floor life
**Floor life** is the **maximum allowable time moisture-sensitive components may remain in ambient production conditions before reflow** - it is a central operational limit derived from package moisture sensitivity classification.
**What Is Floor life?**
- **Definition**: Clock starts when dry pack is opened and exposure to ambient begins.
- **Condition Basis**: Specified at standard temperature and relative humidity conditions.
- **Reset Logic**: Expired floor life generally requires bake before parts can be reflowed.
- **Tracking Need**: Accurate timer control is necessary across split lots and multiple workstations.
**Why Floor life Matters**
- **Failure Prevention**: Exceeding floor life increases popcorning and delamination risk.
- **Line Discipline**: Defines safe handling windows for planning kitting and assembly sequencing.
- **Quality Audit**: Floor-life records are key evidence in reliability and compliance reviews.
- **Inventory Control**: Supports prioritization of exposed lots to minimize bake and scrap.
- **Risk Exposure**: Manual tracking errors can cause hidden moisture-related escapes.
**How It Is Used in Practice**
- **Digital Timers**: Use MES-linked exposure tracking with lot-level visibility.
- **Visual Controls**: Label open times and expiry deadlines directly on work-in-progress containers.
- **Containment**: Quarantine expired lots automatically pending bake or disposition.
Floor life is **a critical time-based control for moisture-sensitive package reliability** - floor life management must be automated and auditable to prevent moisture-driven assembly failures.