ASTM D4169-99e1

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: 09-Oct-2001
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.21 - Shipping Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4169-01 - Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6251/D6251M-19 - Standard Specification for Wood-Cleated Panelboard Shipping Boxes
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6055-96(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2097-20 - Standard Guide for Design and Evaluation of Primary Flexible Packaging for Medical Products
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6254/D6254M-20 - Standard Specification for Wirebound Pallet-Type Wood Boxes
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• 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: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM A700-14(2019) - Standard Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods for Steel Products for Shipment
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E921-97(2022) - Standard Specification for Export Packaged Laboratory Apparatus
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6344-04(2017) - Standard Test Method for Concentrated Impacts to Transport Packages
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D5118/D5118M-22 - Standard Practice for Fabrication of Fiberboard Shipping Boxes
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D3951-18 - Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6537-00(2021) - Standard Practice for Instrumented Package Shock Testing For Determination of Package Performance
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6573/D6573M-13(2020) - Standard Specification for General Purpose Wirebound Shipping Boxes
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E3051-16 - Standard Guide for Specification, Design, Verification, and Application of Single-Use Systems in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D7387-20 - Standard Test Method for Vibration Testing of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) Used for Shipping Liquid Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
Designation: D 4169 – 99
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
e NOTE—10.2.3 was corrected editorially to reference Test Method D 5276 in October 2000.
1. Scope D 5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by
2
Free Fall
1.1 This practice provides a uniform basis of evaluating, in
D 5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizon-
a laboratory, the ability of shipping units to withstand the
2
tal Impacts Using an Inclined Tester
distribution environment. This is accomplished by subjecting
D 5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Con-
them to a test plan consisting of a sequence of anticipated
2
tainers by Shock Machines
hazard elements encountered in various distribution cycles.
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
This practice is not intended to supplant material specifications
2
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
or existing preshipment test procedures.
D 6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized
1.2 The suitability of this practice for use with hazardous
2
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
materials has not been determined.
3
2.2 Military Standards:
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
MIL-STD-2073-1 DOD Standard Practice for Military
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Packaging
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3. Terminology
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
3.1 Definitions— General definitions for the packaging and
tionary statements are given in 1.1.
distribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 acceptance criteria—the acceptable quality level that
2.1 ASTM Standards:
must be met after the shipping unit has been subjected to the
D 642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resis-
test plan. See Section 7.
tance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit
2
3.2.2 assurance level—the level of test intensity based on
Loads
its probability of occurring in a typical distribution cycle.
D 880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Con-
2
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Level I is a high level of test intensity
tainers and Systems
and has a low probability of occurrence. Level III is a low level
D 951 Test Method for Water Resistance of Shipping Con-
2
of test intensity, but has a correspondingly high probability of
tainers by Spray Method
occurrence. Level II is between these extremes. For Distribu-
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
2 tion Cycle 18, DC-18 see MIL–STD–2073–1 for definitions of
ments
military levels of protection.
D 999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping
2 3.2.3 coeffıcient of restitution—the ratio of the rebound
Containers
velocity to the impact velocity.
D 4003 Methods of Programmable Horizontal Impact Test
2 3.2.4 distribution cycle (DC)—the sequential listing of the
for Shipping Containers
test schedules employed to simulate the hazard elements
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
2 expected to occur for a specific routing of a shipping unit from
Packaging Components for Testing
production to consumption. See Table 1.
D 4728 Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of
2 3.2.5 hazard element—a specific event that occurs in a
Shipping Containers
distribution cycle that may pose a hazard to a shipping unit.
The element will usually be simulated by a single test schedule.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on Packaging
See Section 9.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Containers and
Systems-Application of Performance Test Methods.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally
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published as D 4169-82. Last previous edition D 4169-98. Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D 4169
TABLE 1 Distribution Cycles
Performance Test Schedule Sequence
(see Section 9 for Test Schedule definition)
DC Distribution Cycle First Second
...