Testing Standards
There are several packaging testing standards used in the industry, including:
1. ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) Standards: These standards cover a wide range of testing procedures for packaging, including drop testing, vibration testing, compression testing, and atmospheric conditioning testing.
2. ASTM International Standards: ASTM has developed several testing standards for packaging materials and products, including physical and mechanical testing, environmental testing, and packaging performance testing.
3. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Standards: ISO has developed several standards related to packaging management and testing, including standards for the labeling of packaging materials, barcoding, and packaging design and usability.
4. TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) Standards: TAPPI has developed several testing standards related to paper and packaging materials, including burst testing, tear testing, and compression testing.
It is important that we all comply with these standards to ensure the safe and efficient transportation and handling of their products. Purple Diamond is proud to be certified.
Purple Diamond Testing Standards
Purple Diamond offers a wide range of testing standards, capabilities, and services. Our engineers want to make sure your testing is conducted in a safe and efficient manner and done right the first time. Purple Diamond is committed to providing education, tools, and excellent customer service to all our clientele.
Testing Standards
ISTA
• Procedure ISTA 1A: Packaged-Products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or Less ISTA Testing
• Procedure ISTA 1B: Packaged-Products weighing Over 150 lb (68 kg)
• Procedure ISTA 1C: Extended Testing for Individual Packaged-Products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or Less
• Procedure ISTA 1D: Extended Testing for Individual Packaged-Products weighing Over 150 lb (68 kg)
• Procedure ISTA 1E: Unitized Loads
• Procedure ISTA 1G: Packaged-Products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or Less (Random Vibration)
• Procedure ISTA 1H: Packaged-Products weighing Over 150 lb (68 kg) (Random Vibration)
• Procedure ISTA 2A: Packaged-Products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or Less
• Procedure ISTA 2B: Packaged-Products weighing over 150 lb (68 kg)
• Procedure ISTA 2C: Furniture Packages
• Procedure ISTA 3A: Packaged-Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipments 70kg (150 lb) or Less
(standard, small, flat or elongated)
• Procedure ISTA 3B: Packaged-Products for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Shipment
• Procedure ISTA 3E: Unitized Loads of Same Product
• Procedure ISTA 3F: Packaged Products for Distribution Center to Retail Outlet Shipment 100 lb (45 kg)
• 6-FEDEX-A: FedEx Procedures for Testing Packaged Products Weighing Up to 150 lbs
• 6-FEDEX-B: FedEx Procedures for Testing Packaged Products Weighing Over 150 lbs
• 6-SAMSCLUB: Packaged-Products for Sam’s Club® Distribution System Shipment
• Procedure ISTA 7D: Thermal Controlled Transport Packaging for Parcel Delivery System Shipment
6-Amazon.com-SIOC and 6-Amazon.com-Overbox See next Section for Details
AMAZON APASS TEST LIST
Project 6-AMAZON.COM-SIOC, Ships in Own Container (SIOC) for Amazon.com Distribution System Shipment
• Type A- Parcel Delivery of Packaged-Products, Standard Handling Method, Less than 50lb (23 kg)
and Girth equal or less than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type B- Parcel Delivery of Packaged-Products, Standard Handling Method, 50lb (23 kg) to less than
100lb (45 kg) and Girth equal to or less than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type C- Parcel Delivery of Packaged-Products, Standard Handling Method, 100lb (45 kg) or Greater
and Girth equal to or less than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type D- Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Delivery of Individual Packaged-Products, Standard Handling
Method, Less than 100lb (45 kg) or Girth greater than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type E- Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Delivery of Individual Packaged-Products, Standard Handling
Method, 100lb (45 kg) Greater or Girth greater than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type F- Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Delivery of Individual Packaged-Products, Pallet Handling
• Type G- TV/Monitor, Parcel Delivery of Individual Packaged Products Shipping Method, Less than 150lb (68 kg) and Girth equal to or
less than 165” (4.19 m)
• Type H- TV/Monitor, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Delivery of Individual Packaged-Products, Standard
Handling Method, 150lb (68 kg) or Greater or Girth greater than 165” (4.19 m)
*E-Commerce fulfillment of a packaged product configuration where the retail packaged product is not intended to ship in its own container*
• Single or multiple retail packaged products in an over-box with dunnage
• Single of multiple item orders
ASTM
• ASTM D642: Standard Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance of Shipping Containers,
Components, and Unit Loads
• ASTM D4332: Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components
for Testing
• ASTM D4169: Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
• ASTM D7386: Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Packages for Single Parcel Delivery
Systems
• ASTM D999: Standard Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
• ASTM D3580: Standard Test Methods for Vibration (Vertical Linear Motion) Test of Products
• ASTM D4728: Standard Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
• ASTM D880: Standard Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Containers and Systems
• ASTM D1596: Standard Test Method for Dynamic Shock Cushioning Characteristics of Packaging
Materials
• ASTM D3332: Standard Test Methods for Mechanical-Shock Fragility of Products, Using Shock
Machines
• ASTM D5265: Standard Test Method for Bridge Impact Testing
• ASTM D5276: Standard Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
• ASTM D5277: Standard Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizontal Impacts Using an
Inclined Impact Tester
• ASTM D5487: Standard Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Containers by Shock Machines
• ASTM D6344: Standard Test Method for Concentrated Impacts to Transport Packages
• ASTM D6537: Standard Practice for Instrumented Package Shock Testing For Determination of
Package Performance
• ASTM D3078: Standard Test Method for Determination of Leaks in Flexible Packaging by Bubble
Emission
• ASTM D4991: Standard Test Method for Leakage Testing of Empty Rigid Containers by Vacuum
Method
• ASTM D6653: Standard Test Methods for Determining the Effects of High Altitude on Packaging
Systems by Vacuum Method
• ASTM G-154: Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for UV Exposure of Nonmetallic
Materials by QUV exposure
MIL • 810 G, UN DOT CFR 49
NON-BULK Packaging
Drums
Metal
Plastic
Plywood
Fiber
Jerricans
Metal
Plastic
Boxes
Wood (all types)
Plastic
Metal
Fiberboard
Bags
Plastic (All types)
Textile
Paper
Composite Packagings
All Types
Infectious Substances
BULK Packaging
IBC’s
Metal
Plastic
Composite
Fiberboard
Wooden
Flexible
ISO
• 8611-1 Pallets for materials handling
• 16104: Packaging — Transport packaging for dangerous goods — Test methods
• 3394: Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Dimensions of rigid
rectangular packages
• 3676: Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Unit load dimensions
• 16101: Packaging — Transport packaging for dangerous goods — Plastics compatibility testing
• 16103: Transport packaging for dangerous goods — Recycled plastics material
• 16883: Transport packages for dangerous goods — Test methods for large packagings
• 11607: Packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices — Part 1: Requirements for materials,
sterile barrier systems and packaging systems
STABILITY STORAGE
Purple Diamond testing standards include perform Accelerated Aging, ICH Stability Storage and Expose products in chambers to your specified temperature.
Temperature Humidity Minimum Durations:
25ºC ± 2ºC 60% RH ±
5% RH 12 Months
30ºC ± 2ºC 35% RH ±
5% RH 12 Months
30ºC ± 2ºC 65% RH ±
5% RH 12 Months
40ºC ± 2ºC 75% RH ±
5% RH 12 Months
5ºC ± 3ºC Uncontrolled 12 Months
-20ºC ± 5ºC Uncontrolled 12 Months
TAPPI
• T 403 om-10: Bursting strength of paper T 409 sp-09 Machine direction of paper and paperboard
• T 410 om-08: Grammage of paper and paperboard (weight per unit area)
• T 411 om-10: Thickness (caliper) of paper, paperboard, and combined board
• T 414 om-12: Internal tearing resistance of paper (Elmendorf-type method)
• T 494 om-06: Tensile breaking properties of paper and paperboard (using constant rate of elongation
apparatus)
• T 573 sp-09: Accelerated temperature aging of printing and writing paper by dry oven exposure
apparatus
• T 576 pm-07: Tensile properties of towel and tissue products (using constant rate of elongation
apparatus)
• T 580 pm-12: Thickness (caliper) of towel, tissue, napkin and
facial products
• T 829 om-08: Score bend test
PHONE: 610.264.5080 | WWW.PURPLE-DIAMOND.COM | 183 Mikron Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020
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