ISTA Procedure 1D Individual Packaged Products 150 lb or More

ISTA 1D – Extended Testing for Packaged-Products Over 150 lb. (68 kg). Can be used to compare relative performance of package and product design variations using compressive force, vibration (random or fixed displacement), and shock tests (drop or incline impact). The procedure is used to create harsh worst-case hazards in a laboratory environment while comparing multiple design variation packaging systems. 

ISTA 1D extended integrity testing is a test procedure developed to evaluate the packaging and shipping performance of individual packaged products that weigh over 150 lbs. The purpose of this testing is to ensure that the packaging is strong enough to provide adequate protection to the product during transportation and handling.

The ISTA 1D extended integrity testing procedure involves subjecting the packaged product to a series of tests, including:

1. Shock Test: The packaged product is subjected to a series of shocks, which simulate the impact of drops and impacts during transportation and handling.

2. Vibration Test: The packaged product is subjected to a series of vibrations, which simulate the vibration and jostling typically experienced during transportation by road, rail, air, or sea.

3. Compression Test: The packaged product is subjected to a series of compression forces, which simulate the pressure and weight the package may experience during transportation and storage.

4. Environmental Conditioning: The packaged product is subjected to a range of environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and altitude, to evaluate the impact of these factors on the packaging and the product.

5. Functional Test: The packaged product is subjected to tests to evaluate the functionality of the product after transportation, such as the ability to operate as intended, and the effectiveness of any included protection mechanisms.

By conducting the ISTA 1D extended integrity testing, manufacturers can identify potential weaknesses in their packaging design or identify areas where improvements may be needed. This testing can also help to reduce damage and costly returns by ensuring that products arrive at their destination in optimal condition. 

Specific suggestions for the procedure 1D are that for unitized loads of the same product, use ISTA Procedure 1E or ISTA General Simulation Performance Test Procedure 3E. And for a single packaged product that is unitized consider using ISTA Procedure 1E as well. For reference, a unitized load can be defined by ISTA as one or more products usually found on a skid or pallet. However, the unitized load is always secured together or restrained during distribution as a single load. 

Just like the rest of the ISTA Series Procedures, the test categories are the same. This includes atmospheric preconditioning, compression conditioning, vibration, and shock. The type of compression tests used are the apply and release test and the apply and hold test. The equipment used for these tests involves the compression test system as well as the weight and load spreader. These tests follow the apparatus section of ASTM D642, and the fixed floating platen is acceptable, according to the ISTA booklet. 

Just as with the other ISTA Series Procedures, it is important for the packaging engineers to know the weight and dimensions of the packaged product. The Preconditioning is a requirement. The means that the packaged product shall be preconditioned to laboratory ambient temperature and humidity for no less than twelve hours prior to testing. 

After testing is completed, a report will be built from the specific data measured before, during, and after testing. ISTA Test Report Forms may be downloaded by members through the online ISTA Member Center. The packaged product is seen to have passed if, upon examination, the packaged product meets the product damage tolerance and package degradation allowance determined before the testing began. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to anyone on the Purple Diamond team!