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 3E
Similar Packaged-Products in Unitized Loads for 2
0
Truckload Shipment 1
7

ISTA 3 Series ISTA, Distributing Confidence, Worldwide™

General
Simulation ISTA 3 Series tests are advanced tests.
Performance  They challenge the capability of the package and product to withstand transport hazards, but
Test  They use general simulation of actual transport hazards, and
Procedure  They do not necessarily comply with carrier packaging regulations.
When properly applied, ISTA procedures will provide tangible benefits of:
VERSION  Shortened packaged development time and confidence in product launch
DATE  Protection of products and profits with reduced damage and product loss
Last  Economically balanced distribution costs
TECHNICAL  Customer satisfaction and continued business.
Change:
APRIL There are three sections: Overview, Testing and Report
2017  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
Last  Report indicates what data shall be recorded to submit a test report to ISTA.
EDITORIAL
Change: Two systems of weights and measures are presented in ISTA test procedures. They are the English system (Inch-Pound) and the
APRIL international system SI (Metric). Inch-Pound units are shown first with Metric units in brackets, except in some tables where they
2017 are shown separately.
 Either system may be used as the unit of measure (standard units), but
For complete  The standard units chosen shall be used consistently throughout the procedure.
listing of  Units are converted to two significant figures and
Procedure  Not exact equivalents.
Changes and
Version Dates VERY IMPORTANT:
go to The entire document shall be read and understood before proceeding with a test.
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Preface
OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 3E
Procedure 3E is a general simulation test for unitized loads of similar retail or institutional packaged-products shipped from a
manufacturing location to a distribution center. The unitized loads of packaged-products are shipped through a motor carrier
(truck) delivery system, where an entire trailer-load is filled with unitized packaged-products, often of similar retail packaged-
products, intended for one destination. This type of shipment is called Full Truckload (FTL).

A unitized load is defined as one or more products or packaged-products usually on a skid or pallet, but always secured together or
restrained for distribution as a single load. Examples would be a stretch wrapped pallet load of individual containers, a single non-
packaged machine banded to a pallet or a pallet with a corrugated tray, tube and a cap.
 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.
 It can be used to evaluate load stability.
 The test levels are based on general data and may not represent any specific 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 the individual packaged-product that might be shipped non-unitized from a distribution center to a retail outlet, use
ISTA Test Procedure 3F.
 To test packaged-products prepared for shipment via a Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) delivery system carrier. LTL is defined as
a motor carrier (truck) shipment, where different types of packaged-products, often from different shippers and intended for
different ultimate destinations, are mixed in the same load then use ISTA Test Procedure 3B.
Refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects for additional information.
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 3E OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURE 3E
Scope Procedure 3E covers the testing of unitized loads, made up of either single or multiple products or packages of similar products
prepared for shipment via a Full Truckload (FTL) delivery system carrier. FTL is defined as motor carrier shipment, where an
entire trailer-load is filled with unitized packaged-products, often of similar retail packaged-products, intended for one destination.
Product Damage
Tolerance and The shipper shall determine the following prior to testing:
Package  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.

Number of samples required:

One sample (unitized load) 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.
 Refer to Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects for additional information on statistical sampling.
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.
It is important to thoroughly document the configuration, materials, and construction of the tested product and package. Significant
variations in performance can sometimes be caused by seemingly insignificant differences. Photo documentation is strongly
recommended to supplement detailed written descriptions.
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
1 Atmospheric Temperature and Humidity Ambient Required
Preconditioning
2 Atmospheric Controlled Temperature and Temperature and humidity Optional
Conditioning Humidity chosen from chart
Δ 3 Shock Incline Impact (Conbur) 48 in per second Required
(Alternative methods (1.2 m per second)
allowed – select one Horizontal Impact
test type)
48 in per second
(1.2 m per second)
Δ 4 Shock Rotational Edge Drop Height varies with packaged- Required
product weight
5 Compression Machine Apply and Release Calculated Test Force x 1.4 Required
Δ (Alternative methods
allowed – select one Machine Apply and Hold Calculated Test Force
test type)
Weight and Load Spreader Calculated Test Load

6 Vibration Random Overall Gr m s level of 0.54 Required

7 Shock Rotational Edge Drop Height varies with packaged- Required
Δ
product weight

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 3E EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR PROCEDURE 3E
Equipment Atmospheric Conditioning:
Required
 Humidity recording apparatus complying with of the apparatus section of ASTM D 4332.
Atmospheric
Conditioning  Temperature recording apparatus complying with the apparatus section of ASTM D 4332.

Optional Atmospheric Conditioning

Chamber and Control apparatus complying with the apparatus section of ASTM D 4332.

Equipment The following alternatives are acceptable for the equipment required for the Impact Test:
Required
Shock
Type of Shock Test Equipment In compliance with the apparatus section of:
Incline Test Incline impact tester (conbur) ASTM D 880
Horizontal Test Horizontal impact test system ASTM D 4003

Equipment The following alternatives are acceptable for the equipment required for the Compression Test:
Required
Compression Type of Compression Equipment In compliance with the Additional Required
Test apparatus section of: Equipment
Compression Test Machine ASTM D 642 Use an identical pallet on
Ο Apply and Release Test top as what the test item is
Fixed or Floating platen
acceptable shipped on.
Pallet
on top

Apply and Hold Test

Weight and load spreader NA See above for description

of the pallet.
Weight(s) Load Safety stops are
Spreader recommended to support
Apply and Hold Test the load spreader and
weight(s) to prevent
Safety damage or injury in the
Stops event of a rapid collapse
Pallet
of the test item.

Equipment Random Vibration Test:

Required  Random Vibration Test System complying with the apparatus section of ASTM D 4728.
Vibration

Δ – Most recent technical change(s) ISTA 3E 2016 - Page 3 of 12

Ο – Most recent technical addition(s) © 2017 International Safe Transit Association. All rights Reserved.