ASTM D3103-07
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Thermal Insulation Performance of Distribution Packages
Standard Test Method for Thermal Insulation Performance of Distribution Packages
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is intended for use for evaluating the performance of thermal insulated packaging used for high-value, high-risk materials. This test method may also be used for any product that requires accurate internal package temperature readings while being exposed to a range of external air temperatures.
Certain items, such as biological materials, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and blood products, must be shipped inside temperature-controlled packages. Factors affecting the rate of heat transfer of the package include the insulation of the exterior package, the energy source, and the product payload.
Because of the variety of factors affecting the performance of a thermally insulated package, testing should be conducted with the actual package whenever possible. When simulated packages are used, special care must be exercised so that the simulated payload and coolant will be as close as possible to the actual packages in temperature and other relevant physical properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the thermal insulation quality of a package and the thermal stability of its contents when exposed to variable ambient temperature conditions. It is suitable for testing packages with various internal energy sources with or without product payloads.
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 5.3.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation:D3103–07
Standard Test Method for
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Thermal Insulation Performance of Distribution Packages
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3103; 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.
1. Scope able to NIST(National Institute for Standards andTechnology)
that collects and date stamps time and temperature.
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthethermal
3.2.2 draft-free atmosphere—an atmosphere where the test
insulation quality of a package and the thermal stability of its
specimens are isolated from direct air currents while surround-
contents when exposed to variable ambient temperature con-
ing air temperature is maintained uniformly throughout the
ditions. It is suitable for testing packages with various internal
chamber.
energy sources with or without product payloads.
3.2.3 eutectic system, n—a mixture or compound in which
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
pure solid phases changes occur at a well-defined specific
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
temperature.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.4 exterior atmosphere—the atmosphere surrounding the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
exterior surface of a package.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
3.2.5 interior atmosphere—the atmosphere in contact or
tionary statements are given in 5.3.
near the packaged item.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.6 mapping—collecting temperature data at a wide range
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of locations inside a package or chamber to determine the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
variability of temperature range in the environment.
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
3.2.7 package system—the combination of exterior pack-
ments
age, interior packaging, refrigerants, and product payload.
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
3.2.8 product payload—the product and any associated
Packaging Components for Testing
secondarypackagingthatistobetemperaturecontrolledwithin
2.2 Other Standards:
the insulated test package.
ISTA 5B Focused Simulation Guide for Thermal Perfor-
3.2.9 refrigerants—eutectic materials, gel packs, ice, or
manceTesting ofTemperature ControlledTransport Pack-
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othermaterialthatservesasanenergysourceorbuffermedium
aging
within the package system.
3. Terminology
3.2.10 secondary package—the package that contains the
primary container/closure system(s).
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for packaging and dis-
3.2.11 thermal conductivity, homogeneous material—the
tribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.
rateofheatflow,understeadyconditionsthroughunitarea,per
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
unit temperature gradient in the direction perpendicular to the
3.2.1 data acquisition unit and associated system—single-
area.
or multi-channel recorder and its associated software and
hardware utilizing thermocouples and thermistor sensors trace-
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is intended for use for evaluating the
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on
performance of thermal insulated packaging used for high-
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.23 on Natural
value, high-risk materials. This test method may also be used
Environment Test Methods.
for any product that requires accurate internal package tem-
Current edition approved May 1, 2007. Published June 2007. Originally
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 3103 – 99.
peraturereadingswhilebeingexposedtoarangeofexternalair
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
temperatures.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.2 Certain items, such as biological materials, pharmaceu-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. ticals, diagnostics, and blood products, must be shipped inside
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Available from International SafeTransitAssociation (ISTA), 1400Abbott Rd.,
temperature-controlled packages. Factors affecting the rate of
Suite 160, East Lansing, MI 48823–1900, http://www.ista.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D3103–07
heat transfer of the package include the insulation of the evaporation or sublimation in airtight enclosures for prolonged
exterior package, the energy source, and the product payload. periods (for exam
...
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