ASTM E171/E171M-11(2015)

Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging

ABSTRACT
This specification defines the standard temperature and humidity for conditioning and testing of materials at nominally ambient conditions. Materials for conditioning and testing include material containing paper and plastic material. The instruments and techniques used to measure these standard conditions of temperature and humidity must be validated.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Conditioning is used to minimize the variation in test results that may result from fluctuations in temperature and humidity, or both. Many flexible packaging materials or components of flexible packaging materials, particularly materials that are hygroscopic, undergo changes in physical properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to which they are exposed are varied.  
4.2 Many packaging materials do not exhibit a meaningful change in physical properties across the temperature and humidity range that is generally found in office and general laboratory settings. As a result, conditioning of samples is often not required in order to achieve useful test results and is often bypassed during routine testing.  
4.3 Conditioning should be considered when (a) comparing between or among laboratory results (for example, supplier and customer), (b) temperature or humidity is anticipated to have an effect on the test outcomes, or (c) potential sources of variation in test results must be minimized.  
4.4 Temperature and humidity alone are not sufficient to completely define a storage condition. Many other factors may be relevant (such as time, light, and atmospheric pressure) that are not defined in this specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification defines the standard temperature and humidity for conditioning and testing of flexible barrier packaging and flexible barrier packaging materials at nominally ambient conditions.  
1.2 There are many other temperature and humidity conditions that may be appropriately used to test end use conditions (such as freezer, refrigerated, or abusive storage). These need to be individually established and are not in the scope of this practice.  
1.3 Only those materials that fall under the general area of flexible barrier packaging materials are included in this practice.  
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2015
• ICS: 19.040 - Environmental testing
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.50 - Package Design and Development

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E171/E171M-11 - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM E171/E171M-11(2020) - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F2101-23 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of Medical Face Mask Materials, Using a Biological Aerosol of <emph type="ital" >Staphylococcus aureus</emph>
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D8260-20 - Standard Specification for Hot-Applied Asphalt Aggregate-Filled Mastic
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4272/D4272M-23 - Standard Test Method for Total Energy Impact of Plastic Films by Dart Drop
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2251-13(2023) - Standard Test Method for Thickness Measurement of Flexible Packaging Material
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2217/F2217M-13(2018) - Standard Practice for Coating/Adhesive Weight Determination
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2588-12(2020) - Standard Test Method for Man-In-Simulant Test (MIST) for Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D5167-13(2018) - Standard Practice for Melting of Hot-Applied Joint and Crack Sealant and Filler for Evaluation
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2302-22 - Standard Performance Specification for Labeling Protective Clothing Which Provides Resistance to Incidental Exposures to Heat or Open Flame
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D2063/D2063M-10(2018) - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Torque Retention for Packages with Continuous Thread Closures Using Non-Automated (Manual) Torque Testing Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4565-20 - Standard Test Methods for Physical and Environmental Performance Properties of <brk/>Insulations and Jackets for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2203-13(2022) - Standard Test Method for Linear Measurement Using Precision Steel Rule
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D1985-13(2019) - Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Blocks for Testing Sealants, for Joints and Cracks
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2638-22 - Standard Test Method for Using Aerosol Filtration for Measuring the Performance of Porous Packaging Materials as a Surrogate Microbial Barrier
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E171/E171M − 11 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Practice for
Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E171/E171M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2 Terms and definitions used in this practice may be found
in Terminology F17.
1.1 This specification defines the standard temperature and
humidity for conditioning and testing of flexible barrier pack-
4. Significance and Use
aging and flexible barrier packaging materials at nominally
ambient conditions.
4.1 Conditioning is used to minimize the variation in test
1.2 There are many other temperature and humidity condi- results that may result from fluctuations in temperature and
humidity, or both. Many flexible packaging materials or
tions that may be appropriately used to test end use conditions
(such as freezer, refrigerated, or abusive storage). These need components of flexible packaging materials, particularly ma-
to be individually established and are not in the scope of this terials that are hygroscopic, undergo changes in physical
practice. properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to
which they are exposed are varied.
1.3 Only those materials that fall under the general area of
flexible barrier packaging materials are included in this prac-
4.2 Many packaging materials do not exhibit a meaningful
tice.
change in physical properties across the temperature and
humidity range that is generally found in office and general
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
laboratorysettings.Asaresult,conditioningofsamplesisoften
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
not required in order to achieve useful test results and is often
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
bypassed during routine testing.
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
4.3 Conditioning should be considered when (a) comparing
with the standard.
between or among laboratory results (for example, supplier and
customer), (b) temperature or humidity is anticipated to have
2. Referenced Documents
an effect on the test outcomes, or (c) potential sources of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
variation in test results must be minimized.
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
Packaging Components for Testing 4.4 Temperature and humidity alone are not sufficient to
F17 Terminology Relating to Flexible Barrier Packaging completely define a storage condition. Many other factors may
F2825 Practice for Climatic Stressing of Packaging Systems be relevant (such as time, light, and atmospheric pressure) that
for Single Parcel Delivery are not defined in this specification.
3. Terminology
5. Atmospheric Conditions
3.1 conditioning—the exposure of
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E171/E171M − 11 E171/E171M − 11 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Practice for
Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E171/E171M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification defines the standard temperature and humidity for conditioning and testing of flexible barrier packaging
and flexible barrier packaging materials at nominally ambient conditions.
1.2 There are many other temperature and humidity conditions that may be appropriately used to test end use conditions (such
as freezer, refrigerated, or abusive storage). These need to be individually established and are not in the scope of this practice.
1.3 Only those materials that fall under the general area of flexible barrier packaging materials are included in this practice.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
F17 Terminology Relating to Flexible Barrier Packaging
F2825 Practice for Climatic Stressing of Packaging Systems for Single Parcel Delivery
3. Terminology
3.1 conditioning—the exposure of a material to the influence of a prescribed atmosphere for a stipulated period of time or until
a stipulated relation is reached between material and atmosphere.
3.2 Terms and definitions used in this practice may be found in Terminology F17.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Conditioning is used to minimize the variation in test results that may result from fluctuations in temperature and humidity,
or both. Many flexible packaging materials or components of flexible packaging materials, particularly materials that are
hygroscopic, undergo changes in physical properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to which they are exposed
are varied.
4.2 Many packaging materials do not exhibit a meaningful change in physical properties across the temperature and humidity
range that is generally found in office and general laboratory settings. As a result, conditioning of samples is often not required
in order to achieve useful test results and is often bypassed during routine testing.
4.3 Conditioning should be considered when (a) comparing between or among laboratory results (for example, supplier and
customer), (b) temperature or humidity is anticipated to have an effect on the test outcomes, or (c) potential sources of variation
in test results mus
...