1.3 Limitations.

Although environmental analysis, design analysis, and laboratory testing are valuable tools in the materiel acquisition process, there are inherent limitations in analysis and laboratory testing techniques that must be recognized. The methods in Part Two of this standard do not include many of the naturally-occurring forcing functions that may affect materiel performance or integrity in service use. Further, analytic and laboratory test methods are limited in their abilities to simulate synergistic or antagonistic stress combinations, dynamic (time sequence) stress applications, aging, and other potentially significant stress combinations present in natural field/fleet service environments. Use caution when defining and extrapolating analyses, test criteria, and results. Part Two test methods purposely do not address the following but may, in some cases, be applied:

a. Electromagnetic interference (EMI).

b. Lightning and magnetic effects.

c. Nuclear, biological, chemical weapons or their effects.

d. Certain aspects of munitions and pyrotechnics safety testing.

e. Piece parts such as bolts, wires, transistors and integrated circuits.

f. Packaging performance or design.

g. Suitability of clothing or fabric items that are described in specific specifications.

h. Environmental stress screening (ESS) methods and procedures.

i. Reliability testing.

j. Safety testing.