ISTA 3A Test Procedure covers testing of individual packaged-products weighing 150 lbs or less when prepared for shipment via a parcel delivery carrier.
Testing Standard:
ISTA 3A Small Parcel Packaged Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lb (70 kg) or Less (Standard, Small, Flat, and Elongated Packages); ie. ISTA 3A Small Parcel
Standard Number
ISTA 3A
Standard Title
Packaged-Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lb (70 kg) or Less
Overview for ISTA 3A Small Parcel Procedure:
ISTA 3A Small Parcel Procedure is a general simulation test for individual packaged products shipped through a parcel delivery system. This procedure uses a general simulation of actual transport hazards by either ground or air with four types of packages that include standard, small, flat, and elongated. Purple Diamond Testing offers ISTA 3A Testing as part of our packaging distribution testing services.
Standard
First, standard packaged-products shall be defined as any packaged-product that does not meet any of the definitions below for a small, flat or elongated packaged-product. Examples of standard packaged-products come in fiberboard cartons and/or plastic, wooden, or cylindrical containers.
Flat
Second, flat packaged-products shall be defined as any packaged-product where the shortest dimension is 200 mm or less, the next longest dimension is 4 or more times larger than the shortest dimension, and the volume is 13,000 cm or greater.
Elongated
Third, elongated packaged-products shall be defined as any packaged-product where the longest dimension is 900 mm or greater and both of the packages’ other dimensions are each 20 percent or less of that of the longest dimension.
Keywords for ISTA 3A: – Packaging – Transportation – Testing – Hazards – Distribution
– Quality assurance – Shock – Vibration – Compression – Drop testing – Environmental conditions
Overview of Procedure
| Test Category | Test Type | Test Level | For ISTA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Preconditioning | Temperature and Humidity | Ambient | Required |
| Atmospheric Preconditioning | Controlled Temperature and Humidity | Chosen From Chart | Optional |
| Shock | Drop | 9 Drops - Height varies with packaged-product weight | Required |
| Vibration | Random With and Without Top Load | Overall Grms levels of 0.53 and 0.46 | Required |
| Vibration | Random Vibration Under Lower Pressure | Truck or Truck & Air Dependent | Optional |
| Shock | Drop | 8 Drops - Height varies with packaged-product weight, includes drop on hazard | Required |
| Shock | Rotational Edge Drop | 200 mm (8 in) | Required for Flat and Elongated |
| Shock | Full Rotational Flat Drop | Varies with packaged-product dimensions | Required for Flat and Elongated |
| Shock | Concentrated Impact | Hazard Box dropped 400 mm (16 in) | Required for Flat Only |
| Shock | Bridge Impact | Hazard Box dropped 400 mm (16 in) | Required for Elongated Only |
| Integrity | Leak Test | 8 Hours | Required for Liquids Only |
Rationale for ISTA 3A Small Parcel Procedure:
Furthermore, ISTA 3A Small Parcel Delivery can be used to evaluate the protective performance of a packaged product related to thermal conditions, shocks, vibrations, and other stressors normally met in a parcel delivery system. The procedure is used to create general simulation hazards in a laboratory environment that is 100% repeatable. ISTA 3A is also required by UPS to process claims if there is damage in the field. Walmart (store) requires a modified ISTA 3A passing report for multipacks of glass or ceramic bottles and jars. They also recommend a passing the ISTA 3A report for all other items.
Key Points:
- ISTA 3A evaluates the performance of four common types of packages that include standard, small, flat, and elongated packages
- ISTA 3A provides a guide to evaluate packaging systems in the laboratory environment
- ISTA 3A challenges the package and products capability to withstand general transport hazards
- Consider ISTA 3B if shipping in a Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) environment
Related Standards:
- ASTM D4332 – Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
- ASTM D4728 – Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of Shipping Containers
- ASTM D5265 – Test Method for Bridge Impact Testing
- ASTM D5276 – Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
- ASTM D6179 – Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
- ASTM D6653 – Test Methods for Determining the Effects of High Altitude on Packaging Systems by Vacuum Method
In summary, at Purple Diamond, we offer a free consultation or a guided tour of our facilities. Consultations can be done over the phone or on zoom, so choose what suits you best. To get in touch, go to our Contact Us page and fill out the form or book an appointment using the calendar below. Our goal is to assist you in any way possible, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you so much for reading down this far and thank you for considering Purple Diamond as your dedicated testing, engineering, and design facility for all of your packaging needs.
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Related Testing Standards
- ASTM D642
- ASTM D685
- ASTM D880
- ASTM D951
- ASTM D999
- ASTM D3078
- ASTM D3103
- ASTM D3285
- ASTM D4169
- ASTM D4332
- ASTM D4728
- ASTM D5265
- ASTM D5276
- ASTM D5277
- ASTM D5487
- ASTM D6055
- ASTM D6179
- ASTM D6344
- ASTM D6653
- ASTM D7386
- ASTM F88
- ASTM F1140
- ASTM F1886
- ASTM F1929
- ASTM F1980
- ASTM F2096
- ASTM F2250
- ASTM F3039
- ASTM D1596
Accreditations
Affiliations
The APASS program was designed by Amazon to help support vendors, sellers, and manufacturers in obtaining certification of their products as Frustration Free Packaging (FFP), Ships in Own Container (SIOC), or Prep-Free Packaging (PFP).
