Highly Accelerated Life Testing HALT and Highly Accelerated Stress Screening HASS

Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) and HASS

Both Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) are product reliability testing processes that evaluate a product’s design limitations and manufacturing weaknesses. Both HALT and HASS testing methods are similar in approach. 

Over the course of a product’s life, HALT can be applied successfully numerous times. Early in the product life cycle, when adjustments are far less expensive to implement, design flaws can be discovered throughout the product development process. HALT can reduce product development costs and shorten the time to market by identifying problems and implementing modifications early. When HALT is applied during the launch of a product, it can reveal issues brought on by novel manufacturing techniques. HALT can be used to audit the product reliability brought on by changes in components, manufacturing procedures, suppliers, etc. after a product has been released onto the market. To create a strong product design before you enrol in a HASS screening programme, HALT must be completed before HASS. HASS is performed when the product is ready for manufacturing. HASS testing has a similar testing approach as HALT to assess any weakness the product develops during the manufacturing process.

Both tests are run to failure to acquire comprehensive data on failure modes and follow a root cause analysis approach to fix issues. Generating a HASS testing profile usually requires a previous HALT with robust product design and validation data. The type of stresses induced in HALT & HASS includes combined temperature cycling, random 6 degrees of freedom vibration, and electrical loading/monitoring.

HALT and HASS testing for accelerated life tests can help designers and engineers address critical development and manufacturing issues in advance and avoid expensive redesign costs or production costs later in the product or component’s life.

Accelerated weathering is a method of life testing that creates deterioration similar to that done by sunshine and weather in a short amount of time. To accomplish this, accelerated weathering tests typically alternate between high UV and moisture exposure at predetermined temperatures. These tests are frequently used to test outdoor equipment designs to see how well they will endure weather throughout the course of their lifespan.

Video 01: HALT & HASS Test Chambers

HALT and HASS Testing Performed in Laboratory

• High-temperature step stress
• Low-temperature step stress
• Vibration step stress
• Rapid thermal cycling
• Combined Environment

Common Uses of HALT and HASS testing

• HALT
  • Detect design failures
  • Detect Intermittent failures
  • Detect Built-in-Test failures
  • Detect failures caused during manufacturing
  • Component part failures
• HASS
  • Produce a reliable product
  • Reduce field failures and warranty expenses
  • Used for regular audits and screen production components
  • Improve manufacturing quality

Industries Served by Our Testing Labs

• Manufacturing
• Electronic and Electromechanical Device Assemblies
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Military
• Transportation
• Aerospace

HALT & HASS Laboratories

• Quality Testing Services
• National Technical Systems (NTS)
• Tektronix Inc.
• Delserro Engineering Solutions
• Intertek Group Plc.
• Elite Electronic Engineering Inc.

More Details

• Fundamentals of HALT & HASS testing
• Test equipment for HALT & HASS and their applications
• A comprehensive guide to HALT & HASS testing