ASTM_D_7435_-_08_2014.pdf

Designation:D743508(Reapproved 2014)Standard Test Method forDetermining the Performance of Passive Radio FrequencyIdentification(RFID)Transponders on Loaded Containers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7435;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method determines the readability of radiofrequency identification(RFID)transponders placed on loadedcontainers that are manually handled or mechanically handledby material handling equipment such as fork trucks,palletjacks,and automated guided vehicle systems.The results ofthese tests are intended to be used for qualitative purposes.1.2 Test results solely reflect the performance of the speci-fied RFID system and the specified loaded container.Resultsare not intended for performance analysis of the RFID system,in part or in whole.1.3 This test method is intended for use in laboratorysettings that simulate,as closely as is practicable,the distribu-tion environment of the product being tested.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers,Packages,orPackaging Components for TestingE337 Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psy-chrometer(the Measurement of Wet-and Dry-Bulb Tem-peratures)3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsTerms and definitions used in these testmethods may be found in Terminology D996.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 critical transponder distancethe distance betweenthe transponder and the interrogator antenna at which atransponder becomes undetectable by an RFID system,whenmoving the RFID transponder out of the read field.3.2.2 direct line of sightan unobstructed visible path fromone object to another.3.2.3 empty containerthe shipping case of the loadedcontainer,excluding the product as well as the primary,secondary,and/or tertiary packaging shall be considered theempty container.3.2.4 firmwarea series of programmable instructions,stored in read only memory(ROM),which controls thecapabilities of an interrogator.3.2.5 loaded containerthe loaded container shall consistof a production run or individually prepared packaging system,to include the product as well as the primary,secondary,and/ortertiary packaging up through the shipping case level.3.2.6 radio frequency identification(RFID)a wirelessdata communication technology that uses radio waves totransfer data from one source to another.3.2.7 read fieldthe area in which an RFID transponder iscapable of responding to the interrogator.The outermostboundary of the read field correlates to the critical transponderdistance.The distance between the critical transponder dis-tance and the transponder acquisition distance represents anarea of RF energy that may or may not be sufficient to activatea passive transponder.3.2.8 RFthe energy used by RFID systems to activatetransponders and wirelessly transfer information.3.2.9 RF enhancinga substance or material that,when inthe presence of radio waves,creates constructive interference,causing the amplitude of the radio waves to increase.Ultimately,the resulting wave experiences an increase in1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 onPackaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.17 on Auto-IDApplications.Current edition approved Oct.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 2008.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D7435-08.DOI:10.1520/D7435-08R14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 intensity and power,and thus,the wave retains higher energyat a farther distance from the interrogator antenna.3.2.10 RF inhibitinga substance or material that causes asignificant reduction in the effectiveness of radio waves thatreach an RFID transponder.3.2.11 RF transparenta substance or material that haslittle or no significant impact on the performance of an RFIDsystem.3.2.12 softwarean array of logic,displayed as anapplication,use