ASTM D5276-98
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
Standard Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for the drop testing of loaded boxes, cylindrical containers, and bags and sacks by the free-fall method.
1.2 For containers not exceeding 110 lb (50 kg), this test method fulfills the requirements of ISO Standards 2206:1987 and 2248:1985. Caution-These ISO standards may describe procedures that do not meet the requirements for this test method.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 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.
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Designation: D 5276 – 98
Standard Test Method for
Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5276; 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 Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
D 6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized
1.1 This test method covers procedures for the drop testing
Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates
of loaded boxes, cylindrical containers, and bags and sacks by
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
the free-fall method.
Measure of Quality for a Lot or Process
1.2 For containers not exceeding 110 lb (50 kg), this test
E 680 Test Method for Drop Weight Impact Sensitivity of
method fulfills the requirements of ISO Standards 2206:1987
Solid-Phase Hazardous Materials
and 2248:1985. Caution—These ISO standards may describe
2.2 ISO Standards:
procedures that do not meet the requirements for this test
ISO 2206 Packaging—Complete Filled Transport Packages,
method.
Identification of Parts When Testing
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
ISO 2248 Packaging—Complete Filled Transport Packages,
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
Vertical Impact Test by Dropping
information only.
2.3 Code of Federal Regulations:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Title 49 —Transportation (49 CFR)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Terminology
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1 Definitions—General terms for packaging and distribu-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion environments are found in Terminology D 996.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 cylinder—for the purposes of this test method, a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cylinder includes substantially cylindrical containers such as
D 585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot of
barrels, drums, kegs, and pails (fiber, metal, plastic, or wood, or
Paper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related Product
combinations thereof).
D 644 Test Method for Moisture Content of Paper and
2 3.2.2 member—a face, corner, or edge of a rectangular
Paperboard by Oven Drying
container; a chime, end, or sidewall of a cylindrical container;
D 880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Con-
2 or a face, edge, corner, or butt of a bag or sack.
tainers and Systems
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
4. Significance and Use
ments
4.1 This test method is intended for use in evaluating the
D 2463 Test Method for Drop Impact Resistance of Blow-
3 capability of a container to withstand the sudden shock
Molded Thermoplastic Containers
resulting from a free fall, or to evaluate the capability of a
D 4003 Test Methods for Programmable Horizontal Impact
2 container and its inner packing to protect its contents during the
Test for Shipping Containers and Systems
sudden shock resulting from a free fall. This test method may
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
2 also be used to compare the performance of different package
tainers and Systems
designs. This test method may also permit observation of the
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
progressive failure of a container and the damage to its
Packaging Components for Testing
contents.
D 6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of Unitized
4.2 This test method is particularly suitable for containers
that are normally handled manually during some part of their
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.22 on Handling and
Transportation. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Current edition approved April 10, 1998. Published February 1999. Originally Available from the American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
published as D 5276 – 92. Last previous edition D 5276 – 94. Floor., New York, NY 10036.
2 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02. Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5276–98
distribution cycle. Containers of such bulk or mass that they dimension, shall be used. The drum shall be dropped at right
cannot be handled manually may be tested more satisfactorily angles to the timber. The drop height shall be measured from
in accordance with Test Method D 880, Test Methods D 6055, the top of the timber.
Test Methods D 6179, or Test Methods D 4003. See Practice 5.1.7 For very large containers, it may be necessary to use a
D 4169 for additional guidance. hoist, sling, and tripping devices, or a solenoid-operated drop
test mechanism and suspension devices, such as those de-
scribed in Appendix X1.
5. Apparatus
5.1.8 Conditioning Apparatus—Adequate facilities shall be
5.1 Free-Fall Drop Test Equipment, conforming to the
provided for conditioning test specimens at the proper humid-
following requirements:
ity and temperature prior to testing, in accordance with the
5.1.1 It shall permit the container to be placed, prior to
specification covering the containers to be tested.
release, in a position that will ensure correct orientation, within
5.1.8.1 Conditioning—Depending on the purpose of the
2 degrees upon impact, for flat-face drops or flat drops on ends
tests, containers may be conditioned prior to the drop test by
or sidewalls of cylindrical containers, and within 5° upon
either a different physical test, water immersion, exposure to
impact for other drops, such as edge drops and corner drops for
water spray, or exposure to standard or other fixed air tempera-
rectangular containers, bags, and sacks and diagonal drops on
ture or humidity conditions. It is recommended that special
chimes on cylindrical containers.
atmospheres for conditioning be selected from those given in
5.1.2 It shall permit accurate control of the drop from
Practice D 4332. Unless otherwise specified, fiber-board or
specified heights.
paperboard containers shall be conditioned in accordance with
5.1.3 It shall utilize lifting devices that will not damage the
the preconditioning and standard conditioning atmospheres
test container.
specified in Practice D 4332 (see also Practice D 4169 for
5.1.4 It shall provide a release mechanism that does not
additional guidance).
impart vertical, rotational, or sideways forces to the test
5.1.8.2 Where the moisture content of fiberboard containers
container. If drop leaves are used, the apparatus shall provide
is determined, it should be determined in accordance with Test
a spring or other mechanism so that the leaves do not interfere
Method D 644.
with a free, unobstructed fall.
5.1.5 It shall provide an impact surface, horizontal and flat,
6. Sampling
massive enough to be immovable and rigid enough to be
6.1 The test specimens and number of samples shall be
nondeformable under the test conditions.
chosen to permit an adequate determination of representative
5.1.5.1 The impact surface shall be of concrete, stone, or
performance. Practice E 122 is recommended. Unless other-
steel. If the dropping surface is a steel plate, it must be at least
wise specified, Practice D 585 shall be used for acceptance
⁄2 in. (13 mm) thick and must be anchored firmly to the mass.
testing of fiberboard containers.
6.2 In the absence of any sampling plan, at least three
NOTE 1—Grout (a thin mortar used to fill crevices) is recommended
over the entire surface of the mass below the plate to ensure positive representative specimens should be selected for performance
contact.
evaluation.
5.1.5.2 The impact surface shall be integral with a mass at
7. Test Specimens
least 50 times that of the heaviest container to be tested.
7.1 When the protective capability of a container is to be
Neither the depth nor width of the mass shall be less than half
evaluated, it is preferable to pack the container with the actual
the length.
contents for which it was designed (Note 2). When the
5.1.5.3 For drop testing of containers not exceeding 110 lb
capability of a container to withstand rough handling is to be
(50 kg), the impact surface shall be flat, such that no two points
evaluated, pack the container with either the actual contents or
on the surface differ in level by more than ⁄64 in. (2 mm).
a load simulating the contents. Regardless of which procedure
5.1.5.4 The impact surface shall be rigid, such that it will
is used, close the container in the same manner that will be
not be deformed by more than 0.0039 in. (0.1 mm) when an
2 2
used in preparing it for shipment.
area of 0.1550 in. (100 mm ) is loaded statically with 22.05 lb
(10 kg) anywhere on the surface.
NOTE 2—Where the use of actual contents is not feasible because of
5.1.5.5 The impact surface shall be sufficiently large to excessive cost or danger, a dummy load simulating the contents with
respect to dimensions, center of gravity, moment of inertia, density, flow
ensure that the containers being tested fall entirely upon the
characteristics, etc. may be used. Accelerometers or other indicating
surface.
mechanisms may be installed.
5.1.6 A rupture hazard may be used for determining the
7.2 Close and seal the container in the normal manner. Dry
rupture resistance of cylindrical containers or bags. Unless
and age sufficiently so that any adhesive, protective coatings,
otherwise specified, the rupture hazard should consist ofa4by
sealing tape, and so forth will have reached their final normal
4-in. (102 by 102-mm) timber, of oak or other wood of
condition.
equivalent hardness, approximately 4 ft (1.2 m) long, having
the edges rounded to a radius of not more than ⁄4 in. (6.35
8. Procedure
mm).
5.1.6.1 For testing of 49 CFR—DOT 21C fiber drums, a 2 8.1 Identify members as specified in Annex A1, by marking,
by 6-in. (51 by 152-mm) timber, with a 6-in. (152-mm) vertical at a minimum, Faces 1, 2, and 5 of rectangular containers;
D5276–98
Positions 1, 3, 5, and 7 of cylindrical containers; and Faces 1, and results of any supplementary tests of the materials from
4, and 5 of sacks and bags. which the container is made.
9.1.6 Description of apparatus and special instrumentation,
8.2 Unless otherwise specified, establish failure criteria
if used.
prior to the commencement of testing. (See Practice D 4169,
9.1.7 Whethera4by4 timber was used as a hazard. Where
Acceptance Criteria.)
a hazard other than that specified in 5.1.6 is used, a description
8.3 Test containers that have been conditioned in the con-
of the hazard used.
ditioned atmosphere or immediately upon removal from that
9.1.8 Details of the failure criteria used.
atmosphere.
9.1.9 Member(s) tested (see Annex A1).
8.4 Conduct drop test procedures by dropping the container
9.1.10 Description of the prescribed test sequence, if used.
on either one member or several different members in a
9.1.11 Drop height(s).
prescribed sequence (cyclical testing).
9.1.12 Size of the increment, if a variable height drop test
8.4.1 When the container is to be dropped flat on a face,
procedure is used.
position it so that, upon impact, there is no more than a 2° angle
9.1.13 Number of drops (at each incremental height, if
between the plane of this face and the impact surface.
applicable).
8.4.2 When a rectangular container or bag is to be dropped
9.1.14 Detailed record of the test results for each container,
on an edge, position it so that, upon impact, this edge makes no
including damage to the container and contents, together with
more than a 2° angle with the impact surface, and the plane
any other observation that may assist in interpreting the results
containing this edge and the center of gravity of the container
correctly or aid in improving the design of the container or
makes no more than a 5° angle with the vertical.
method of packaging, blocking, or bracing.
8.4.3 When a rectangular container or bag is to be dropped
9.1.15 Where a mean failure height is determined by drop-
on a corner, position it so that, upon impact, the line containing
ping, a statement of this mean and the estimated standard
this corner and the center of gravity of the container makes no
deviation and level of confidence.
more than a 5° angle with the vertical.
9.1.16 Name and address of the testing agency, date, and
8.4.4 When a cylindrical container is to be dropped on either
signature of a responsible representative of the testing agency.
a chime or a circumferential edge, position it so that, upon
impact, a plane containing this edge and the center of gravity
10. Precision and Bias
of the container makes no more than a 5° angle with the
10.1 Precision :
vertical plane perpendicular to the drop surface.
10.1.1 A precision statement is not applicable when the drop
8.4.5 When determining the rupture resistance of cylindrical
test is conducted at a specified drop height to determine
containers or bags, place a rupture hazard (see 5.1.6) on the
conformance with established acceptance criteria.
target surface, and position it so that, unless otherwise speci-
10.1.2 When the drop test is conducted to determine the
fied, the center of the cylinder sidewall or face edge or butt of
drop height to failure, the observed precision is a combination
the bag impacts across the hazard.
of the precision of the test method (including apparatus,
8.4.6 Before each drop of a bag or sack, distribute the
operators, etc.) and the precision of the packaged product being
contents uniformly throughout the bag or sack.
tested. Experience has shown that the observed precision is
8.5 Height of Drop—Determine the height of the drop by
highly dependent on the particular packaged item being tested.
measuring from the bottom surface, edge, or corner of the
Research Report D10–1004 describes an interlaboratory test
container to the impact surface.
program of three packaged items, establishing drop heights to
failure. The mean drop heights to failure for the three types of
9. Report
packaging were 39, 42.6, and 47.7 in. (991, 1083, and 1212
mm). The repeatability (within laboratory) standard deviation
9.1 Report the following information:
ranged from 3 to 10 in. (75 to 250 mm) for these items. The
9.1.1 Reference to this test method, including a statement to
pooled reproduci
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