ASTM F3159-15e1

Standard Safety Specification for Liquid Laundry Packets

ABSTRACT
This specification prescribes requirements for household Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet safety to help reduce unintentional exposures to the contents of the packets, especially to children. Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets refer to single-use laundry detergent products that contain a liquid detergent enclosed in a water soluble outer layer ("pouch film"), such as laundry detergent packets in soluble film having an all-liquid content, and those containing both liquid and non-liquid components.
This specification also covers packaging and labeling requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides requirements for household Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet safety to help reduce unintentional exposures to the contents of the packets, especially to children.  
1.2 This standard applies exclusively to household Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets. “Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets” are single-use laundry detergent products that contain a liquid detergent enclosed in a water soluble outer layer (“pouch film”). This includes laundry detergent packets in soluble film that contain liquid only (that is, all liquid), as well as those that contain both liquid and non-liquid components.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet 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. It is the responsibility of the user of the product to follow the warning statements and use the product appropriately.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Sep-2015
• ICS: 71.100.40 - Surface active agents
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.71 - Liquid Laundry Packets

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
´1
Designation:F3159 −15
Standard Safety Specification for
1
Liquid Laundry Packets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3159; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorially corrected 5.3.3.2, 6.1, and 6.2 in December 2015.
INTRODUCTION
In November 2012 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Safety Alert
to inform parents and caregivers that Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets need to be kept away from
children as those who are exposed to packet contents are at risk of serious injury and even death due
to the highly concentrated nature of the product. Children who have accidently ingested Liquid
Laundry Detergent Packets have experienced a range of injuries including loss of consciousness,
respiratory distress, vomiting, coughing, choking and drowsiness, and in cases where there has been
contactwiththeeyes,painfulirritationoftheeyesandcornealburnshaveoccurred.Inaddition,death
hasbeenreportedtooccurfollowingingestionofLiquidLaundryDetergentPackets,includinginone
child.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This specification provides requirements for household
D3475Classification of Child-Resistant Packages
Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet safety to help reduce unin-
D4332Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
tentionalexposurestothecontentsofthepackets,especiallyto
Packaging Components for Testing
children.
D4359Test Method for Determining Whether a Material Is
1.2 This standard applies exclusively to household Liquid
a Liquid or a Solid
Laundry Detergent Packets. “Liquid Laundry Detergent Pack-
3
2.2 ANSI Standard:
ets” are single-use laundry detergent products that contain a
ANSI Z535.4Safety Color Code—Environmental Facility
liquiddetergentenclosedinawatersolubleouterlayer(“pouch
Safety Signs—Criteria for Safety Symbols—Product
film”). This includes laundry detergent packets in soluble film
Safety Sign and Labels and Accident Prevention Tags
thatcontainliquidonly(thatis,allliquid),aswellasthosethat
contain both liquid and non-liquid components.
3. Terminology
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Definitions:
safety concerns, if any, associated with Liquid Laundry Deter-
3.1.1 liquid, n—a substance or mixture which: (1) at 50°C
gent Packet use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
has a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar), (2)
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
which is not completely gaseous at 20°C and at a standard
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
pressure of 101.3 kPa, and (3) which has a melting point or
touse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuseroftheproducttofollow
initial melting point of 20°C or less at a standard pressure of
the warning statements and use the product appropriately.
101.3 kPa.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.71 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Liquid Laundry Packets. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2015. Published October 2015. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/F3159-15E01. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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F3159−15
3.1.1.1 Discussion—A viscous substance or mixture for 5.2.1 Comply with this standard through the full life cycle
which a specific melting point cannot be determined shall be of product package.
subjected to the Test Method D4359-90 test; or to the test for
5.2.2 The package must meet the option standard for which
determining fluidity (penetrometer test) prescribed in section
the package is designed while also accounting for any other
2.3.4 of Annex A of the European Agreement concerning the
way the package could conceivably be opened for example by
International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
twisting, pulling, or use of singular force.
3.1.2 liquid laundry detergent packets, n—individual pack-
5.3 Options for Packaging:
ets that contain liquid laundry detergent and are intended to
5.3.1 Apackagethatmeetstheperformancerequirementsof
dissolve when used as intended.
16CFRPart1700,section1700.15andtestingreq
...

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.
´1
Designation: F3159 − 15 F3159 − 15
Standard Safety Specification for
1
Liquid Laundry Packets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3159; 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
ε NOTE—Editorially corrected 5.3.3.2, 6.1, and 6.2 in December 2015.
INTRODUCTION
In November 2012 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Safety Alert
to inform parents and caregivers that Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets need to be kept away from
children as those who are exposed to packet contents are at risk of serious injury and even death due
to the highly concentrated nature of the product. Children who have accidently ingested Liquid
Laundry Detergent Packets have experienced a range of injuries including loss of consciousness,
respiratory distress, vomiting, coughing, choking and drowsiness, and in cases where there has been
contact with the eyes, painful irritation of the eyes and corneal burns have occurred. In addition, death
has been reported to occur following ingestion of Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets, including in one
child.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification provides requirements for household Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet safety to help reduce unintentional
exposures to the contents of the packets, especially to children.
1.2 This standard applies exclusively to household Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets. “Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets” are
single-use laundry detergent products that contain a liquid detergent enclosed in a water soluble outer layer (“pouch film”). This
includes laundry detergent packets in soluble film that contain liquid only (that is, all liquid), as well as those that contain both
liquid and non-liquid components.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its Liquid Laundry Detergent
Packet 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. It is the responsibility of the user of the product to follow the warning
statements and use the product appropriately.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D3475 Classification of Child-Resistant Packages
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
D4359 Test Method for Determining Whether a Material Is a Liquid or a Solid
3
2.2 ANSI Standard:
ANSI Z535.4 Safety Color Code—Environmental Facility Safety Signs—Criteria for Safety Symbols—Product Safety Sign and
Labels and Accident Prevention Tags
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.71 on Liquid Laundry
Packets.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2015. Published October 2015. DOI: 10.1520/F3159-15.10.1520/F3159-15E01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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F3159 − 15
3.1.1 liquid, n—a substance or mixture which: (1) at 50°C has a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar), (2) which
is not completely gaseous at 20°C and at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa, and (3) which has a melting point or initial melting
point of 20°C or less at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
A viscous substance or mixture for which a specific melting point cannot be determined shall be subjected to the Test Method
D4359-90 test; or to the test for determining fluidity (penetrometer test) prescribed in section 2.3.4 of Annex A of the European
Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
3.1.2 liquid laundry detergent packets, n—individual packets that contain liquid laundry detergent and are intended to dissolve
when used as intended.
3.1.3 pouch film, n—the water-solu
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