How much time a component can exceed working conditions before a component needs to be baked before the reflow process occurs when soldering a sensitive component to a PCB. If this time is exceeded and the component is not baked, the component might contain moisture and when reflowing it onto a PCB, it might become damaged.
| MSL Level | Working Time | Working Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unlimited | ≤30℃/85%RH |
| 2 | 1 Year | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 2a | 4 Weeks | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 3 | 168 Hours | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 4 | 72 Hours | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 5 | 48 Hours | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 5a | 24 Hours | ≤30℃/60%RH |
| 6 | Use Immediately | ≤30℃/60%RH |