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DO-160 SECTIONS
4.0 – Temperature and Altitude
5.0 – Temperature Variation
6.0 – Humidity
7.0 – Operational Shocks and Crash Safety
8.0 – Vibration
9.0 – Explosive Atmosphere
10.0 – Waterproofness
11.0 – Fluids Susceptibility
12.0 – Sand and Dust
13.0 – Fungus Resistance
14.0 – Salt Fog
15.0 – Magnetic Effect
16.0 – Power Input
17.0 – Voltage Spike
18.0 – Audio Frequency Conducted
Susceptibility – Power Inputs
19.0 – Induced Signal Susceptibility
20.0 – Radio Frequency Susceptibility
(Radiated and Conducted)
21.0 – Emission of Radio Frequency
Energy
22.0 – Lightning Induced Transient
Susceptibility
23.0 – Lightning Direct Effects
24.0 – Icing
25.0 – Electrostatic Discharge
26.0 – Fire and Flammability
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FUNGUS RESISTANCE
RTCA DO-160 – Section 13.0 – Fungus Resistance
These tests determine whether equipment material is adversely affected by fungi under conditions favorable for their
development, namely, high humidity, warm atmosphere and presence of inorganic salts.
Notes:
A. Fungi proximity to other materials, exposure to daily susceptible contaminants such as fluids during routine operation
and maintenance, or equipment exposure to solar actinic effects – may break molecular bonds and reduce the item to
sub-compositions which may be fungus nutrients.
B. This test shall not be conducted after Salt Spray or Sand and Dust. A heavy concentration of salt may effect the fungal
growth, and sand and dust can provide nutrients, which could compromise the validity of this test (see Subsection 3.2,
“Order of Tests”).
General Effects
Typical problems caused by fungi growing on equipment are:
a. Microorganisms digest organic materials as a normal metabolic process, thus degrading the substrate, reducing the
surface tension and increasing moisture penetration.
b. Enzymes and organic acids, produced during metabolism, diffuse out of the cells and onto the substrate and cause
metal corrosion, glass etching, hardening of grease and other physical and chemical changes to the substrates.
c. The physical presence of microorganisms produces living bridges across components that may result in electrical
failures.
d. The physical presence of fungi can also cause health problems and produce aesthetically unpleasant situations in which
users will reject using the equipment.
The detrimental effects of fungal growth are summarized as follows:
a. Direct attack on materials. Nonresistant materials are susceptible to direct attack as fungus breaks these materials
down and uses them as nutrients. This results in deterioration affecting the physical properties of the material.
Examples of nonresistant materials are:
(1) Natural material. Products of natural origin (carbon based) are most susceptible to this attack.
(a) Cellulose materials (e.g., wood, paper, natural fiber textiles, and cordage).
(b) Animal- and vegetable-based adhesives.
(c) Grease, oils, and many hydrocarbons.
(d) Leather.
(2) Synthetic materials.
(a) PVC formulations (e.g., those plasticized with fatty acid esters).
(b) Certain polyurethanes (e.g., polyesters and some polyether).
(c) Plastics that contain organic fillers of laminating materials.
(d) Paints and varnishes that contain susceptible constituents.
b. Indirect attack on materials. Damage to fungus-resistant materials results from indirect attack when:
(1) Fungal growth on surface deposits of dust, grease, perspiration, and other contaminants (that find their way onto
materiel during manufacture or accumulate during service) causes damage to the underlying material, even though that
material may be resistant to direct attack.
(2) Metabolic waste products (i.e., organic acids) excreted by fungus cause corrosion of metals, etching of glass, or staining
or degrading of plastics and other materials.
(3) The acidic waste products of fungus on adjacent materials that are susceptible to direct attack come in contact with
the resistant materials.

Category F: Equipment that is installed in an environment where it will be exposed to severe fungus contamination is
identified as Category F and shall be subjected to the fungus resistance test. If all materials used in the construction of the
equipment can be shown to be non nutrients for the growth of fungi, either through their composition or through
previous testing, this test is not required. If non-nutrient material certification is utilized for this verification, this fact shall
be declared on the Environmental Qualification Form (see Appendix A).

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