ASTM D4649-20

Standard Guide for Use of Stretch Films and Wrapping Application

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is for user selection, specification, and application of stretch film materials. It may be used between the buyer and seller to arrive at purchase specifications.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers recommended guidelines for the selection, specification, and use of stretch films for unitizing, reinforcing, and palletizing for indoor environments. This can include storage or transport, or both, in warehouses, closed containers such as truck trailers or rail boxcars, and associated transfer terminals. This guide does not cover the performance issues associated with outdoor exposure.  
1.1.1 Performance characteristics of stretch film may be negatively affected by extreme temperatures.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
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: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.25 - Palletizing and Unitizing of Loads

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: D4649 − 20
Standard Guide for
1
Use of Stretch Films and Wrapping Application
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4649; 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 D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
of Transparent Plastics
1.1 This guide covers recommended guidelines for the
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
selection, specification, and use of stretch films for unitizing,
Gradient Technique
reinforcing, and palletizing for indoor environments. This can
D1746 Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting
include storage or transport, or both, in warehouses, closed
D1894 Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of
containers such as truck trailers or rail boxcars, and associated
Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting
transfer terminals. This guide does not cover the performance
D1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of
issues associated with outdoor exposure.
Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
1.1.1 Performance characteristics of stretch film may be
D2103 Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
negatively affected by extreme temperatures.
D2457 Test Method for Specular Gloss of Plastic Films and
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Solid Plastics
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
D2578 TestMethodforWettingTensionofPolyethyleneand
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Polypropylene Films
and are not considered standard.
D2863 Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Plastics (Oxygen Index)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
D4321 Test Method for Package Yield of Plastic Film
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
D4470 Test Method for Static Electrification
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
D5331 Test Method for Evaluation of Mechanical Handling
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
of Unitized Loads Secured with Stretch Wrap Films
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
D5414 Test Method for Evaluation of Horizontal Impact
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Performance of Load Unitizing Stretch Wrap Films
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
D5415 Test Method for Evaluating Load Containment Per-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
formance of Stretch Wrap Films by Vibration Testing
D5416 Test Method for Evaluating Abrasion Resistance of
2. Referenced Documents
Stretch Wrap Films by Vibration Testing
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5458 Test Method for Peel Cling of Stretch Wrap Film
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
D5459 Test Method for Machine Direction Elastic Recovery
Sheeting
and Permanent Deformation and Stress Retention of
D907 Terminology of Adhesives
Stretch Wrap Film
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
D5748 Test Method for Protrusion Puncture Resistance of
ments
Stretch Wrap Film
D8314 Guide for Performance Testing of Applied Stretch
Films and Stretch Wrapping
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD10onPackagingand
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.25 on Palletizing and Unitizing of
Materials
Loads.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published January 2021. Originally
E284 Terminology of Appearance
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D4649 – 03 (2016).
DOI: 10.1520/D4649-20.
2 3. Terminology
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3.1 Definitions—Terminology found in Terminology D996
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. shall apply.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4649 − 20
4. Significance and Use each other. If the cling side is not known, fold the film over on
its se
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4649 − 03 (Reapproved 2016) D4649 − 20
Standard Guide for
Selection and Use of Stretch Wrap FilmsFilms and
1
Wrapping Application
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4649; 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
1.1 This guide covers recommended guidelines and test methods for the selection, specification, and use of stretch wrap films for
unitizing, reinforcing, and palletizing for indoor environments. This can include storage or transport, or both, in warehouses, closed
containers such as truck trailers or rail boxcars, and associated transfer terminals. This guide does not cover the performance issues
associated with outdoor exposure.
1.1.1 Performance characteristics of stretch film may be negatively affected by extreme temperatures.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
D907 Terminology of Adhesives
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique
D1746 Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting
D1894 Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
D1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
D2103 Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
D2457 Test Method for Specular Gloss of Plastic Films and Solid Plastics
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.25 on Palletizing and Unitizing of
Loads.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2016Oct. 1, 2020. Published December 2016January 2021. Originally approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 20092016
as D4649 – 03 (2009).(2016). DOI: 10.1520/D4649-03R16.10.1520/D4649-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4649 − 20
D2578 Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films
D2863 Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics
(Oxygen Index)
D3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
D4321 Test Method for Package Yield of Plastic Film
D4470 Test Method for Static Electrification
D5331 Test Method for Evaluation of Mechanical Handling of Unitized Loads Secured with Stretch Wrap Films
D5414 Test Method for Evaluation of Horizontal Impact Performance of Load Unitizing Stretch Wrap Films
D5415 Test Method for Evaluating Load Containment Performance of Stretch Wrap Films by Vibration Testing
D5416 Test Method for Evaluating Abrasion Resistance of Stretch Wrap Films by Vibration Testing
D5458 Test Method for Peel Cling of Stretch Wrap Film
D5459 Test Method for Machine Direction Elastic Recovery and Permanent Deformation and Stress Retention of Stretch Wrap
Film
D5748 Test Method for Protrusion Puncture Resistance of Stretch Wrap Film
D8314 Guide f
...