Rule of thumb has always been 2 years in my company. If purchasing should procure parts older we usually perform solderability testing per MIL STD. If the component is a memory type we may have some parametric tests done. But usually 2 years is ok. %&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&% Don F. Fumia [log in to unmask] Schneider Automation No. Andover MA 978-975-9344 FAX x9714 %&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&% ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ##############################################################