Ista 3F
Ista 3F
Ista 3F
OVERVIEW ONLY
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3F
Packaged Products in Mixed Pallet Loads for Regional 2
Shipment 100 lb (45 kg) or Less 0
1
7
Last Two systems of weights and measures are presented in ISTA test procedures. They are the English system (Inch-Pound) and the
EDITORIAL international system SI (Metric). Inch-Pound units are shown first with Metric units in brackets, except in some tables where they
Change: are shown separately.
MARCH Either system may be used as the unit of measure (standard units), but
2017 The standard units chosen shall be used consistently throughout the procedure.
Units are converted to two significant figures and
For complete Not exact equivalents.
listing of
Procedure VERY IMPORTANT:
Changes and The entire document shall be read and understood before proceeding with a test.
Version Dates
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www.ista.org OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 3F
Test Procedure 3F is a general simulation test for packaged-products that are shipped as an individual package from a distribution
Preface center to a retail outlet in a mixed pallet configuration.
It can be used to evaluate the protective performance of packaged-products related to vibrations, shocks and other stresses
normally encountered during handling and transportation.
The test levels are based on general data and may not represent any specific retail distribution system.
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 test unitized loads of this packaged-product being transported to the distribution center, use ISTA Test Procedure 3E.
To test individual cases where floor load mixed loads are common, use ISTA Test Procedure 3A.
Refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects for additional information.
Product Damage The shipper shall determine the following prior to testing:
Tolerance and what constitutes damage to the product and
Degradation what damage tolerance level is allowable, if any, and
Allowance 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 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.
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 Sequence 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
Ο
1 Atmospheric Temperature and Humidity Ambient Required
Preconditioning
TEST BLOCK 1
2 Atmospheric Controlled Temperature and Temperature and Humidity Optional
Conditioning Humidity chosen from chart
TEST BLOCK 1
3 Compression Machine Apply and Release Calculated Test Force x 1.4 Required
(Alternative
methods allowed – Machine Apply and Hold Calculated Test Force
select one test
type)
Weight and Load Spreader Calculated Test Load
TEST BLOCK 2
Equipment Type of Compression Test Equipment In compliance with the apparatus section of:
Required
Apply and Release Test Compression test system ASTM D 642
Compression
Apply and Hold Test Compression test system Fixed or Floating platen acceptable
Ο
Apply and Hold Test Weight and load spreader NA