What is BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 about?  
BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 is the first part of a BS EN IEC 60721 series of standards that deals with the classification of groups of environmental parameters and their severities (IEC 60721-3). It contains background information including information on the application and limitation of the classes given in various parts of IEC 60721-3 which can be used in the design, limitation of conditions, and protection of equipment.
 Who is BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 for? 
 BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 on the classification of environmental conditions is useful for: 
- Product manufacturers
- Product designers
- Environmental regulatory bodies 
Why should you use BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0?  
 A product may be subjected to a range of environmental conditions during its lifetime.
A product will be simultaneously exposed to a number of environmental parameters, for example, solar radiation and temperature, temperature and humidity, as well as vibration and temperature change. The product will be affected by the environmental influences in two ways:
- By the effects of short-term extreme environmental conditions which may directly cause
malfunction or destroy the product
- By the effect of long-term subjection to non-extreme environmental stresses which may
slowly degrade the product and finally cause malfunction or destruction of the product combinations of the environmental parameters given may increase the effect on a product. Therefore, the combined conditions specified in BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 should be considered in the design and evaluation of a product.
It is important for the product specification when referring to a certain class in IEC 60721-3, to define whether the product is required to be capable of operating or only to survive without permanent damage when being exposed to the conditions described by the class.
Information contained in IEC 60721-3 (all parts) may be used as a means to help establish expected requirements for use, storage, transportation, handling, etc., and in the development of relevant specifications.
The products designed according to the environmental impacts specified in BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0 would be able to survive and operate in different environments.
To reduce the above-mentioned environmental influences on the product we require to consider BS EN IEC 60721‑3‑0.
