ASTM D5639/D5639M-05
(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
This practice assists users in selecting appropriate performance characteristics of corrugated fiberboard or box construction, or both, commensurate with the user’need 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, and protection of contents.
The user should specify only those attributes and related tests which are required for satisfactory performance in the user’operations and distribution cycle(s). When using packaging regulations as a basis for developing specifications, the reason for the existence of the regulation and its function and importance should be understood. As previously stated, regulations may be exceeded and should be when the minimum specifications are inadequate for the full effects of the distribution cycle.
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 must have 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 Practice D 4169.
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 regulations include detailed descriptions of the materials that may be used and style, closure, or other construction details of allowed shipping containers. These regulations 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 system beyond the transportation segment.
1.3 Corrugated containers for packaging of hazardous materials for transportation must comply with federal regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (Code of Federal Regulations-49CFR).
1.4 The values stated in both SI and inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other.
1.5 Lists and Descriptions of Performance and Material Characteristics and Related Test ProceduresFor further information on the development of performance-based specifications, please refer to the sections on Specifications and Test Procedures of the Fibre Box Handbook.
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 pri...
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: D5639/D5639M – 05
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 1.4 The values stated in both SI and inch-pound units are to
be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the
1.1 This practice provides information on corrugated fiber-
inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in
boardfortheprospectiveuserwhowantsguidanceinselecting
each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system
attributes of materials and box construction based on perfor-
shall be used independently of the other.
mance requirements. These attributes should be part of speci-
1.5 Lists and Descriptions of Performance and Material
fications which establish levels of the qualities a shipping
Characteristics and Related Test Procedures—For further
container must have in order to be acceptable to the purchaser
information on the development of performance-based speci-
or user. The attributes and qualities should be testable, using
fications,pleaserefertothesectionsonSpecificationsandTest
standard methods that are recognized by both the buyer and
Procedures of the Fibre Box Handbook.
seller. This practice will assist users in developing specifica-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tions for corrugated containers through an analysis of perfor-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
mancerequirementsandsubsequentrelationshipstofiberboard
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
materials and box construction attributes. This practice is
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
intended to provide specific corrugated container performance
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
standards as opposed to packaged product performance evalu-
ation through distribution and handling environments, such as
2. Referenced Documents
Practice D4169.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 The attributes and their levels should be based on the
D585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot of
intended use of the box, including the handling and environ-
Paper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related Product
ment it will encounter. Many packaging regulations include
D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resis-
detailed descriptions of the materials that may be used and
tance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit
style,closure,orotherconstructiondetailsofallowedshipping
Loads
containers. These regulations are presented as minimum re-
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products
quirements; they may be exceeded for functional reasons, but
for Testing
there is no regulatory reason to do so. Rail and motor freight
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
classifications applicable for surface common carrier transpor-
ments
tation have established minimum requirements for certain
D4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
attributes of corrugated packaging. These may or may not be
tainers and Systems
appropriateforapplicationinthecompletedistributionsystem,
D5118/D5118M Practice for Fabrication of Fiberboard
as they encompass only containerboard or combined corru-
Shipping Boxes
gated board—not finished boxes—and are not intended to
D5168 Practice for Fabrication and Closure of Triple-Wall
provide for the distribution system beyond the transportation
Corrugated Fiberboard Containers
segment.
D5276 Test Method for DropTest of Loaded Containers by
1.3 Corrugated containers for packaging of hazardous ma-
Free Fall
terials for transportation must comply with federal regulations
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,
administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (Code
With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic
of Federal Regulations—49CFR).
of a Lot or Process
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.27 on Paper and Paperboard
2
Products. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D5639/D5639–95 Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
´1
(2000) . DOI: 10.1520/D5639_D5639M-05. the ASTM website.
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