How Long Can PCBs Be Exposed to Humidity Before Damage?

There is no universal time limit for how long a PCB can safely be exposed to humidity. Risk depends on the board material, surface finish, temperature, relative humidity, packaging, and downstream process. The safest approach is to minimize ambient exposure and follow IPC standards for moisture control explained (J-STD-033).

Why It Matters

Open-air storage allows PCBs to continuously interact with ambient humidity, increasing the risk of moisture absorption, oxidation, solderability problems, delamination, and reliability issues.

Best Practice

Keep PCBs dry whenever they are not actively being used. After opening or when production is delayed, return boards to a dry cabinet or electronic dry cabinet with controlled low humidity. Learn how proper XDry cabinet use supports stronger MSD control.

Why XDry

XDry dry cabinets are self-contained, nitrogen unnecessary, and provide ultra-low RH storage for MSDs, PCBs, reels, and trays while helping manufacturers properly store PCBs to prevent moisture damage and maintain safe long-term humidity control throughout storage and production handling.

Explore XDry solutions for PCB storage and moisture control

FAQ
Q: Why use a dry cabinet?
A: To prevent moisture-related damage by storing them in a low-humidity environment (less than 5%). Doing so keeps printed circuit boards and electronic components ready for production and eliminates harsh preproduction baking cycles.

Q: What RH is ideal?
A: Ultra-low humidity for sensitive electronics needing to be stored in an environment of less than 5%, ideally closer to 1-2%