Standard EIA 19″ racks serve as the backbone of most commercial data centers, but in military and naval applications, standard just isn’t good enough. Equipment housed within these racks must survive the harsh conditions found aboard combat vessels, including exposure to vibration, shock, salt fog, and EMI.

At Electromet, we’ve engineered the 19″ rugged rack to address every weak point in conventional rack systems. Our racks are structurally reinforced, thermally optimized, and shock-qualified under MIL-DTL-901E and MIL-STD-167-1A.

Structural Engineering for Maritime Stressors

Racks deployed aboard ships must endure mechanical stress from vessel movement and operational impacts. These loads manifest across multiple axes and can introduce fatigue if not properly accounted for.

Electromet’s rack structures include:

• Heavy-gauge aluminum or cold-rolled steel frames with welded seams
• Reinforced corner posts and diagonal braces to increase torsional rigidity
• Vibration-dampening mounting points to isolate internal components
• Compliance with MIL-DTL-901E for hammer blow or barge shock testing

Thermal and Environmental Control

Heat management in enclosed racks becomes critical in non-climate-controlled environments. Onboard electronics generate significant thermal loads, and salt air accelerates corrosion.

To address this, Electromet incorporates:

• EMI-shielded fan trays and filtered air intake/exhaust
• Conformal-coated or anodized internal surfaces
• Optional closed-loop cooling systems with integrated heat exchangers
• Salt fog-resistant coatings and stainless hardware

Key Advantages

A major advantage of using an Electromet 19” rugged rack is integration compatibility.

These racks accommodate:

• EIA-standard slide rails, shock isolation trays, and cable management arms
• Modular accessory kits for power distribution, labeling, and ground bonding
• Custom mounting brackets and seismic platforms

Each rack is designed not just to house components, but to actively support them in mission-critical deployments.

Certification, Documentation, and Lifecycle Support

Electromet provides full documentation for shock, vibration, and EMI testing. Our racks are available with cradle-to-grave support.

Key supports features include:

• Configuration control
• Sustainment engineering
• Retrofit and modernization packages

From amphibious assault ships to aircraft carriers, Electromet rugged racks ensure mission assurance.

When it comes to naval systems integration, not all enclosures are created equal. Mission-critical electronics demand protection from not just the sea—but from shock, vibration, EMI/RFI interference, and environmental extremes. That’s where standards like MIL-STD-901E, MIL-STD-167-1A, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-STD-810F come into play.

Electromet’s rugged enclosures and 19″ EIA racks are designed and tested to meet these stringent requirements, ensuring long-term operational reliability in mission-critical applications. Let’s explore what each of these standards entails and how Electromet aligns its designs to comply with them.

MIL-STD-901E:  High-Impact Mechanical Shock

MIL-STD-901E addresses high-impact mechanical shock, particularly those experienced during combat scenarios or operational hazards such as underwater explosions or collisions. Qualification under this standard involves testing enclosures on floating barges where they are subjected to explosive charges to simulate shock pulses.

Electromet’s enclosures undergo both lightweight and heavyweight shock testing. For lightweight shock testing, typically performed on components under 200 pounds, shock machines or hammer blow testing may be used. For heavyweight items, full barge tests are conducted. Racks and enclosures are evaluated based on their structural integrity and continued function of internal equipment post-shock.

Key design considerations include:

• Welded steel or aluminum construction with high-tensile-strength fasteners
• Internal bracing and mechanical isolation of subcomponents
• Shock mounts rated for specific load and resonance characteristics
• Reinforced mounting interfaces for shipboard deck or bulkhead installation

MIL-STD-167-1A: Mechanical Vibration

Where MIL-STD-901E addresses discrete shock events, MIL-STD-167-1A covers continuous mechanical vibration caused by shipboard propulsion systems, rotating equipment, and environmental motion.

Type I (environmental vibration) testing simulates shipboard vibration conditions using variable frequency ranges (typically 4 to 33 Hz) with amplitudes defined by displacement or acceleration. Equipment must continue to operate without performance degradation throughout endurance testing periods.

Class 3 enclosures and subassemblies must:

• Modal analysis and finite element modeling (FEM) to identify and reinforce potential resonant points
• Use of damping materials, floating subframes, and tuned isolation systems
• Vibration-rated fasteners and locking mechanisms

MIL-STD-461: Electromagnetic Interference

This standard defines the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for equipment and subsystems. It addresses both emissions and susceptibility across a range of frequencies. Equipment that fails to comply can generate interference, degrade system performance, or create vulnerabilities.

Electromet’s shielded enclosures meet MIL-STD-461 by incorporating:

• Conductive gasketing on all panel interfaces and doors
• EMI filters on power and signal lines
• Shielded ventilation filters
• Bonded metal surfaces to reduce potential gaps

Shielding effectiveness is validated through lab testing, including TEMPEST testing when required, and verified using network analyzers and EM field probes.

MIL-STD-810F: Environmental Conditions

Finally, MIL-STD-810F addresses environmental durability. It specifies test methods for temperature extremes, humidity, sand and dust ingress, salt fog, icing, and more. It is particularly relevant for open-deck or coastal installations.

To meet 810F requirements, Electromet uses:

• Powder-coated or anodized finishes with salt-spray resistance
• IP-rated gasketing for ingress protection (typically IP65+)
• Corrosion-resistant hardware and coatings per MIL-DTL-5541 or equivalent
• Environmental seals for cable pass-throughs

The Electromet Advantage

Unlike generic suppliers, Electromet provides traceable, documented compliance for each enclosure built to these standards. Our in-house test capabilities, materials engineering, and military heritage allow us to produce naval-grade enclosures that survive in theater.

If your program demands survivability, shielding, and compliance with defense standards, Electromet’s rugged enclosures are mission-ready.

In defense systems, a single solder joint failure can disable an entire platform. That’s why IPC J-STD-001E is the global benchmark for soldering processes in mission-critical electronics.

Electromet integrates this standard into every enclosure that includes internal electrical assemblies or supports embedded OEM systems. This blog explains the role of IPC J-STD-001E, its Class 3 requirements, and how Electromet ensures solder quality throughout production.

Overview of IPC J-STD-001E

Published by the IPC Association, this standard outlines workmanship and quality benchmarks for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies.

Applications

• Surface mount and through-hole soldering
• Cable assemblies and wire harnesses
• Printed wiring assembly (PWA) terminations

For military applications, Class 3 is the highest quality grade—intended for products where continued performance is critical.

Class 3 Requirements

Class 3 enclosures and subassemblies must:

• Withstand vibration, temperature, and corrosion
• Exhibit perfect solder joints—no voids, bridging, or insufficient wetting
• Be traceable and inspectable per IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria

Electromet ensures compliance through:

• Process control (solder paste storage, stencil cleaning, reflow profile verification)
• ESD-safe assembly environments
• Trained IPC-certified solder technicians

Material and Process Traceability

Our builds incorporate:

• SN63/Pb37 and SAC305 solder types depending on project spec
• RoHS and leaded processes as required
• Cleaning verification (ionic contamination testing)

All assemblies are supported with inspection reports, operator certs, and serial-level traceability.

Integration into Rugged Enclosures

Electromet often integrates soldered subassemblies into rackmount units and field enclosures. IPC J-STD-001E ensures these subsystems perform reliably inside environments qualified to:

• MIL-STD-810F (temperature, humidity, dust)
• MIL-STD-167-1A (vibration)
• MIL-DTL-901E (shock)

When solder integrity is a matter of mission success, IPC J-STD-001E is the standard Electromet trusts.

Electromet Shock Qualified Electronics Enclosures are being delivered as part of our support for L3Harris and Taiwan Indigenous Defense Submarine force (IDS). The program intends to maintain technology advances and increase future capabilities in this unique environment.

Various (1-Bay, 2-Bay, 3-Bay, and 5-Bay configurations) are needed. Electromet has already delivered several electronics enclosure configurations, including a 1-Bay unit and the 5-Bay unit below. Additional designs and configurations will be added periodically as the program progresses.

Electromet has developed a new rugged cooling solution, the EZ Cool Fan Tray. This video simulation shows the powerful new unit’s features and advantages.

At 3U (5.25-inches) in height, it is compact and lightweight and can be installed in any standard 19-inch cabinet or rack using EIA-310 mounting rails. Standard size and custom installation kits are available.

EZ Cool Fan Tray – Product Specs PDF

• Shock Qualification
  MIL-S-901E

• Configuration
  Each Fan Tray unit contains four (4) individually controlled fans with dual pole circuit breakers and one master control circuit breaker. Each fan control switch and master control switch include a power indicating LED. Fan tray unit is fully wired and includes C10 power entry connector and V-Lock power cord. Fans utilize Molex quick disconnects for easy replacement.

• Installation
  Fan tray unit fits any standard 19-inch rack with EIA-310 mounting rails. Standard installation kits include 26-Inch deep (PN 8145-405D-1) and 30-Inch deep (PN 814-405D-2). Non-standard installation kits available upon request.

• Air Flow Capacity
  130 CFM per fan / 520 CFM per tray. Front air filter is easily removed for cleaning.

• RF Protection
  Includes EMI-RFI air filter

• Dimensions / Weight
  Width – Front Panel – 19.00-Inches
  Width – Tray Body – 17.80-Inches
  Depth – 21.86-Inches
  Height – 3U (5.25-Inches)
  Weight – 31.0 lbs

• Electrical Rating
  Fan Tray rated at 115 VAC, 4 amps; individual fans rated at 115 VAC / 1 amp each

• Part Number
  PN 814-403D-1