Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides a uniform basis of evaluating, in a laboratory, the ability of shipping units to withstand the distribution environment. This is accomplished by subjecting them to a test plan consisting of a sequence of anticipated hazard elements encountered in various distribution cycles. This practice is not intended to supplant material specifications or existing preshipment test procedures.
1.2 The suitability of this practice for use with hazardous materials has not been determined.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in 1.1.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Mar-2004
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Buy Standard

Standard
ASTM D4169-04 - Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
English language
12 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: D 4169 – 04
Standard Practice for
1
Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4169; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
Packaging Components for Testing
1.1 This practice provides a uniform basis of evaluating, in
D 4728 Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of
a laboratory, the ability of shipping units to withstand the
Shipping Containers
distribution environment. This is accomplished by subjecting
D 5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by
them to a test plan consisting of a sequence of anticipated
Free Fall
hazard elements encountered in various distribution cycles.
D 5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizon-
This practice is not intended to supplant material specifications
tal Impacts Using an Inclined Tester
or existing preshipment test procedures.
D 5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Con-
1.2 The suitability of this practice for use with hazardous
tainers by Shock Machines
materials has not been determined.
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D 6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3
2.2 Military Standards:
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
MIL-STD-2073-1 DOD Standard Practice for Military
tionary statements are given in 1.1.
Packaging
2. Referenced Documents
3. Terminology
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1 Definitions— General definitions for the packaging and
D 642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resis-
distribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.
tance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Loads
3.2.1 acceptance criteria—the acceptable quality level that
D 880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Con-
must be met after the shipping unit has been subjected to the
tainers and Systems
test plan. See Section 7.
D 951 Test Method for Water Resistance of Shipping Con-
3.2.2 assurance level—the level of test intensity based on
tainers by Spray Method
its probability of occurring in a typical distribution cycle.
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Level I is a high level of test intensity
ments
and has a low probability of occurrence. Level III is a low level
D 999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping
of test intensity, but has a correspondingly high probability of
Containers
occurrence. Level II is between these extremes. For Distribu-
D 4003 Methods of Programmable Horizontal Impact Test
tion Cycle 18, DC-18 see MIL–STD–2073–1 for definitions of
for Shipping Containers
military levels of protection.
3.2.3 coeffıcient of restitution—the ratio of the rebound
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
velocity to the impact velocity.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Containers and
3.2.4 distribution cycle (DC)—the sequential listing of the
Systems-Application of Performance Test Methods.
test schedules employed to simulate the hazard elements
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published May 2004. Originally
e1
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D 4169-01 .
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
the ASTM website. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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.
D4169–04
expected to occur for a specific routing of a shipping unit from 4.2 For Distribution Cycle 18, as referred to in MIL-
production to consumption. See Table
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.