ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 1 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

Packaged-Products 150 lb (68 kg) or Less

1A

2

0

0

1

ISTA, Distributing Confidence, Worldwide?

ISTA 1 Series are the most basic category of performance tests.

?  They challenge the capability of the package and product to withstand transport hazards, but

?  They are not simulations of actual transport hazards, and

?  Do not necessarily comply with carrier packaging regulations.

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 continued business.

There are three sections: Overview, Testing and Report

?  Overview provides the general knowledge required before going into the testing laboratory and

?  Testing presents the specific instructions to do the testing in the laboratory and

?  Report indicates what data shall be recorded to submit a test report to ISTA.

Two systems of weights and measures are presented in ISTA test procedures. They are the English system (Inch-Pound) and the

international system SI (Metric). Inch-Pound units are shown first with Metric units in brackets, except in some tables where they

are shown separately.

?  Either system may be used as the unit of measure (standard units), but

?  The standard units chosen shall be used consistently throughout the procedure.

?  Units are converted to two significant figures and

?  Not exact equivalents.

VERY IMPORTANT:

The entire document shall be read and understood before proceeding with a test.

OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 1A

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.

?  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 for different conditions or to meet different objectives.

Specific suggestions:

?  To use random vibration instead of fixed displacement vibration, use ISTA Test Procedure 1G and not 1A.

?  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.

ISTA 1 Series

Non-Simulation

Integrity

Performance

Test Procedure

VERSION

DATE

Last TECHNICAL

Change:

JANUARY 2001

Last EDITORIAL

Change:

JANUARY 2008

For complete

listing of

Procedure

Changes and

Version Dates

go to

www.--ista.org

Preface

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 2 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 1A

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.

The shipper shall determine the following prior to testing:

?  what constitutes damage to the product and

?  what damage tolerance level is allowable, if any, and

?  the correct methodology to determine product condition at the conclusion of the test and

?  the acceptable package condition at the conclusion of the test.

For additional information on this determination process refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects.

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 time, 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.

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

Sequence #  Test Category  Test Type  Test Level  For ISTA Certification

1  Vibration  Fixed Displacement

1 in (25mm) peak-to-

peak at a frequency to be

determined

Required

Drop

Height varies with

packaged-product weight

Incline-Impact (Conbur)  Impact Velocity varies

with packaged-product

weight

2  Shock

(Alternative methods

allowed – select one

test type)

Horizontal Impact

Impact Velocity varies

with packaged-product

weight

Required

Scope

Product Damage

Tolerance and

Degradation

Allowance

Samples

Test Sequence

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 3 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR PROCEDURE 1A

Fixed Displacement Vibration Test:

?  Vibration Test System with a 1 in (25 mm) fixed or controlled displacement complying with Method A1 or A2 of the

apparatus section of ASTM D 999-01.

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.

The following alternatives are acceptable for the equipment required for the Shock Test:

Type of Shock Test  Type of Equipment  In compliance with the apparatus section of …

Drop Test

Free fall drop tester  ASTM D 5276-98

Vertical Shock Test

Shock test machine

ASTM D 5487-98(02)

Alternative Incline Test

Incline impact tester (conbur)

ASTM D 880-92(02)

Alternative Horizontal Test

Horizontal impact test system

ASTM D 4003-98

Equipment

Required

Vibration

Equipment

Required

Shock

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 4 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  BEFORE YOU BEGIN PROCEDURE 1A

Prior to beginning the tests identify the faces, edges and corners according to the procedure below.

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 manufacturer's 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.

1  6

2

4

5  Manufacturer’s Joint

3

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 corner.

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.

Identification of

Faces, Edges

and Corners

Corner 2-3-5

Edge 1-2

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 5 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  BEFORE YOU BEGIN PROCEDURE 1A

You shall know the packaged-product’s:

?  gross weight in pounds (kg), and

?  outside dimensions of Length, Width and Height (L x W x H) in inches (mm or m)

CAUTION:

A restraining device or devices shall be used with the vibration test system to:

?  Prevent the test specimen from moving off the platform and

?  Maintain test orientation of the packaged-product, but

?  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 example Test Duration’s 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

to determine a drop height or an equivalent impact velocity or velocity change to be used for a substituted drop:

Packaged-Product Weight  Drop Height

Impact Velocity

Equal to or greater than  But Less than  Free Fall  Incline or Horizontal

lb  kg  lb  kg  in.  mm  ft/s  m/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.

Packaged-Product

Weight and Size

Measurement

Before You Begin

Vibration Testing

Before You Begin

Shock Testing

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 6 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  TEST SEQUENCE FOR PROCEDURE 1A

The test blocks that follow contain tables that indicate the required steps for each test in the procedure.

VIBRATION - FIXED DISPLACEMENT

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 at 1.0 in (25 mm) total displacement at the machine’s lowest

frequency.

3  Maintain a fixed displacement at 1 inch (25 mm) and slowly increase the frequency (speed) of the

vibration table until the packaged-product begins to momentarily leave the surface of the platform.

4  Hold the vibration frequency to that determined in Step 3.

5  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 next Step.

?  If No, then increase the frequency until the requirement of Step 5 is met, and hold that vibration

frequency.

6  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 5.

7  Begin the vibration duration.

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

?  If Yes, then go to Step 12.

?  If No, then continue with the next Step.

Stop the vibration test half way through the vibration duration and perform the appropriate action as

indicated in the table below:

IF a single 90o horizontal rotation is…  THEN perform a horizontal rotation of …

Possible  90o as the specimen rests on the platform.

9

Not practical because of the size of the

packaged-product or the stability of the

packaged-product.

180o as the specimen rests on the platform.

10  Start the vibration system and continue the vibration test at the frequency used in Step 7.

11  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, then continue to next Step.

?  If No, then slowly increase the frequency until the requirement of Step 11 is met.

12  Complete the vibration duration.

13  Inspection of the packaged-product for visible damage is allowed, provided inspection does not alter, in

any way, the current condition of the package or the condition or position of the product(s).

14  Vibration testing is now complete. Go to TEST BLOCK 2 (Shock).

TEST BLOCK 1

Vibration

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 7 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  TEST SEQUENCE FOR PROCEDURE 1A 

SHCOK - DROP

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 faces as identified in Face, Edge and Corner Identification?

?  If Yes, continue with the next Step.

?  If No, then go to Step 6.

3  Test the packaged-product according to the method(s) and level(s) determined in Step 1. Follow the

sequence in the table below.

Sequence #  Orientation  Specific face, edge or corner

1  Corner  most fragile face-3 corner, if not known, test 2-3-5

2  Edge  shortest edge radiating from the corner 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

4

10  Face  opposite large face

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

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

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.

TEST BLOCK 2

Shock

ISTA 1A 2001 - Page 8 of 8

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.

1A  REPORTING AN ISTA TEST

ISTA Test Report Forms may be downloaded from www.--ista.org. Custom forms with additional information are acceptable, but

information on an official ISTA Report Form is considered to be the minimum.

The packaged-product has satisfactorily passed the test if, upon examination, it meets the Product Damage Tolerance and

Package Degradation Allowance.

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.

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

ISTA Transit Tested Program

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 member of the International Safe Transit Association.

When a member prints this certification mark on a packaged-product, with their license number, they are showing their customer

and the carrier that it has passed the requirements of ISTA preshipment testing.

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.

Changes in the product can include changes in:

? Design (configuration, components, accessories, etc.) or

? Size / weight (dimensions, shape, mass, center of gravity, etc.) or

? Materials (type, construction, fabrication, gage, etc.)

Changes in the process can include changes in:

? Manufacturing / assembly (vendor, location, automation, etc.) or

? Filling (equipment, speed, automation, etc.) or

? Distribution system (parcel delivery, LTL, intermodal, etc.)

Changes in the package can include changes in:

? Configuration (individual package or unit load, container type and sub-type, style, design, interior packaging, etc.) or

? Size / weight (dimensions, shape, mass, caliper, gage etc.) or

? Materials (corrugated, plastic, metal, glass, etc.) or

? Components (closures, labels, straps, pallets, skids, wraps, etc.)

If corrugated packaging is used, it is recommended that the basis weights of the constituent papers/paperboards be determined

after 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.

This Test Procedure is published by:

International Safe Transit Association

1400 Abbott Road, Suite 160, East Lansing, Mi 48823-1900 USA

? 2008 International Safe Transit Association

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

the publisher.

Order Information: Additional copies of this Test Procedure, the ISTA RESOURCE BOOK (in print or on CD ROM) 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 www.--ista.org.

Reporting an ISTA

Test:

Completing and

Submitting an

ISTA Test Report