ASTM D5639/D5639M-20
(Practice)Standard Practice for Selection of Corrugated Fiberboard Materials and Box Construction Based on Performance Requirements
Standard Practice for Selection of Corrugated Fiberboard Materials and Box Construction Based on Performance Requirements
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice assists users in selecting appropriate performance characteristics of corrugated fiberboard or box construction, or both, commensurate with their user’s needs for packing and distribution of goods. This practice describes several attributes of fiberboard and boxes which relate to various hazards encountered in distribution and describes test parameters which may be specified by the user to ensure sufficient strength in the box for containment, storage, handling, transport and protection of contents.
4.2 The user should specify only those attributes and related tests which are required for performance to the users satisfaction including their operations and distribution cycle(s). When using the carriers’packaging rules as the major basis for developing specifications, the reason for the rule and its function and importance should be understood. As previously stated, rules and regulations may be exceeded and should be when the minimum specifications are inadequate for the full effects of the distribution cycle, etc.. If the user decides to employ box compression strength or a rough handling performance protocol as the overriding specification, it should be noted that all minimum standards required by various organizations shall also be met or surpassed if using the related certificate. These minimum standards can be stated in the box drawing so as to ensure adherence to rules and regulations. If a Box Manufacturer’s Certificate (BMC) is printed on the box, then the ECT or Mullen Burst/Basis Weight values shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements for size and weight of the packaged product.
4.3 See Appendix X7 for several examples of specification determinations.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides information on corrugated fiberboard for the prospective user who wants guidance in selecting attributes of materials and box construction based on performance requirements. These attributes should be part of specifications which establish levels of the qualities a shipping container shall have achieved in order to be acceptable to the purchaser or user. The attributes and qualities should be testable, using standard methods that are recognized by both the buyer and seller. This practice will assist users in developing specifications for corrugated containers through an analysis of performance requirements and subsequent relationships to fiberboard materials and box construction attributes. This practice is meant to complement the box buyer–box manufacturer relationship by having the buyer (user) better understand, discuss, and negotiate needed elements of box design and specification. The full box design process is complex, and it is beyond the scope of this standard.
1.2 The attributes and their levels should be based on the intended use of the box, including the handling and environment it will encounter. Many packaging rules include detailed descriptions of the materials that may be used and style, closure, or other construction details of allowed shipping containers. These rules are presented as minimum requirements; they may be exceeded for functional reasons, but there is no regulatory reason to do so. Rail and motor freight classifications applicable for surface common carrier transportation have established minimum requirements for certain attributes of corrugated packaging. These may or may not be appropriate for application in the complete distribution system, as they encompass only containerboard or combined corrugated board — not finished boxes — and are not intended to provide for the distribution and storage system beyond the transportation segment.
1.2.1 The attribute levels contained herein are based on U.S. practice and specifications. Some attributes such as flute dimensions and basis weights may be defined differently in other countries.
1.3 There are four common methods used for specifying boxes.
1.3.1 A common approach is to examine boxes cur...
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5639/D5639M − 20
Standard Practice for
Selection of Corrugated Fiberboard Materials and Box
1
Construction Based on Performance Requirements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5639/D5639M; 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 1.2.1 TheattributelevelscontainedhereinarebasedonU.S.
practice and specifications. Some attributes such as flute
1.1 This practice provides information on corrugated fiber-
dimensions and basis weights may be defined differently in
boardfortheprospectiveuserwhowantsguidanceinselecting
other countries.
attributes of materials and box construction based on perfor-
mance requirements. These attributes should be part of speci-
1.3 There are four common methods used for specifying
fications which establish levels of the qualities a shipping
boxes.
container shall have achieved in order to be acceptable to the
1.3.1 Acommon approach is to examine boxes currently in
purchaser or user. The attributes and qualities should be
use for the specific application and to make a similar or
testable, using standard methods that are recognized by both
modified version of that box, given that it has a proven
the buyer and seller. This practice will assist users in develop-
performance record. This method, while quite efficient, and
ingspecificationsforcorrugatedcontainersthroughananalysis
fast, does not lead to box optimization based on characteriza-
of performance requirements and subsequent relationships to
tion by end use. This method can lead to overdesign.
fiberboard materials and box construction attributes. This
1.3.2 A second common approach is to estimate the com-
practice is meant to complement the box buyer–box manufac-
pression strength necessary for a box at the bottom of a stack
turer relationship by having the buyer (user) better understand,
ofboxestototallysupporttheanticipatedload.Asafetyfactor,
discuss, and negotiate needed elements of box design and
F, is calculated from the expected environmental hazards that
specification. The full box design process is complex, and it is
are anticipated in storage and shipping.Aminimum initial box
beyond the scope of this standard.
compression, as measured byTest Method D642 is determined
1.2 The attributes and their levels should be based on the
using the weight on the bottom box and the F factor, see 8.3.
intended use of the box, including the handling and environ-
Then engineering principles are used to select material com-
ment it will encounter. Many packaging rules include detailed
binationsbasedonmaterialcharacteristicssuchascaliper,edge
descriptions of the materials that may be used and style,
crush value, and flat crush to meet that requirement.
closure, or other construction details of allowed shipping
1.3.3 The third approach may be used when the box
containers. These rules are presented as minimum require-
application has product support sufficient to meet anticipated
ments; they may be exceeded for functional reasons, but there
compression requirements, therefore the board structural re-
is no regulatory reason to do so. Rail and motor freight
quirements are focused on protection and containment. Mullen
classifications applicable for surface common carrier transpor-
burst values can be one of these measures for this category of
tation have established minimum requirements for certain
box if the user has determined that a minimum burst value is
attributes of corrugated packaging. These may or may not be
the main metric required in their distribution system. In this
appropriateforapplicationinthecompletedistributionsystem,
case, total weight per box allowable per carrier rules may be
as they encompass only containerboard or combined corru-
higher than would be expected based on expected predicted
gated board — not finished boxes — and are not intended to
compression strength, safety factor, and board combination
provide for the distribution and storage system beyond the
used. See 7.2 – 7.2.2.2 and 8.2.1.
transportation segment.
1.3.4 The fourth approach may be used when the box is
intended for single parcel shipment of high value or hazardous
materials, where there can be a compression requirement but
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.27 on Fiberboard Shipping mostoftentheperformanceattributesrequiredaretoughnessas
Containers, Containerboard and
...
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: D5639/D5639M − 11 (Reapproved 2015) D5639/D5639M − 20
Standard Practice for
Selection of Corrugated Fiberboard Materials and Box
1
Construction Based on Performance Requirements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5639/D5639M; 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 practice provides information on corrugated fiberboard for the prospective user who wants guidance in selecting attributes
of materials and box construction based on performance requirements. These attributes should be part of specifications which
establish levels of the qualities a shipping container shall have achieved in order to be acceptable to the purchaser or user. The
attributes and qualities should be testable, using standard methods that are recognized by both the buyer and seller. This practice
will assist users in developing specifications for corrugated containers through an analysis of performance requirements and
subsequent relationships to fiberboard materials and box construction attributes. This practice is intended to provide specific
corrugated container performance standards as opposed to packaged product performance evaluation through distribution and
handling environments, such as Practicemeant to complement the box buyer–box manufacturer relationship by having the buyer
(user) better understand, discuss, and negotiate needed elements of box D4169.design and specification. The full box design
process is complex, and it is beyond the scope of this standard.
1.2 The attributes and their levels should be based on the intended use of the box, including the handling and environment it will
encounter. Many packaging regulationsrules include detailed descriptions of the materials that may be used and style, closure, or
other construction details of allowed shipping containers. These regulationsrules are presented as minimum requirements; they may
be exceeded for functional reasons, but there is no regulatory reason to do so. Rail and motor freight classifications applicable for
surface common carrier transportation have established minimum requirements for certain attributes of corrugated packaging.
These may or may not be appropriate for application in the complete distribution system, as they encompass only containerboard
or combined corrugated board—not finished boxes—and board — not finished boxes — and are not intended to provide for the
distribution and storage system beyond the transportation segment.
1.2.1 The attribute levels contained herein are based on USU.S. practice and specifications. Some attributes such as flute
dimensions and basis weights may be defined differently in other countries.
1.3 There are two distinctly different methods commonly four common methods used for specifying boxes. The most common
approach is to specify materials, such as defining flute, edge crush value, Mullen burst value, and flat crush minimums,
containerboard weights and thicknesses. An alternative approach is to define some measure of performance. Mullen burst values
can be one of these measures if the user has determined that some minimum burst value is all that is required in their distribution
system. The overall compression strength of the box is another, and this measure allows each supplier to achieve the required
strength through their own unique combination of materials and processes. A third measure would be to pass some sort of rough
handling performance protocol, with Practice D4169 being one example. Unlike material specifications, where definitions of
fluting, test methods of ECT, and difficulty of assessing individual components of the box structure exist, compression values of
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.27 on Paper and Paperboard
ProductsFiberboard Shipping Containers, Containerboard and Related Structures and Materials.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2015December 2020. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20112015
as D5639/D5639M – 11.D5639/D5639M – 11 (2015). DOI: 10.1520/D5639_D5639M-11R15.10.1520/D5639_D5639M-20.
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