APPENDIX B 

SHELTER TEST DATA SHEET, REVISION B

CONTRACTOR: CONTRACT

NUMBER: TEST REPORT

NUMBER: TEST REPORT

DATE:

PART NUMBER OR NSN:

TENT NAME:

Test Description (Abbreviated) Company

Tested

Government 

Lab test 

report

Temperature Range,

Operational Minus to plus degrees F.

Temperature Range, 

Storage Minus to plus degrees F.

Erect Time / # of Persons /

Strike Time / # of Persons /

Durability Withstand erect/strike cycles

Field Life Minimum of years

Shelf Life Minimum of years

Wind Load, Steady Steady wind speed of mph for minutes and 

resist rain intrusion

Wind Load, Gusts Three occurrences of wind gusts to mph during

minute steady wind speed of mph and resist rain 

intrusion

Rain, Steady inches per hour for minutes

Rain, Wind Driven inches per hour for thirty minutes with wind speeds of

MPH and with three occurrences of wind gusts to 

MPH within the same minute period

Humidity Ambient humidity between zero and 100%, regardless of

Temperature

Salt Fog Shall withstand exposure to a salt fog atmosphere for

Months

Snow Load pounds per square foot for 12 hours without damage

Delectability/Blackout Test Five observations with night vision goggles from 

meters and with the naked eye from meters

Condensation Shall minimize condensation on the inside of the tent that 

may adversely effect personnel or loss of mission capability

Sunlight Withstand exposure to direct sunlight for months with 

material temperatures up to degrees F.

Blowing Sand and Dust Not degraded beyond use in a blowing sand and dust

Environment

Insects Shall resist physical damage from entry of insects from the 

exterior, including flying insects from penetrating screening 

mesh diameter of
Mildew and Fungus Shall not sustain the growth of fungus under any 

conditions, in accordance with ASTM G-21

Petroleum Resistance All components shall resist damage by petroleum products 

such as, but not limited to, diesel fuel and jet fuel

Mechanical Shock and

Vibration

In transit bag, shall withstand a simple harmonic motion

amplitude of inches, frequency from to Hertz for 

hours in each of three perpendicular directions (total test time 

of hours)

Rough Handling/Transit

Drop

In transit bag, shall withstand drops from a minimum of 

feet at degrees and at degrees F.

Roll In transit bag, shall withstand a circular synchronous mode 

at 300 RPM for no less than 45 minutes

Breaking Strength Fabric breaking strength shall be a minimum of lbs in 

the warp and lbs in the fill

Cold Crack Shall be resistant to cold crack at minus degrees F. 

when tested in accordance with ASTM D2136

Dead Load Seam Strength Fabric seams shall withstand a lb load for 4 hours at 160

degrees F. and a lb load for 4 hours at room 

temperature

Flame Resistance In accordance with IAW ASTM-D 6413-99 Standard Test 

Method for Flame Resistance of Textile (Vertical Test)

Lighting Support Shall support two fluorescent field light sets or one 

incandescent bulb for each nine feet of floor length

Mapboard Support Shall provide connections for the Modular Command Post

Map Board and support strap system specified by MIL-B44381 and 5-4-5531

Ventilation Shall provide non-powered ventilation to maintain a 

comfortable interior, with an inside temperature no higher 

than ambient at ambient temperatures up to 90 degrees F

Electrical Supply Feed

Through

The electrical supply feed through shall permit the passage 

of wire bundles up to 5 inch diameter

ECU Feed Through The environmental Control Unit (ECU) feed through shall 

permit the passage of 18 inch diameter ducts (standardized 

military specification design)

Stovepipe Shield The stovepipe shield shall permit the passage of a 4-inch 

diameter stovepipe (standardized military specification 

design)

Windows Allows for blackout, outdoor light entry and ventilation

Wrappers, 

Transport/Storage Covers

 

Allows for storage and transport of all intended components

Recommended testing for tactical shelters includes: 

Low Temperature Test. TBVD

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1 The fully erect shall be placed into an environmental chamber and then

soaked for a minimum of 4 hours at –(25) degrees. Heaters will be provided by the Government and used to heat the shelter. 

The heat will 

remain in use at a maximum output to determine the time required for shelter interior temperature stabilization. 

Thermocouples will be installed at multiple locations within the interior of the shelter to measure and record the 

temperatures. Calculations will be made to determine the shelter’s R-value.

High Temperature Test. The environmental chamber temperature will be adjusted to +(TBVD) degrees F. The shelter shall

be heat soaked for a minimum of four hours and maintained at the (TBVD) degree temperature before the government 

furnished Environmental Control Unit (ECU) will be activated. The ECU will remain in use at the maximum output to 

determine the time required for shelter interior temperature stabilization. Thermocouples will be installed at multiple locations 

within the interior of the shelter to measure and record the temperatures. Calculations will be made to determine the 

shelter’s R-value.

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1
Detectability. Blackout Test. During testing, five observations wearing night vision current generation US Military goggles

(NVGs) 

will view the shelter from a distance of 300 meters. Five observers will also view the shelter using the naked eye from a 

distance of 

100 meters. While using the naked eye, there will be no visible man-made light sources around the perimeter of the tent 

on a moonless night without any low clouds, which could reflect the ambient and man made light sources. The 

government will determine the type of lighting to be used to illuminate the shelter interior during the test. The light will be 

suspended on either side of the center of the tent in a location that provides the maximum use of the light sets. Starting 

at the end wall at the zero position, observers will view the shelter at 45-degree increments while moving around the 

shelter in a clockwise direction. Observers will complete questionnaires for each observance.

Reflectivity . TBVD Laboratory testing will be conducted to measure the reflectivity of the shelter fabric and support 

system. 

Human Factors. The shelter shall be tested for Setup and Strike times in accordance with the erection/strike procedures

in the tent manual. Setup time includes staking the shelter for high wind conditions. Time for setup begins when the 

shelter transport bags/cases and components are on the ground at the erection site. Time for disassembly ends when

components are secures in the transport bags/cases. 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.

The shelter meet human factors requirements for soldier lift; no single component should exceed an 8-person lift 

(threshold) or desired 4-person lift (objective)

Covers shall be designed so that handles are available for the soldiers to lift the cover without exceeding Human 

Factors safety limits for male and female soldiers. The safe lifting limits for one to eight male or female soldiers are 

respectively: 37, 74,

101.75, 129.5, 157.25, 185, 212.75 and 240.5 pounds. These weights are limited to lifts up to 5 feet from the ground 

and for distances not exceeding 33 feet. Covers shall be designed to be moved by male and/or female soldiers with

at least one of them a 

5th percentile female in height (61.8 inches tall). All covers shall include markings to indicate the contents and 

quantity of individual contents of the package. Marking for weight/lift requirements shall be provided on each

transport cover, bag and/or container. 

Durability. The shelter must be able to withstand erect/strike cycles TBVD without any damage that cannot be 

repaired and would lead to a failure of one of the above criteria and prevent the shelter from being operational.

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.:36 cycles

Condensation . The SYSTEM shall minimize condensation on the inside of the tent that may adversely affect

personnel or loss of mission capability. TBVD

Sunlight . The SYSTEM shall withstand exposure to direct sunlight for (TBVD) months. Components exposed to 

direct sunlight or in contact with components exposed to direct sunlight shall tolerate material temperatures TBVD

without degradation which affects the ability to setup or strike the tent, reduces the blackout capability of the tent,

reduces the ability of the tent to support the required snow load or reduces the ability of the tent to resist rain 

intrusion. 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.:tolerate temperatures up to 160 °F

Blowing Sand and Dust . The SYSTEM shall not be degraded beyond use in a blowing sand and dust environment.

Insects . The system shall resist physical damage from entry of insects from the exterior, including flying 

insects from penetrating screening mesh diameter of (TBVD). 

Mildew and Fungus . The system shall not sustain the growth of fungus under any conditions in storage or use, which 

damages or renders the SYSTEM unserviceable.

Mechanical Shock and Vibration/Rough Handling. The system shall withstand vibration and mechanical shock 

without damage or degradation that affects its operational use. The system shall withstand rough handling by 

military personnel. Rough handling includes components being stepped on by soldiers, components being dropped

or thrown from trucks onto hard ground and tents which have been setup being climbed on by 95th percentile

soldiers TBVD./1. 
Lighting Support . If applicable TBVD.

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The set of components used to support lights within the tent shall support two fluorescent field light sets or one 

incandescent bulb for each nine feet of floor length. One light shall be suspended on each side of the center of the 

tent in a location that provides the maximum use of the light sets. These light sets are already fielded and are in use 

throughout the Army and are the lights that shall be used with the system for the foreseeable future. The support 

system shall interoperate with the Electromagnetic hardened military lighting systems as specified by MIL-L-44259. /1. 

Mapboard Support. If applicable TBVD.

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The system shall provide connections for the Modular Command Post Map Board and support strap system specified by 

MIL-B44381.and 5-4-5531 /1.. 

Ventilation . The system shall provide non-powered ventilation to maintain a comfortable interior 

TBVD. Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The tent shall have sufficient ventilation to prevent hazardous fumes/combustion product build-up from vehicles or 

equipment

being worked on, or from military standard heaters. Ventilation shall minimize visible interior condensation in any climate

when the tent is setup on a dry surface that does not emit water vapor. The tent shall have sufficient warm weather high 

rate non- powered air exchange in non-blackout, hot or humid conditions to prevent heat build-up over ambient 

temperatures. The tent shall maintain an inside temperature no higher than ambient at ambient temperatures up to 90 

0

F. If roof vents are provided, then they shall be able to be opened and closed from the ground level. The roof vents

shall not allow direct light from the tent to escape when viewed with the naked eye from any angle at a minimum distance 

of 100 feet due to tactical considerations because the tent must be ventilated when being operated under blackout 

conditions at high temperatures and humidity while operating electronic equipment.

Door/Vestibule Adapter Assembly. TBVD 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The door shall have a minimum opening of 6 ft. 3 in. high and 4 ft. 6 in. wide to accommodate soldiers with backpacks. 

The door

shall be capable of being sealed against wind, rain, snow, blowing sand and light. The door shall be capable of being 

opened from either the inside or outside. The door shall be capable of being restrained in either the open or closed

position. Doors shall maintain blackout integrity when soldiers are entering or leaving. Each opening shall be capable of 

attaching to a standard TEMPER vestibule.

ECU Feed-Through. If applicable TBVD

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The Environmental Control Unit (ECU) feed through shall permit the passage of 18 inch diameter ducts. It shall include 

an ability to seal the outer wall to the duct to prevent water migration, loss of conditioned air, or leakage of outside air

into the conditioned space. The interface shall seal against the intrusion of rain, snow, blowing sand, flying/crawling 

insects and animals when in use and when closed. 

Electrical Supply Feed Through. If applicable TBVD 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The electrical supply feed-through shall permit the passage of an electric wire or bundle of wires up to 5 in. diameter

through the

tent wall. It shall include an ability to seal the outer wall to the wires to prevent water migration and minimize the 

exchange of air between inside and outside. The feed-through shall seal against the intrusion of rain, snow, blowing 

sand, flying/crawling insects and animals when in use and when closed. 

Stovepipe Shield. If applicable TBVVD

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

A stovepipe shield shall permit the passage of a 4-inch diameter stovepipe, through the roof of the tent. The shield shall

provide separation between the stovepipe and tent fabric to insure that contact with, or proximity to, a stovepipe with 

surface temperatures of 600 0

F do not damage the fabric. The shield shall provide a seal around the stovepipe to 
minimize the intrusion of rain or snow or the release of light when the stovepipe is present and shall keep the fabric in

contact with the outer edge of the shield at a temperature lower than 160 0

F. The shield shall have a cover to close the 

opening when not in use and the cover shall be able to

be opened and closed from the ground level. The cover shall be retained in the open position to prevent it from 

contacting or otherwise being damaged by the hot stovepipe. The stovepipe opening centerline shall be located no less 

than 48 inches, measured horizontally, from the side walls, end walls or liner partitions. The location of the stovepipe 

shall insure that the associated stove shall not obstruct the free movement of personnel through the doors either in the 

tent walls or liner partitions and that hot stove surfaces shall not impose unnecessary safety hazards. 

System Color Characteristics . If applicable TBVD

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

Exterior color of all fabric components shall be green or tan. Interior facing sides of the liners and tent fabric shall be a 

light color, to reflect light. All hardware, findings, plastic components, fastener tape, webbing, grommets, rope slips and 

guy rope, etc., which are visible from the tent exterior, shall approximate the tent color or shall be black. All support 

system components shall approximate black or dark gray color. All components shall have a dull finish to reduce 

reflectance. The specular gloss of the exposed side of the tent shall be less than 2.0 on the face side. Standard color 

samples should be requested from the contracting officer. The fabric shall match the standard sample when viewed under

filtered tungsten lamps that approximate artificial daylight and that have a correlated color temperature of 7500 0 Kelvin 

(K) +/- 2000 K, with illumination of 100 +/- 20 foot candles, and shall be a good match to the standard sample under

incandescent lamplight at 23000 K +/- 2000 K 

Flame Resistance . The fabric (roof, walls, floor, liner) shall be flame resistant, self-extinguishing and shall have no 

flaming melt drip or molten pieces when exposed to flame or heat. The system shall be tested IAW ASTM-D 6413 – 

Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test). All fabric components shall be selfextinguishing within 2.0 seconds after exposure to the flame source for 12 seconds in both the warp and fill 

directions. The damaged char length shall be less than 

50% of the sample length of 12 inches. 

Field Life. If applicable TBVD 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The system shall have a minimum field life of three (3) years. No part of the tent shall be degraded beyond use by the 

environmental conditions. The system shall not suffer any reduction in capability due to the effects of weathering over the 

three year field life of the system. The system is expected to have a typical usage of 28 erect/strike cycles per year

during peacetime operations 

Shelf Life . If applicable TBVD 

Example of tests for typical tactical military tents /1.: 

The tent shall have a minimum shelf life of 10 years. No part of the tent shall be degraded beyond use by storage 

while wet or dry. All parts of the tent system shall be resistant to the deteriorating effects of rot, fungus, mildew or 

corrosion. The tent components shall not suffer any loss of strength, increased water permeability or light emissivity 

due to storage and transportation at temperatures as low as -60 °F or as high as 180 °F. The tent shall be able to be 

setup after storage at these temperatures with no damage or degradation or loss of operational use. This requirement 

applies to new tents still in their original crates. 

/1. Performance requirements, product specifications, capacities and thresholds are to be vendor 

determined. Testing to determine compliance in accordance with MIL-STD-1472 Human Engineering is

recommended.