ASTM D996-99
(Terminology)Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
Standard Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology is a compilation of definitions of technical terms used in the packaging and distribution environments. Terms that are generally understood or adequately found in other readily available sources are not included.
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional information included in discussions.
1.3 Definitions that are identical to those published by another standards organization or ASTM committee are identified with the name of the organization or ASTM committee.
1.4 The definitions in this terminology are grouped into related areas under principal concepts. The broad discriptor term for each group is followed in alphabetical order by narrower terms and related terms. Cross-references are included where the concept group is not obvious.
General Information
Relations
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.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.
Designation: D 996 – 99
Standard Terminology of
Packaging and Distribution Environments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 996; 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.
INTRODUCTION
The terms and definitions in this standard are grouped into related areas under principal concepts.
The broad descriptor term for each group is followed in alphabetical order by narrower terms and
related terms. Cross-references are included where the concept group is not obvious.
1. Scope Uniform Freight Classification Rule 30
National Motor Freight Classification
1.1 This terminology is a compilation of definitions of
technical terms used in the packaging and distribution envi-
3. Terminology
ronments. Terms that are generally understood or adequately
found in other readily available sources are not included. absorbent packing— See packing.
adhesive, n—a substance capable of holding materials together
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional infor-
mation included in discussions. by surface attachment.
1.3 Definitions that are identical to those published by
DISCUSSION—Adhesive is the general term and includes among
another standards organization or ASTM committee are iden-
others, cement, glue, mucilage, and paste. All of these terms are loosely
tified with the name of the organization or ASTM committee.
used interchangeably. Various descriptive adjectives are applied to the
1.4 The definitions in this terminology are grouped into term adhesive to indicate certain characteristics as follows: (1) Physical
form, that is, liquid adhesive, tape adhesive, (2) Chemical type, that is,
related areas under principal concepts. The broad discriptor
silicate adhesive, resin adhesive, ( 3) Materials bonded, that is, paper
term for each group is followed in alphabetical order by
adhesive, metal-plastic adhesive, can label adhesive, and (4) Conditions
narrower terms and related terms. Cross-references are in-
of use, that is, hot-setting adhesive (D 907, D-14) .
cluded where the concept group is not obvious.
contact adhesive , n—an adhesive that is apparently dry to the
2. Referenced Documents
touch and that will adhere to itself instantaneously upon
2.1 ASTM Standards: contact; also called contact bond adhesive or dry bond
D 907 Terminology of Adhesives adhesive (D 907, D-14).
D 1596 Test Method for Dynamic Shock Cushioning Char- aerosol package—See package.
acteristics of Package Materials ampoule, n—a hermetically sealed, small bulbous glass or
D 3288 Test Methods for Magnet Wire Enamels plastic vessel. Opening is achieved by breaking the stem.
E 176 Terminology Relating to Fire Standards (Also ampule or ampul.)
G 15 Terminology Relating to Corrosion and Corrosion anchor, v—to secure firmly (Webster).
Testing anti-skid plate—See loading.
2.2 Federal Standard: bag, n—a preformed container of tubular construction made
PPP-F-320 Fiberboard, Corrugated and Solid, Sheet Stock of flexible material, generally enclosed on all sides except
(Container Grade), and Cut Shapes one forming an opening that may or may not be sealed after
2.3 Other Standards: filling. (See also pouch.)
DISCUSSION—A bag may be made of any flexible material, or multiple
plies of the same, or combination of various flexible materials. The
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on
term bag is used as a synonym for sack, but the term sack generally
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.11 on Terminology.
refers to the heavier duty or shipping sacks. It is made in various
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally
standard styles and may be open-mouth or valve type. The five basic
published as D 996 – 48 T. Last previous edition D 996 – 95e1.
2 standard types of bags are: (1) grocery bag, (2) merchandise paper, (3)
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.06.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
5 8
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07. Available from Uniform Classification Committee, 222 South Riverside Plaza,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02. Chicago, IL 60606.
7 9
Available from Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, Available from National Classification Board, 2200 Mill Road, Alexandria, VA
Washington, DC 20402. 22314.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 996
industrial, (4) textile, and (5) paper shipping sack.
cleated plywood box—a rigid container having five or six
panel faces with wood strips fastened to them, the panels
paper multiwall-sack—a flexible container made of several
being made of plywood.
plies, usually of kraft paper. The various plies may be
flange, n—in fiberboard boxes, an extension to a panel
specially treated, such as waxed paper, glassine, greaseproof,
similar to a short flap that may be folded in or out, usually at
polyethylene, wet strength paper, or other specialty sheets.
angles of 90 or 180° to the panel.
The particular nature of the sack depends upon the material
nailed wood box— a rigid container constructed of wood in
to be packed and the type of transportation to be employed.
several standard styles, assembled by fastening sides, top
bag liner—See liner.
and bottom to the ends with nails or other suitable fasteners.
bail, n—the usually arched handle of a pail or can.
skid box—a metal, wooden, or fiber box fastened to a platform
bale, n—in packaging a shaped unit, bound with cord or metal
raised on skid members or legs; it may or may not be
ties under tension, and containing compressed articles or
collapsible. (See also skid.)
materials. It may be wrapped.
wirebound box— a rigid container whose sides, top, and
banding—Use strapping.
bottom are of rotary-cut lumber, sliced lumber, resawn
barrel, n—a bulged cylindrical container of greater length
lumber, fiberboard, or combinations thereof, usually ⁄8 in.
than breadth, made of wooden staves bound together with
(9.5 mm) or less in thickness, fastened to cleats and to each
hoops and having two flat ends of equal diameter. (Compare
other by means of binding wires and staples; and ends of
drum.)
similar material, plain or stapled to battens or liners,
cask, n— a term used synonymously with barrel but usually of
fastened in place by means of nails or staples or wires
large size or capacity.
stapled thereto.
keg, n—a small slack or tight barrel of 30-gal capacity or less.
barrier material:
DISCUSSION—The closure is made by twisting or looping together the
ends of the binding wires.
grease-resistant barrier—a material that prevents or retards
the transmission of grease or oils.
boxboard—See paperboard.
water-resistant barrier—a material that retards the transmis-
bracing—See loading.
sion of liquid water.
bubble packaging material—a material consisting of a flex-
water-vapor-resistant barrier—a material that retards the
ible plastic film having uniformly spaced bubbles integrally
transmission of water vapor.
molded therein.
basket, n—a semirigid container usually open at the top and
DISCUSSION—These bubbles may or may not be permanently affixed
provided with one or two handles for carrying. (Compare
to a separate backing film to either seal the air within the bubbles or to
hamper.)
add dimensional stability to the structure. Bubble packaging is prima-
DISCUSSION—A basket is sometimes made of thin strips of wood,
rily used as a cushioning material.
woven or stapled, or otherwise bound together, or it may be made of
buffer, n—a material or device, such as folded up corrugated
fiberboard or combinations of wood and fiber, or plastic. (See stave.
(2)) fiberboard, placed in a container to position and protect the
contents from the forces of impact.
batten—See box.
DISCUSSION—A buffer is usually made of a cushioning, or compress-
blister pack—See pack.
ible material. It may be made in a variety of styles such as spring buffer,
blocking—See loading.
rolled-up buffer, die-cut, etc. (See cushioning material.)
body—See container.
bottle—See container.
bulk packaging—see packaging.
bottom—See box.
bundle, n—two or more articles held together with rope, wire,
box, n—a rigid container having closed faces and completely
or strapping so as to form a shipping unit; it may be
enclosing the contents. When this term is used in connection
wrapped.
with fiberboard boxes, such fiber boxes must comply with all
bung hole—in packaging, an opening in a barrel or drum
the requirements of the carrier rules. (See carton.)
through which material can be poured to fill, empty or vent.
bottom, n— the face of a box on which it usually rests while
bursting strength— See package testing.
filling.
bursting strength test— See package testing.
caliper—See package testing.
DISCUSSION—In terms of fiberboard shipping boxes, the face created
can, n—in packaging, a receptacle generally of 10-gal capacity
by the flaps of regular (or similar style) slotted boxes are the top or
or less, normally not used as a shipping container.
bottom, regardless of loading or stacking.
DISCUSSION—The body is made of lightweight metal or is a compos-
box batten, n—a reinforcing member, (1) for a wood box
ite of paperboard and other materials having the ends made of
internally or externally applied to the sides, top and bottoms.
paperboard, metal, plastic, or a combination thereof.
When applied externally it should be applied in pairs; ( 2)in
a wirebound box, a batten is a reinforcement used on the
Cady test—See package testing.
ends of the container only.
cap—See container (cover).
cleated fiberboard box—a rigid container having five or six carboy, n—a container made of glass, ceramic, plastic, or
panel faces with wood strips fastened to them, the panels metal, having a capacity of 5 to 15 gal (19 to 57 L) with the
being made of solid or corrugated fiberboard. pouring and filling opening at the top.
D 996
DISCUSSION—For shipment, carboys are generally encased in a
both, intended primarily for a single trip.
protective rigid outer container.
face, n—in packaging, any one of the plane surfaces of a
container.
carton, n—a folding box, generally made from boxboard for
fast pack container—a standard size, reusable container with
merchandising consumer quantities of products (for ex-
foam cushion inserts.
ample, shelf packages or prime packages).
case—See container. DISCUSSION—Some designs permit shipment of a large variety of
items within certain limits of size, weight, configuration and fragility.
case liner—See liner.
cask—See barrel.
fiberboard container—a box, package, or drum made of
child-resistant packaging— See packaging.
fiberboard. When the term box is used for classification
chime (chine), n— in packaging, the rim of a container, such
purposes, the structure must comply with all requirements of
as a drum, barrel, or can.
the carrier rules.
chipboard—See paperboard.
flap, n— one of the closing members of a fiberboard con-
cleat, n—a wood or metal strip attached along the edge of a
tainer.
panel of a container for the attaching of an adjacent panel,
glass container— any glass receptacle capable of holding a
or fastened to the panel between the edges, or to barrel
seal or closure for retention of contents.
heads, for reinforcement and stiffening.
intermodal container—a reusable shipping container manu-
cleated fiberboard box— See box.
factured to standard dimensions intended to unitize cargo or
cleated plywood box— See box.
freight for shipping by one or more modes of transportation
closure, n—in packaging, a means of closing a container to
without the need for intermediate handling of the contents.
retain the contents.
jar, n—a widemouthed container made typically of glass,
plug, n—in packaging, a type of closure that is designed to be plastic, or earthenware.
inserted into a container opening. It may be held by friction
jug, n—a large, deep, usually glass, plastic or earthenware
or by screw threads. (See cap.) container with a narrow mouth and a handle.
cocoon, v—in packaging, to employ strippable, usually plastic, manufacturer’s joint—that part of a fiberboard container
sometimes multi-layered films to encapsulate an item. where the ends of the box blank are joined together in the
code, v—to assign numbers, letters, words, or symbols as manufacturing process by taping, stitching, or gluing.
identifying marks to containers, packaged materials, or modular container— a family of containers designed to be
articles to convey information concerning the qualities of the assembled into a unit load.
container or its contents, date, place of manufacture, or other returnable container—a shipping container of any material
significant identification. (Compare marking.) designed to be used for more than one shipment.
collapsible tube—See tube. reusable container—a shipping and storage container de-
signed for reuse without impairment of its protective func-
composite tube—See tube.
Conbur test—See package testing. tion.
constant load—See load.
DISCUSSION—It may be repaired or refitted to prolong its life, or to
contact adhesive—see adhesive.
adapt it for items other than originally intended.
container—a nonspecific term for a receptacle capable of
seam, n (when referring to a fiberboard container)—the lines
closure (See also: bag, barrel, basket, box, can, carton,
of junction created by any free edge of a container flap or
crate, cylinder, drum, envelope, hamper, pail, tube.)
wall where it abuts or overlaps another portion of the
body, n—in packaging, the principal part of a container,
container (except the manufacturer’s joint).
usually the largest part in one piece containing the sides.
DISCUSSION—A seam may be fastened by tape, stitches, or adhesive
bottle, n— a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or
in the process of closing a fiberboard container.
plastic, having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth, and
usually no handle (Webster).
shipping container—a container that is sufficiently strong to be
case, n— a nonspecific term for a shipping container. In
used in commerce for packing, storing, and shipping com-
domestic commerce, case usually refers to a box made from
modities. (See also barrel, crate, drum.)
corrugated or solid fiberboard wood, or metal.
containerboard—any paperboard made specifically for the
cover, n—in packaging, the top or bottom, or both of a
manufacture of corrugated and solid fiberboard shipping
container, usually the part that closes the filling and dis-
containers. Basis weight is
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.