ASTM F3159-15(2022)

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 its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2022
• ICS: 71.100.40 - Surface active agents
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.71 - Liquid Laundry Packets

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D3475-20 - Standard Classification of Child-Resistant Packages
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3159 −15 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Safety Specification for
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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.
INTRODUCTION
In November 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a SafetyAlert
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
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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
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Laundry Detergent Packets. “Liquid Laundry Detergent Pack-
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
3. Terminology
contain both liquid and non-liquid components.
3.1 Definitions:
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.1 liquid, n—a substance or mixture which: (1) at 50°C
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
has a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar), (2)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
which is not completely gaseous at 20°C and at a standard
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
pressure of 101.3 kPa, and (3) which has a melting point or
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
initial melting point of 20°C or less at a standard pressure of
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
101.3 kPa.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.1.1 Discussion—A viscous substance or mixture for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
which a specific melting point cannot be determined shall be
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
subjected to theTest Method D4359 – 90 test; or to the test for
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
determining fluidity (penetrometer test) prescribed in section
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2.3.4 of Annex A of the European Agreement concerning the
International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.71 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Liquid Laundry Packets. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved March 1, 2022. Published March 2022. Originally theASTM website.
ɛ1 3
approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F3159–15 . DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/F3159-15R22. 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
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F3159 − 15 (2022)
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 Apackagethatmeetsth
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