ISO 3676:2012
(Main)Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Unit load dimensions
Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit loads — Unit load dimensions
ISO 3676:2012 is based on the concept of a modular system and specifies the plan dimensions for unit loads suitable for the distribution of goods, which comprises all activities for the movement of products from their origin to their destination.
Emballages — Emballages d'expédition complets et pleins et charges unitaires — Dimensions d'unité de charge
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Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3676
Second edition
2012-10-15
Packaging — Complete, filled
transport packages and unit loads —
Unit load dimensions
Emballages — Emballages d’expédition complets et pleins et charges
unitaires — Dimensions d’unité de charge
Reference number
ISO 3676:2012(E)
©
ISO 2012
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ISO 3676:2012(E)
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ISO 3676:2012(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 3676 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 3676:1983), which has been technically revised.
© ISO 2012 – All rights reserved iii
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ISO 3676:2012(E)
Introduction
A single overall system based on a common module is unlikely to cover all packaged goods in the world,
because of substantial differences in the sizes, shapes, and densities of the products, great variety in
handling devices, regional government legislation, etc.
However, the application of such a system is a long-term policy goal, assuming that this does not lead to
the exclusion of commodity dimensions and goods which are compatible with the modular system.
A standardized unit-load dimension is intended to prevent inadvertent over-sizing, and thus jamming
against internal walls, or under-sizing, and thus wasting cargo vehicle space and/or rendering the load
susceptible to transit damage.
Determining acceptable deviations in dimensions of unit loads is a complex matter, since the dimensions
of the transport package, and thus the load itself, tend to change during filling, handling, warehousing,
and transport. See Figure 1.
One factor affecting the measurement of the unit load is load bulge (filling, compression, and settling
bulge). Factors influencing the load bulge are transport package materials, nature of contents, length of
time in storage, moisture and temperature conditions, and transit conditions.
Another cause of unit load enlargement is stacking irregularity (unitizing inefficiency, out-of-line
stacking, and out-of-square stacking) which occurs frequently and particularly in manual formation of
the transport package layers in a unit load.
Such factors, which tend to change the plan dimensions of the unit load, cannot always be avoided but
they are to be controlled by providing a dimensional deviation for the standardized unit loads.
When choosing transport package materials and when adding subsequent layers of transport packages
to complete the unit load, it is to be ensured that the resulting overall length and width dimensions do
not exceed the referenced plan dimensions of the unit load, at any stage of the distribution chain.
Stacking
irregularity
Settling
Compression
bulge
bulge
Figure 1 — Dimensional deviations for unit loads
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3676:2012(E)
Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages and unit
loads — Unit load dimensions
1 Scope
This International Standard is based on the concept of a modular system and specifies the plan
dimensions for unit loads suitable for the distribution of goods, which comprises all activities for the
movement of products from their origin to their destination.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1496-1, Series 1 freight containers —
...
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