1A

Packaged-Products 150 lb (68 kg) or Less

ISTA 1 Series ISTA. Distributing Confidence, Worldwide™

Non­
ISTA 1 Series are the most basic category of performance tests.
Simulation
Integrity • They challenge the capability of the package and product to withstand transport hazards, but
Performance • They are not simulations of actual transport hazards, and
Test • Do not necessarily comply with carrier packaging regulations.
Procedure When properly applied, ISTA procedures will provide tangible benefits of:
• Shortened packaged development time and confidence in product launch
• Protection of products and profits with reduced damage and product loss
• Economically balanced distribution costs
• Customer satisfaction and contin ued business.
VERSION
DATE There are three sections: Overview. Testing and Report
Last • Overview provides the general knowledge required before going into the testing laboratory and
TECHNICAL • Testing presents the specific instructions to do the testing in the laboratory and
Change: • Report indicates what data shall be recorded to submit a test report to ISTA.
MARCH
Tv/o systems of weights and measures are presented in ISTA test procedures. They are the English system (Inch-Pound) and the
2014
international system SI (Metric). Inch-Pound units are shown first with Metric units in brackets, except in some tables where they
are shown separately.
Last
EDITORIAL • Either system may be used as the unit of measure (standard units), but
Change: • The standard units chosen shall be used consistently throughout the procedure.
JANUARY • Units are converted to two significant figures and
2016 • Not exact equivalents.

VERY IMPORTANT:
For complete
listing of The entire document shall be read and understood before proceeding with a test.
Procedure
Changes and
Version Dates
OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 1A
go to
www.ista.org Test Procedure 1A is an integrity test for individual packaged-products.
• It can be used to evaluate the performance of a packaged-product.
• It can be used to compare relative performance of package and product design alternatives.

Preface • The package and product are considered together and not separately.
• Some conditions of transit, such as moisture, pressure or unusual handling, may not be covered.

Other ISTA Procedures may be appropriate tor different conditions or to meet ditierent objectives.

Specific suggestions:
• To use random vibration instead of fixed displacement vibration, use ISTA Test Procedure 1G and not 1 A.
• For packaged-products where a minimum compression value should be tested, use ISTA Test Procedure 1C.
• For packaged-products intended for international distribution consider ISTA Partial-Simulation Performance Test Procedure
2A.
• For packaged-products that may be transported in a small parcel delivery system consider ISTA General Simulation
Performance Test Procedure 3A.
Refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects for additional information.

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 1A OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 1A
Scope Test Procedure 1A covers testing of individual packaged-products weighing 150 lb (68 kg) or less when prepared for shipment.

EXCEPTION:
Individual packaged-products on a visible skid or pallet and that weigh more than 100 lb (45 kg) may be tested according to Test
Procedure 1B or 1E.

Product The shipper shall determine the following prior to testing:

Damage • what constitutes damage to the product and
Tolerance and • what damage tolerance level is allowable, if any, and
Package • the correct methodology to determine product condition at the conclusion of the test and
Degradation
• the acceptable package condition al the conclusion of the test.
Allowance
For additional information on this determination process refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Protects.

Samples Samples should be the untested actual package and product, but if one or both are not available, the substitutes shall be as
identical as possible to actual items.

Number of samples required:

• One sample is required for the tests in this procedure.

Replicate Testing Recommended:

To permit an adequate determination of representative performance of the packaged-product, ISTA:
• Requires the procedure to be performed one lime, but
• Recommends performing the procedure five or more times using new samples with each test.

NOTE:
Packages that have already been subjected to the rigors of transportation cannot be assumed to represent standard conditions. In
order to insure testing in perfect condition, products and packages shipped to certified laboratories for testing must be:
• over-packaged for shipment to the laboratory or
• repackaged in new packaging at the laboratory.

Test
The tests shall be performed on each test sample in the sequence indicated in the following table:
Sequence

Sequence « Test Category Test Type Test Level For ISTA Certification
0 1 Atmospheric Temperature and Ambient Required
Preconditioning Humidity

2 Vibration Fixed Displacement 1 in (25mm) peak-to- Required

peak at a frequency to be
determined

3 Shock Drop Height varies with Required

(Alternative methods packaged-product weight
allowed - select one
test type) Incline-Impact (Conbur) Impact Velocity varies
with packaged-product
weight

Horizontal Impact Impact Velocity varies

with packaged-product
weight

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 1A EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR PROCEDURE 1A
Equipment Fixed Displacement Vibration Test:
Required • Vibration Test System with a 1 in (25 mm) fixed or controlled displacement complying with Method Al or A2 of the
Vibration apparatus section of ASTM D 999.
Rotary or vertical linear motion of the platform is acceptable.
• Metal shim 0.06 in (1.5 mm), thick approximately 2 in (50 mm) wide and at a convenient length.
• Tachometer or suitable indicator for determining vibration frequency in cycles per second (Hz) or cycles per minute
(CPM).
• Automatic timer or stopwatch.

Equipment The following alternatives are acceptable for the equipment required for the Shock Test:
Required
Shock
Type of Shock Test Type of Equipment In compliance with the apparatus section of ...

Drop Test Fre fall drop tester ASTM D 5276

Vertical Shock Test Shock test machine ASTM D 5487

Alternative Incline Test Incline impact tester (conbur) ASTM D 880

Alternative Horizontal Test Horizontal impact test system ASTM D 4003

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 1A I BEFORE YOU BEGIN PROCEDURE 1A
Identification of Prior to beginning the tests identify the faces, edges and corners according to the procedure below.
Faces, Edges
and Comers Step Action

1 Place the packaged-product in its intended shipping position as determined by shipper. If the shipping
position can be variable, place the packaged-product so that the primary shipping label location is on the
top face.

2 Does the packaged-product have only six faces (2 sides, 2 ends, top and bottom)?
• If Yes, then go to Step 5.
• If No, continue to next Step.

3 Develop a method to identify each face, edge and corner and document with a diagram.

4 Go to next page for further Before You Begin details.

5 Is the package a corrugated container?

• If Yes, continue to next Step.
• If No, then go to Step 8.

6 Does the package have a manufacturers joint connecting a side and an end face?
• If Yes, continue to next Step.
• If No, then go to Step 8.

7 Turn the packaged-product so that you are looking directly at a face with the manufacturer's joint on the
observer’s right and go to Step 9.

8 Position one of the smallest width faces of the packaged-product directly in front of you.

9 Identify faces according to the diagram below.

1l /6
I
■<- Edge 1-2

Manufacturer’s Joint
\

N Corner 2-3-5

10 Identify edges using the numbers of the two faces forming that edge.
Example: Edge 1 -2 is the edge formed by face 1 and face 2 of the packaged-product.

11 Identify corners using the numbers of the three faces that meet to form that comer.
Example: Corner 2-3-5 is the corner formed by face 2, face 3, and face 5 of the packaged-product.

12 Go to next page for further Before You Begin details.

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 1A I BEFORE YOU BEGIN PROCEDURE 1A
Weight and You shall know the packaged-product s:
Size • gross weight in pounds (kg), and
Measurement • outside dimensions of Length, Width and Height (L x W x H) in inches (mm or m)

Before You
Begin Required Preconditioning:
Atmospheric The packaged-product shall be preconditioned to laboratory ambient temperature and humidity for twelve (12) hours prior to
Conditioning testing.
0
CAUTION:
Before You A restraining device or devices shall be used with the vibration test system to:
Begin • Prevent the test specimen from moving off the platform and
Vibration • Maintain test orientation of the packaged-product, but
Testing • The device or devices shall not restrict the vertical motion of the test specimen during the test.

Familiarity with the following formula is required to calculate the test duration after the frequency required to bounce the packaged-
product is determined in the Vibration Test Block:

14,200 Vibratory Impacts

Test Duration in Minutes = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cycles Per Minute (CPM) or [Cycles Per Second (Hz) x 60]

The chart below shows exam pie Test Durations calculated for several frequencies.
CPM Hz Test Duration in Minutes

150 2.5 95

180 3.0 79

210 3.5 68

240 4.0 60

270 4.5 53

300 5.0 48

The test drop height varies with the weight of the packaged-product. Find the weight of the packaged-product in the following chart
Before You to determine a drop height or an equivalent impact velocity or velocity change to be used for a substituted drop:
Begin
Packaged-Product Weight Drop Height Impact Velocity
Shock Testing
Equal to or greater than But Less than Free Fall Incline or Horizontal

lb lb kg in. mm ft.'s mi's

0 0 21 10 30 760 13 3.9

21 10 41 19 24 610 11 3.5

41 19 61 28 18 460 10 3.0

61 28 100 45 12 310 8.0 2.5

100 45 150 68 8 200 6.6 2.0

• The test method requires the packaged-product to be dropped in several different package orientations.
• A drop test must be performed in all required orientations where dropping the packaged-product is practical.
• If dropping in a required orientation is not practical an equivalent incline or horizontal test can be substituted for that
orientation.
• When using impact velocity or velocity change, if any velocity in a Test Sequence is below the required minimum level,
that sequence event must be repeated until the test velocity meets the minimum.

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 1A I TEST SEQUENCE FOR PROCEDURE 1A
The test blocks that follow contain tables that indicate the required steps for each test in the procedure.
TEST BLOCK 1 TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY 1
Atmospheric Step Action
Conditioning I PRE-CONDITIONING: The packaged-product should be stored at laboratory ambient temperature and
0 humidity for twelve (12) hours prior to testing.
2 Record the ambient laboratory temperature and humidity when testing starts.
3 At the end of testing record temperature and humidity.
I Go to TEST BLOCK 2 (Vibration).

TEST BLOCK 2
VIBRATION -FIXED DISPLACEMENT
Vibration
Step Action

1 Put the packaged-product on the vibration table so that face 3 rests on the platform.

2 Start the vibration system to vibrate al 1.0 in (25 mm) total displacement at the machine s lowest
frequency.

3 Maintain a fixed displacement al 1 inch (25 mm) and slowly increase the frequency (speed) of the
vibration table until the packaged-product begins Io momentarily leave the surface of the platform.

4 Can a metal shim be intermittently moved between the bottom of the longest dimension of the packaged
product and the surface of the platform?
• If Yes, hold that frequency and then continue to the next Step (Step 5).
• II No. then slowly increase the frequency until the requirement of this Step (Step 4) is met, and
hold that vibration frequency.

5 Determine the test duration in minutes using the formula indicated in Before You Begin Vibration Testing
and the CPM or Hz frequency identified in Step 4.

6 Begin timing the vibration test duration.

7 Are you using a vertical linear motion on the vibration system?

• II Yes, then go to Step 12.
• It No, then continue with the next Step.

8 Stop the vibration test after completion of one-half (V2) of the total minutes ot test duration and perform
the appropriate action as indicated in the table below:

IF a single 9O': horizontal rotation is... THEN perform a horizontal rotation of...

Possible 90° as the specimen rests on the platform.

Not practical because of the size of the 180p as the specimen rests on the platform.
packaged-product or the stability of the
packaged-product.

9 Re-start the vibration system to vibrate al 1.0 in (25 mm) total displacement at the machine's lowest
frequency.

10 Maintain a fixed displacement at 1 inch (25 mm) and slowly increase the frequency (speed) of the
vbration table until the packaged-product begins to momentarily leave the surface of the platform.

11 Can a metal shim be intermittently moved between the bottom ol the longest dimension of the packaged
product and the surface of the platform?
• II Yes, hold that frequency and then continue to the next Step (Step 12).
• II No, then slowly increase the frequency until the requirement of this Step (Step 11) is met, and
hold that vibration frequency.

12 Resume or continue timing the test, and complete the second half of the vibration duration.

13 Vibration testing is now complete. Go to TEST BLOCK 3 (Shock).

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 1A I TEST SEQUENCE FOR PROCEDURE 1A
SHOCK - DROP
TEST BLOCK3
Shock Step Action

1 Determine the method(s) of test and the required drop height or impact velocity in Before You Begin Shock
Testing.

2 Do you have a packaged-product with only 6 laces as identified in Face, Edge and Comer Identification?
• If Yes. continue with the next Step.
• It No, then go to Step 6.

3 Test the packaged-product according to the methodis) and level(s) determined in Step 1. Follow the
sequence in the table below.

4 Sequence # Orientation Specific face, edge or corner

1 Corner most fragile tace-3 comer, if not known, test 2-3-5

2 Edge shortest edge radiating from the comer tested

3 Edge next longest edge radiating from the corner tested

4 Edge longest edge radiating from the corner tested

5 Face one of the smallest faces

6 Face opposite small face

7 Face one of the medium faces

8 Face opposite medium face

9 Face one of the largest faces

10 Face opposite large face

5 All testing is now complete. Go to the Reporting an ISTA Test section al the end of this Procedure.

6 Select a bottom face corner to replace the corner required in Step 4 Sequence 1 to begin the lest.

7 Identify the edges of the packaged-product that meet the Step 4 Sequence 2 through 4 requirements.

8 Select any 6 faces to replace the faces required in Step 4 Sequence 5 through 10.

9 Using the corner, edges and faces from Steps 6 through 8 go to Step 3 and proceed.

10 All testing is now complete. Go to the Reporting an ISTA Test section at the end of this Procedure.

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 1A I REPORTING AN ISTA TEST
Reporting an ISTA Test Report Forms may be downloaded by members through the online ISTA Member Center (www.ista.org/members/).
ISTA Test: Custom forms are also acceptable, but information on an oflicial ISTA Report Form is considered to be the minimum required for
Completing and any test report submission and consideration. Test report forms should be submitted to ISTA Headquarters by mail, fax or
Submitting electronically. Test reports should be detailed enough for accurate repeatability of the test.
an ISTA Test
Report The packaged-product has satisfactorily passed the test if, upon examination, it meets the Product Damage Tolerance and
Package Degradation Allowance determined prior to testing.

ISTA Certified Testing Laboratories:

• Should file a test report on all ISTA Test Procedures or Projects conducted.
• Shall file a test report on all ISTA Test Procedures or Projects conducted to obtain Transit Tested Package Certification or
Acknowledgement.

To submit a test report form:

• Email to [email protected]
• Mail Io address shown below
• Fax to+1 517-333-3813.

ISTA Transit Tested Program: Packaged-Product Certification TRANSIT TESTED

The ISTA Transit Tested Certification Mark as shown:
• is a registered certification mark and
• can only be printed on certified packages and
• can only be used by license agreement and
• by a Shipper member of the International Safe Transit Association.

When a Shipper member prints this certification mark on a packaged-product, with their manufacturer’s license number, they are
showing their customer, vendors and carriers that it has passed the requirements of ISTA preshipmenl testing.

To obtain initial certification of a packaged-product:

• the product manufacturer must be a Shipper member of ISTA in good-standing and with a valid License Agreement on file
• the testing laboratory must be a member of ISTA in good-standing and have a valid lab certification date
• a test report must be submitted by the laboratory to ISTA Headquarters.

In order to maintain its certified status and eligibility for identification with the Transit Tested Certification Mark, each packaged-
product must be re tested whenever a change is made in the:
• Product or
• Process or
• Package.

If corrugated packaging is used, it is recommended that the basis weights of the constituent papers'paperboards be determined
alter testing and documented to provide the best indicator of equivalence or change.

As a quality control procedure, packaged-products should be re tested frequently, for example, yearly.

For additional information, refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Test Procedures and Projects.

ISTA Membership information is available at www.ista.org.

This Test Procedure is published by:

International Safe Transit Association
1400 Abbot Road. Suite 160, East Lansing. Michigan 48823-1900 USA

© 2016 International Safe Transit Association

No pan of the contents of this Test Procedure may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of
rhe publisher.

Order Information: Additional copies ol this Test Procedure and the ISTA* RESOURCE BOOK may be ordered online at www.ista.org or by
contacting ISTA at (+1) 517.333.3437. A listing of current procedure version dates is available at vnw/.ista.org.

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