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.

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Publication Date
30-Sep-2004
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ASTM D4169-04a - Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
Designation:D4169–04a
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. Scope Packaging Components for Testing
D 4728 Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of
1.1 This practice provides a uniform basis of evaluating, in
Shipping Containers
a laboratory, the ability of shipping units to withstand the
D 5276 Test Method for DropTest of Loaded Containers by
distribution environment. This is accomplished by subjecting
Free Fall
them to a test plan consisting of a sequence of anticipated
D 5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed Horizon-
hazard elements encountered in various distribution cycles.
tal Impacts Using an Inclined Tester
This practice is not intended to supplant material specifications
D 5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Con-
or existing preshipment test procedures.
tainers by Shock Machines
1.2 The suitability of this practice for use with hazardous
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
materials has not been determined.
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D 6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D 6653 Test Methods for Determining the Effects of High
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Altitude on Packaging Systems by Vacuum Method
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
3
2.2 Military Standards:
tionary statements are given in 1.1.
MIL-STD-2073-1 DOD Standard Practice for Military
2. Referenced Documents Packaging
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3. Terminology
D 642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resis-
3.1 Definitions— General definitions for the packaging and
tance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit
distribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.
Loads
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
D 880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Con-
3.2.1 acceptance criteria—the acceptable quality level that
tainers and Systems
must be met after the shipping unit has been subjected to the
D 951 Test Method for Water Resistance of Shipping Con-
test plan. See Section 7.
tainers by Spray Method
3.2.2 assurance level—the level of test intensity based on
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
its probability of occurring in a typical distribution cycle.
ments
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Level I is a high level of test intensity
D 999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping
andhasalowprobabilityofoccurrence.LevelIIIisalowlevel
Containers
of test intensity, but has a correspondingly high probability of
D 4003 Methods of Programmable Horizontal Impact Test
occurrence. Level II is between these extremes. For Distribu-
for Shipping Containers
tion Cycle 18, DC-18 see MIL–STD–2073–1 for definitions of
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
military levels of protection.
3.2.3 coeffıcient of restitution—the ratio of the rebound
1 velocity to the impact velocity.
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD10.21onShippingContainersand 3.2.4 distribution cycle (DC)—the sequential listing of the
Systems-Application of Performance Test Methods.
test schedules employed to simulate the hazard elements
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2004. Published October 2004. Originally
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D 4169 – 04.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
the ASTM website. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D4169–04a
expected to occur for a specific routing of a shipping unit from however, prohibit evaluating the influence of the container
production to consumption. See Table 1. closure on container performance.
3.2.5 feeder aircraft—small, potentially non-pressurized
...

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