MSD Moisture Sensitive Device Floor Life Log (Excel)
Moisture sensitive devices such as BGAs, QFNs and fine pitch plastic packages can crack or delaminate during reflow if they have absorbed too much moisture. This log tracks how long each reel has been out of its dry bag so that nobody places a part past its floor life.
| Reel / tray ID | Part number | MSL | Bag opened | Floor life limit (h) | Hours exposed (h) | Hours remaining | Floor life used | Location | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
142 hrs | 15.5% | |||||||||
18 hrs | 89.3% | |||||||||
15 hrs | 37.5% | |||||||||
0 hrs | 100% | |||||||||
482 hrs | 28.3% |
Floor life limits by level under J-STD-033: MSL 2 is one year, 2a is 4 weeks (672 h), 3 is 168 h, 4 is 72 h, 5 is 48 h, 5a is 24 h, and 6 requires bake before use with a time on label. Always confirm the exact limit and conditions (usually at or below 30 C and 60 percent RH) on the moisture barrier bag label of each part, since the part datasheet governs.
Link floor life to ERP lot tracking
Optional: discuss tracking MSD exposure from ERP receipts and issues.
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How to use the log
Add one row per reel or tray the moment the moisture barrier bag is opened. Enter the MSL and the floor life limit from the bag label, then update the hours exposed whenever the reel moves between the line and dry storage. The sheet computes remaining hours and the percentage of floor life used. A reel that reaches 100 percent must be baked or scrapped before it is placed. Export to Excel to share the log with the next shift or attach it to an audit file.
- Start the clock at bag open, not at line loading.
- Count time on feeder and time on the open shelf.
- Dry cabinet storage may pause the clock only if your procedure and J-STD-033 allow it.
- Record bakes with temperature, duration and who released the parts.
The standard behind it
IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020 classifies the moisture sensitivity of a component from MSL 1 (unlimited floor life) to MSL 6 (mandatory bake before use). J-STD-033 describes how to handle, pack, ship and use moisture sensitive devices, including floor life tracking, dry cabinet storage and bake conditions. The practical rule on the line is simple: the datasheet and bag label set the limit, and the factory procedure sets how time is counted and when a part must be baked.
Reading the results
In the example, the FPGA reel R-48217 is at 150 of 168 hours, so it has 18 hours remaining and goes back to dry storage. The power management IC R-48244 is at 78 of 72 hours, so it is expired and flagged for bake. The percent column makes the risk visible at a glance and lets a supervisor sort for reels above 80 percent before a long changeover or weekend shutdown.
Common mistakes
Teams often forget partial exposure: a reel pulled for a short run and put back still used floor life. Others bake parts with the wrong temperature for the carrier; tape and reel generally cannot take high temperature bakes, so check the package and carrier limits. Finally, multiple bakes can degrade solderability and terminations, so record how many bake cycles each lot has had.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is floor life for MSL 3?
MSL 3 has a floor life of 168 hours at 30 C or below and 60 percent relative humidity once the moisture barrier bag is opened. Always confirm on the bag label, because the device manufacturer sets the rating.
Can a dry cabinet reset floor life?
Not by itself. J-STD-033 allows storage in a properly controlled dry cabinet to pause or partly recover the clock under defined conditions, but a bake is the usual way to reset. Follow your documented procedure and the standard.
Do all components need MSD tracking?
No. MSL 1 parts have unlimited floor life and do not need tracking. Most plastic encapsulated ICs, especially BGAs, QFNs and large QFPs, are rated MSL 2 to 4 and should be tracked.
What happens if a part exceeds floor life?
The part must be baked per J-STD-033 before reflow or scrapped, depending on your procedure and the carrier limits. Placing an expired part risks popcorning, delamination and latent failures that may not show up in test.
If your ERP or MES holds lot and reel data, we can feed this log from real transactions so floor life is tracked by scan instead of by hand.
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