What is MSL moisture sensitivity level? Why Dry Cabinets and Dry Boxes Matter

What is MSL (Moisture Sensitivity Level) is an important classification in electronics storage, especially for moisture sensitive devices (MSDs). A dry cabinet provides controlled low humidity storage to prevent moisture damage.

Why It Matters
Electronics absorb moisture during storage. Following IPC standards for moisture control explained (J-STD-033) helps ensure proper humidity control and prevents failures such as cracking, oxidation, and solder defects during assembly.

See XDry’s JEDEC component-storage guidance

Best Practice
Use a dry cabinet or electronic dry cabinet to maintain low humidity conditions, typically below 5% RH for sensitive devices and reduce risks related to how long can PCBs be exposed to humidity before damage.

Why XDry
XDry dry cabinets are self-contained, nitrogen unnecessary, and provide ultra-low RH storage for MSDs, PCBs, reels, and trays.

View XDry’s IPC/JEDEC-compliant dry cabinet

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%