ASTM D6179-97
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
Standard Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover testing the integrity of unitized loads and large shipping cases and crates as well as the ability of the contents to endure rough handling. Not all of the test methods are applicable to all products, containers, and loads. These test methods are applicable to common means of material handling.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: D 6179 – 97
Standard Test Methods for
Rough Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping
Cases and Crates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6179; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.2.2 Practice D 4169 provides a series of options for
selecting and running performance tests on all types of
1.1 These test methods cover testing the integrity of unitized
shipping containers and systems.
loads and large shipping cases and crates as well as the ability
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
of the contents to endure rough handling. Not all of the test
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
methods are applicable to all products, containers, and loads.
information only.
These test methods are applicable to common means of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
material handling as follows:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1.1 Test Method A, B, C, D, and E—Drop Test—For
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
measuring the ability of the case or crate or unitized load to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
withstand rough handling impacts and provide information
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
useful in improving the design of the container. Normally, Test
Methods A and B are not applied to unitized loads.
2. Referenced Documents
1.1.2 Test Method F—Tip Test—For determining the ability
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of filled tall or top heavy cases or crates to resist tipping over.
D 880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Con-
1.1.3 Method G—Tipover Test—For determining the ability
tainers and Systems
of filled large shipping cases or crates to resist the impacts
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
associated with tipover hazards, and for determining the ability
ments
of the packaging and packing methods to provide protection to
D 1185 Test Methods for Pallets and Related Structures
the contents, when the case or crate is tipped over.
Employed in Materials Handling and Shipping
NOTE 1—Test Method G fulfills the requirements of ISO 8768. ISO
D 4003 Test Methods of Controlled Horizontal Impact Test
8768 may not meet the requirements for Test Method G. 2
for Shipping Containers
1.1.4 Test Method H—Rolling Test—For determining the
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
ability of complete, filled large shipping cases or crates to
tainers and Systems
withstand the effects of rolling.
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
Packaging Components for Testing
NOTE 2—Test Method H fulfills the requirements of ISO 2876. ISO
D 5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by
2876 may not meet the requirements for Test Method H.
Free Fall
1.2 Additional Test Procedures:
D 5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizon-
1.2.1 Test methods for mechanical handling of unitized
tal Impacts Using an Inclined Impact Tester
loads and large shipping cases and crates are set forth in Test
D 5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Con-
Method D 6055. Additional tests that apply to mechanical
tainers by Shock Machines
handling of unitized loads and large cases and crates include
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
incline impact tests, described in Test Method D 880 and
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
horizontal impact tests, described in Test Methods D 4003 and
2.2 ISO Standards:
Test Method D 5277. Test Methods D 4003 includes a special
ISO 2876 Packaging—Complete, Filled Transport
pallet marshaling test and Test Methods D 1185 provides test
Packages—Rolling Test
methods for pallets and related structures.
ISO 8768 Packaging—Complete, Filled Transport
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on
Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
Containers and Systems–Application of Performance Test Methods . Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1997. Published March 1998. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D6179–97
Packages—Toppling Test 5.1.1.4 Use a tractor with block and tackle (blocks are
pulled from under test item) or,
3. Terminology 5.1.1.5 Use a commercial drop tester for test items that are
within the weight limitations of the machine.
3.1 Definitions:
5.1.2 Perform the test upon a flat, horizontally level, con-
3.1.1 General terms in these test methods are defined in
crete slab, pavement, or similarly unyielding surface, massive
Terminology D 996.
enough to be immovable and rigid enough to be non-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
deformable under test conditions, with a mass at least 50 times
3.2.1 flat—for purposes of drop tests, tip tests, tipover tests,
that of the test item and large enough to ensure that the test
and rolling tests, no two points on the surface differ in level by
package falls entirely upon the surface.
more than 0.080 in. (2 mm); however, where one of the
5.2 Tip Test and Tipover Test Apparatus—In performing the
dimensions of the test package in contact with the surface is
tip or tipover test, the test item may be handled with any
greater than 40 in. (1000 mm), a maximum difference in
convenient equipment, such as a forklift truck, a host, a block
surface level of 0.20 in. (5 mm) will be acceptable.
and tackle, by hand, or any means capable of applying a
3.2.2 large shipping case or crate—a case or crate of such
horizontal load to the vertical faces of the test item at a
size and weight to require mechanical handling. A case or crate
particular height above the center of gravity and of sufficient
of this type may weigh from 100 lb (45 kg) up to many tons
force to cause tipping without causing the test item to slide on
and measure proportionately. The case or crate may be secured
the horizontal surface. Perform the test upon a flat, horizontally
to or carried by a base or pallet. Frame members may be
level, concrete slab, pavement, or similarly unyielding surface,
provided for rigidity throughout the container.
massive enough to be immovable and rigid enough to be
3.2.3 rigid—for purposes of drop tests, tip tests, and tipover
non-deformable under test conditions, with a mass at least 50
tests, a surface that will not be deformed by more than 0.0040
2 2
times that of the test item and large enough to ensure that the
in. (0.1 mm) when any area of 0.16 in. (100 mm ) is loaded
test item falls entirely upon the surface.
statically with 22 lb (10 kg) anywhere on the surface.
5.3 Rolling Test Apparatus—In performing the rolling test,
3.2.4 rolling—rotating a test package about its axis so as to
the test item may be handled with any convenient equipment,
impact on each face in turn.
such as a forklift truck, a hoist, a block and tackle, or by hand.
3.2.5 unitized load—a type of unit load consisting of
Perform the test upon a flat, horizontally level, concrete slab,
articles or containers secured together so as to be handled as an
pavement, or similarly unyielding surface, massive enough to
entity.
be immovable and rigid enough to be non-deformable under
test conditions, with a mass at least 50 times that of the test
4. Significance and Use
item and large enough to ensure that the test item falls entirely
4.1 These test methods will allow the user to determine
upon the surface.
integrity and stability of the load as well as provide guidance
to improve the design of the shipping container or the unit load
6. Test Specimen and Number of Tests
where deficiencies are found.
6.1 Test several cases, crates, or unitized loads of a given
4.2 Damage to products or packages observed during testing
design, if possible, to obtain replication of results. If it is not
can be expected to correlate at least in a qualitative way to
possible to test an entire unitized load, then sufficient articles or
damage observed in actual distribution handling systems.
containers should be assembled such that the height and one
4.3 The results received from shock machine testing and
base dimension are nearly the same as the proposed unitized
free fall drop testing are different for certain products. Where
load. The same test item may often be used for all applicable
this test is performed to satisfy a regulatory or contractual
tests if not tested to failure. Load the test item with the actual
requirement, its use is subject to approval by the agency
contents for which it was designed. If use of actual contents is
concerned.
not practical, a dummy load of the same total mass, size, and
weight distribution may be substituted. The contents or dummy
5. Apparatus
load shall be blocked, braced, and cushioned in place and the
5.1 Drop Test Apparatus—In performing the drop test, the
package closed normally as for shipment.
case, crate, or unitized load may be handled with any conve-
6.2 Identify faces, edges, and corners of containers as
nient equipment, such as a block and tackle, a hoist, or jacks
shown in Fig. A1.1 of Test Method D 5276.
with provision made for releasing the test item either by pulling
7. Conditioning
supporting blocks from under it when tackle and jacks are used
or by a release hook when a hoist is used.
7.1 It is recommended that atmospheres for conditioning be
5.1.1 Other apparatus may be used for dropping a case,
selected from those shown in Practice D 4332. Unless other-
crate, or unitized load as follows:
wise specified, fiberboard and other paperboard containers
5.1.1.1 Lift with heavy steel strapping or wire (to release,
shall be preconditioned and conditioned in accordance with the
the strapping or wire is cut), or
standard atmosphere specified in Practice D 4332.
5.1.1.2 Lift with a forklift truck (while restraining the test
8. Acceptance Criteria
item, the forklift truck is removed from under it), or
5.1.1.3 Lift with a clamp truck. (Apply sufficient force to lift 8.1 Reference Practice D 4169 for acceptance criteria and
test item to prescribed height, then release test item), or the correlation to relative performance criteria.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D6179–97
9. Drop Tests 9.4.1 Test Method E—Shock Machine Method—The free
fall drop test may, in some instances, be performed using a
9.1 Test Method A—Rotational Edge Drop Test—Raise one
programmable shock machine of appropriate dimensions using
end of the case or crate and set it upon a timber or other
the apparatus and procedures described in Test Method
support, placed at right angles to the length of the case or crate.
D 5487. See 4.3 for an equivalency statement for the shock
The height of the support shall be sufficient to ensure that there
machine method and free fall method of drop testing. See
will be no support for the base between the ends of the test item
Annex A1 for alternative drop test procedures.
when dropping takes place, but should not be high enough to
9.5 Measurements During Drop Tests (Optional)—Measure
cause the test item to slide on the support when the drop end is
dimensions of the test item, typically diagonals, and record
raised for the drop. Raise the other end of the test item
before the test is started and after each drop. The differences in
successively to prescribed heights and release to fall freely on
successive measurements permit a study of the distortions and
the impact surface. Where test items are tall or top heavy,
deflections that have taken place. In addition to these measures,
provision must be made to prevent the test item from tipping
a record should be made of any changes or breakage in the test
over after the drop is made. The drop test impact surface is
item and their location. A recommended sample form for
specified fully in the Apparatus section. If the stability of the
recording the measurements and notations made during the
load is in question, the Tip Test (Test Method F) or the Tipover
drop tests is shown in Fig. 1.
Test (Test Method G), or both, should be performed. See Annex
A1 for alternative drop test procedures.
10. Tip Test
9.2 Test Method B—Rotational Corner Drop Test—Start up
10.1 Test Method F—Tip Test—Use a case or crate fully
by setting up the case or crate as defined for the Test Method
loaded with the actual contents. If use of actual contents is not
A rotational edge drop test. Placea4to10in. (100 to 254 mm)
practical, a dummy load of the same total mass, size, and
block flat under one corner of the end already supported in
weight distribution may be substituted. The contents or dummy
order to raise one corner higher than the other so that impacts
load shall be blocked, braced, and cushioned in place and the
on the diagonally opposite corner can be obtained. Raise the
package closed normally as for shipment.
unsupported end of the test item so that the lower corner of that
10.2 Tip the test item to a predetermined angle from vertical
end reaches a specified height from the impact surface and
in the most critical direction and release it. Unless otherwise
allow to fall freely. Where test items are tall or top heavy,
specified, it is recommended that an angle of 22° be used.
provision must be made to prevent the test item from tipping
10.3 The test item should right itself and not tip over in
over after the drop is made. If the stability of the load is in
either the tipped direction or the opposite direction.
question, the Tip Test (Test Method F) or the Tipover Test (Test
10.4 The test should be repeated in all potentially unstable
Method G), or both, should be performed. See Annex A1 for
directions.
alternative drop test procedures.
10.5 If the test item tips over in any direction, the center of
9.3 Test Method C—Rotational Flat Drop Test—With one
gravity must be lowered or the dimensions of the base must be
edge of the case, crate or unitized load supported by the floor,
increased until the test can be run, or the case or crate and
raise the other end to prescribed h
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