Capability 06 — Reliability & Hygiene

Reliability is a test result, not a housing style.

“Sealed”, “rugged” and “long-life” are adjectives. A buyer needs a method, a sample and a number. This page shows what we test and how the result is reported — including the difference between a design target and a verified result.

Request a test plan Quality approach

Test matrix

What can be tested, and what the report says.

The target column is set per program in the product specification. The report column describes what you receive after testing — not what we expect to happen.

Test	Method	Target (set per program)	Reported as
Key life	Automated press cycle per key, with function check at intervals	Cycle count agreed in the test plan	Cycles completed and failure mode
Drop	Drop onto a rigid surface from a stated height, six faces	Height, surface and face count agreed	Pass/fail per face and post-drop function
Ingress protection	IEC 60529 test at the target level	Level agreed; claimed only after a report exists	Test level, conditions and result
Temperature	Operating and storage cycles in a chamber	Operating and storage ranges agreed per market	Range tested and function after cycling
Humidity	Damp heat at stated temperature and duration	Agreed per market and use	Conditions and post-test function
Cleaning compatibility	Wipe cycles with the client’s actual cleaning agents	Agent list and cycle count agreed per property	Finish and legend condition after cycles
RF range	Receiver test through the final housing and representative obstruction	Distance and orientation agreed per program	Pass/fail at the stated distance and orientation
Battery duty cycle	Rig simulating the agreed daily press pattern	Years and cell type agreed per program	Measured consumption and projected life

These are the methods. The 61 specific tests behind them, and the laboratory equipment that runs them, are listed on the: quality and certification page

Inside the lab

01Environmental chamber — temperature and humidity cycling.

02Key test rig — press cycles counted per key, function checked at intervals.

03Bench instruments — component checks before a board is built.

Target vs result

A design target and a test result are two separate claims.

“Designed to IP54” and “tested to IP54” are not the same claim. The first is a target set at the brief stage. The second requires a sample, a lab and a report.

Our rule. A design target appears in the specification with the word “target”. A verified value appears only after a test report exists for that sample and configuration. If a client needs a certified rating, the certificate is issued for the exact model and market.

What changes a result

A different keypad material or legend process
A new housing tool with different wall thickness
A different battery door or sealing gasket
A component change that moves the antenna
A new cleaning agent or wipe frequency
Production variation between mold cavities

Hygiene

Cleanability is designed before it is tested.

A remote that cannot be wiped properly will not be wiped properly. Hygiene starts with geometry: fewer seams, no recessed legends, no fabric or leather on the touch surface unless the cleaning process supports it.

01 / Geometry

No dirt traps

Seams are moved away from the touch surface. Recessed lettering and deep grooves are avoided unless they can be cleaned with the agreed wipe.

02 / Materials

Compatible with the agent

Silicone, ABS/PC and coatings are selected against the actual cleaning chemicals, not a generic “hospital grade” assumption.

03 / Legends

Readable after wiping

Double-shot or laser-etched legends are preferred where aggressive agents are used. The legend process is part of the cleaning test, not separate from it.

04 / Service

Replaceable without tools

Battery access and pairing recovery are designed for housekeeping or front desk staff, not for an engineer with a service manual.

Reporting

A report you can put in a tender response.

The reliability report states the sample configuration, the test conditions, the result and any deviation. It is written so a buyer, a certification body or a maintenance team can use it without asking us to reinterpret it.

Where a test was not performed, the report says so. An absent test is not presented as a pass.

Questions

Reliability FAQ

Can you test against our cleaning protocol?

Yes. Send the agent list, dilution, wipe material and frequency. We run wipe cycles on the actual housing and legend process, then report finish and readability. If the protocol attacks the material, we propose an alternative rather than declaring the test passed.

Is the IP rating tested on every production lot?

No. IP testing is a validation test on a sample. Production relies on process controls and sampled checks of the sealing-critical dimensions. If your tender requires lot-level IP testing, that is scoped and priced separately.

How many units are tested?

Sample size depends on the test and the confidence your program needs. A typical validation set uses several units per configuration so a single outlier does not become the result. The sample plan is written into the test plan before testing starts.

Do you test third-party receivers for RF range?

Yes, when a receiver sample is provided. Range is tested through the final housing and a representative obstruction, at the orientation agreed in the plan. Open-air range figures are not used as a substitute.

Start a project

Define the test before you promise the number.

Tell us the environment, the cleaning protocol and the warranty period. We will propose the test plan that supports the claim.

Start a project Certifications

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