or tri-axis acceleration is selectable.
Who is BS EN 61587-2 - Seismic tests for cabinets and racks for? 
BS EN BS EN 61587-2 on seismic tests for cabinets and racks is useful for: 
- Manufacturers of electronic devices
- Manufacturers of computers
- Manufacturers of circuit boards
- Manufacturers of automotive parts
- Aerospace industries
- Medical transportation
- Product development teams
- Maintenance and augmentation teams  
- Fault management teams
- Quality control personnel
- Regulatory authorities
Why should you use BS EN 61587-2 - Seismic tests for cabinets and racks?
Electronic equipment is used in applications that rely on mechanical or electric systems for their operation. They are essential to any work on electronics systems for creating signals and capturing responses from electronic devices. Cabinets are electrical enclosures for electrical or electronic equipment to mount switches, knobs and displays. There are certain standardized specifications contributing to the performance of cabinets and racks.
BS EN 61587-2 discusses terms and definitions that depict a user-friendly idea of cabinets and racks. BS EN 61587-2 also provides users with the test waveform and acceleration condition which help to evaluate the reference of the cabinet or rack structure ensuring their reliability. The guidelines in BS EN 61587-2 help you conduct seismic tests for cabinets and racks that enable you to provide a superior quality product to your customers.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 61587-2:2011 supersedes EN 61587-2:2001. BS EN 61587-2:2011 includes some technical changes concerning EN 61587-2:2001. These include: 
EN 61587-2:2001 specified the test condition with a single size of the cabinet, and one load distribution. The specified acceleration condition for the test specimen was single-axis and one of the required response spectra specified in the standard was selected. The test was aimed to obtain the reference for the structural strength of the enclosure against the specified seismic intensity. Earthquakes are random phenomena that are much more carefully simulated by tri-axial simultaneous operations. The demand for tri-axial excitation has emerged as a more accurate representation of an earthquake.
