Testing Standard:
ISTA 3A Packaged-Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lb (70 kg) or Less (Standard, Small, Flat, and Elongated Packages)
Standard Number
ISTA 3A
Standard Title
Packaged-Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lb (70 kg) or Less
Overview:
ISTA 3A is a general simulation test for individual packaged-products shipped through a parcel delivery system. This procedure utilizes 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.
Rationale:
ISTA 3A – Packaged-Products for Parcel Delivery System Shipment 150 lb (70 kg) or Less. Can be used to evaluate the protective performance of a packaged-product related to thermal conditions, shocks, vibrations, and other stressors normally encountered 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 are damages 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 ISTA 3A report for all other items.
Key Points:
- Evaluates the performance of four common types of packages that include standard, small, flat, and elongated packages
- Provides a guide to evaluate packaging systems in the laboratory environment
- 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
Related Testing Standards
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Accreditations
Achieving ISO 17025 Accreditation is the pinnacle in third-party laboratory testing accreditation. It confirms that the facility has management, quality, and technical systems in place to ensure accurate and reliable analyses.
ISTA is revered as the certification standard for package testing for distribution. ISTA’s Testing Protocol remains a series of testing methodologies and standards well recognized within the packaging community.
A select few companies are authorized by PHMSA as an approved third-party packaging testing laboratory in accordance with Hazardous Materials Regulations, critical to ensuring safe transport of dangerous goods.
Affiliations
With over 12,000 standards globally, ASTM International’s fully transparent standards development enhances performance and confidence in consumer choices.
The Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry’s peer-reviewed standards improve production through operational methods and industry recognized best practices.
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 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).
