ASTM_D_4169_-_14.pdf

Designation:D416914Standard Practice forPerformance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4169;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.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This practice provides a uniform basis of evaluating,ina laboratory,the ability of shipping units to withstand thedistribution environment.This is accomplished by subjectingthem to a test plan consisting of a sequence of anticipatedhazard elements encountered in various distribution cycles.This practice is not intended to supplant material specificationsor existing preshipment test procedures.1.2 Consider the use of Practice D7386 for testing ofpackages for single parcel shipments.1.3 The suitability of this practice for use with hazardousmaterials has not been determined.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:2D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistanceof Shipping Containers,Components,and Unit LoadsD880 Test Method for Impact Testing for Shipping Contain-ers and SystemsD951 Test Method for Water Resistance of Shipping Con-tainers by Spray MethodD996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD999 Test Methods for Vibration Testing of Shipping Con-tainersD4003 Test Methods for Programmable Horizontal ImpactTest for Shipping Containers and SystemsD4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers,Packages,orPackaging Components for TestingD4728 Test Method for Random Vibration Testing of Ship-ping ContainersD5265 Test Method for Bridge Impact TestingD5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers byFree FallD5277 Test Method for Performing Programmed HorizontalImpacts Using an Inclined Impact TesterD5487 Test Method for Simulated Drop of Loaded Contain-ers by Shock MachinesD6055 Test Methods for Mechanical Handling of UnitizedLoads and Large Shipping Cases and CratesD6179 Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized Loadsand Large Shipping Cases and CratesD6344 Test Method for Concentrated Impacts to TransportPackagesD6653 Test Methods for Determining the Effects of HighAltitude on Packaging Systems by Vacuum MethodD7386 Practice for Performance Testing of Packages forSingle Parcel Delivery SystemsF1327 Terminology Relating to Barrier Materials for Medi-cal Packaging(Withdrawn 2007)32.2 Military Standards:4MIL-STD-810F Environmental Test MethodsMIL-STD-20731DOD Standard Practice for MilitaryPackaging2.3 Association of American Railroads Standards:5General Information Bulletin No.2 Rules and Proceduresfor Testing of New Loading and Bracing Methods orMaterials1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packagingand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Containers andSystems-Application of Performance Test Methods.Current edition approved Nov.1,2014.Published December 2014.Originallyapproved in 2004.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D4169 09.DOI:10.1520/D4169-14.2For 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.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.4Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk,DODSSP,Bldg.4,SectionD,700RobbinsAve.,Philadelphia,PA19111-5098,http:/dodssp.daps.dla.mil.5Available from Association of American Railroads(AAR),425 Third St.,SW,Washington,DC 20024,http:/www.aar.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsGeneral definitions for the packaging anddistribution environments are found in Terminology D996.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 acceptance criteriathe acceptable quality level thatmust be met after the shipping unit has been subjected to thetest plan.See Section 7.3.2.2 assurance levelthe level of test intensity based on itsprobability of occurring in a typical distribution cycle.3.2.2.1 DiscussionLevel I is a high level of test intensityand has a low probability of occurrence.Level III is a low levelof test intensity,but has a correspon