UPDATED: APRIL 30 , 2008

Based on TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS or CHANGES made to Procedures, the following are the current VERSION DATES for all ISTA Procedures:

1A: 2001
1B: 2001
1C: 2001
1D: 2001
1E: 2005
1G: 2001
1H: 2001
2A: 2008
2B: 2008
2C: 2008
2D: 2006
2E: 2006
2F: 2007
3A: FEB2008
3E: 2008
3F: 2008
3H: 2008
4AB: 2008
5B: 2002
7A: 2008
7B: 2008
7C: 2008
7D: 2007

Types of Changes:

TECHNICAL: These changes will affect the procedure in the way it is performed, in the levels of the test methods, or the types of test methods used. TECHNICAL changes require the review, discussion and approval of at least one ISTA Test Series Group (TSG) as well as the ISTA Technical Council.

CORRECTION: These are editorial changes made to text in regards to grammar, typographical errors or human errors in the creation of the document. CORRECTIONS are approved by the ISTA Technical Steering Committee.

CLARIFICATION: These are edits made to a procedure that will help to clarify an existing method or text that has been found to be confusing. CLARIFICATIONS are approved by the ISTA Technical Steering Committee.

ENHANCEMENT: These are additions to the procedure that allow for easier use. ENHANCEMENTS are currently approved by the ISTA Technical Council.

 

Are you using the most current ISTA Procedures and Projects? ISTA's policy is to accept a test report based on a previous version of a Procedure for up to ONE YEAR after the revision is published. To avoid problems with damage claims or additional re-testing, based on outdated procedures, we encourage all users to be sure they are using the most current version. ISTA keeps this page updated with corrections, changes and edits, as well as current version dates for all procedures.

The following changes have been made to ISTA Procedures since the release of the 2008 Resource Book. Members may LOGIN to download the most current versions of ISTA Procedures.

PROCEDURE(S) AFFECTED
CHANGE MADE
TYPE OF CHANGE
DATE OF CHANGE
2B
Test Sequence (page 3 of 15), Corrected Step 5 to show proper levels, added Rotational Edge Drop as Step 6, updated "Note" after table to show vibration sequences as #4 and #7 Correction April 30, 2008
3H
Test Sequence (page 3 of 19), Sequence 10 corrected to 2 mph (0.9m/s) 15 ms Half Sine Correction April 23, 2008
2B
Corrected value used in formula for Fixed Displacement Vibration (page 8 of 15). Value should be 11,800 vibratory impacts. Correction April 4, 2008
3A
Header/Footer date changed to FEBRUARY 2008; Last Editorial date changed to FEBRUARY 2008. Update Feb. 26, 2008
3A
Test Sequences: Test Blocks referenced for Vibration Testing now include all Test Blocks used. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
Top-Load Apparatus for Small description added to Page 13. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
Explanation for * in Top-Load Formulas table added to bottom of page. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
TEST BLOCK 1: redundant word removed from Step 4;
Step 10 replaced with easier explanation of continued steps.
Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
TEST BLOCK 2: Further direction added to Step 5. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
TEST BLOCK 5: Step 16 corrected to show proper Test Block title. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
TEST BLOCK 8: “Optional” comment revised; Step 1 added to direct user to TEST BLOCK 2 prior to continuing; Test sequence re-numbered accordingly; direction in Step 7 corrected accordingly. Editorial Feb. 26, 2008
3A
Title for TEST BLOCK 11 corrected to read “Full Rotational Flat Drop” Editorial Feb. 26, 2008

 

The 2008 ISTA Resource Book will be shipped to all current Members in February 2008, and will be available for purchase by non-members through our eMarket at that time. Below is a list of the changes that will be effective for 2008. Members can LOGIN to download the current 2008 versions NOW!

Please note that a majority of the ISTA Procedures have had one or more technical change for 2008. All procedures have gone through formatting changes in the 2008 versions, to make them more consistent with each other and easier to use. Please be sure you are using the correct procedure version - VERSION DATES are listed at the right of this page.

PROCEDURE(S) AFFECTED
CHANGE MADE
TYPE OF CHANGE
DATE OF CHANGE
2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3E, 3F, 3H, 7A, 7B, 7C
2 additional temperature and humidity cycles added to Atmospheric Conditioning table Technical January 2008
2C, 3E, 3F, 7C
Replaced truck vibration spectrum with ISTA 3H Steel Spring vibration spectrum Technical January 2008
3A
Top Load round-up increments changed to 5 pound (from 25 pound) Technical January 2008
3A
Top Load orientation changed for irregulars, tubes and pails Technical January 2008
2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3E, 3F, 3H, 7A, 7B, 7C
Corrected "Standard Conditions" (formerly Controlled temperature) Fahrenheit temperature value to 73°F Editorial Correction January 2008
7A
TEST BLOCK 2, Step 5, corrected missing words Editorial Correction January 2008
2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3E, 3F, 3H, 7A,7B, 7C
Changed titles of Atmospheric Conditioning sequences Editorial Change January 2008
ALL
Version Dates added for both last Technical Change made and last Editiorial Change made Enhancement January 2008
ALL (except 3A, which saw this change in 2007)
Test Blocks numbered throughout procedure Enhancement January 2008
2F, 3A
Test Block numbers added to test sequence tables Enhancement January 2008

 

The following changes have been made to ISTA Procedures since the release of the 2007 Resource Book. Members may LOGIN to download the most current versions of ISTA Procedures.

PROCEDURE
CHANGE MADE
TYPE OF CHANGE
DATE OF CHANGE
3H
Test Sequence was corrected to show test level in Sequence #10; also corrected to show that sequence as "Required" (not just for rail shipments) Correction October 2007
2A, 2B, 3E, 3H
A note was added to the Before You Begin Compression section to clarify that when the S-value is 1 (or when the user knows nothing will be stacked on the unit), the formula will equal zero and therefore no compression is necessary. Clarification May 2007
3H
The term "unitized load" was changed to "bulk container" where appropriate. Clarification May 2007
2C
Shock Test Blocks A, B, C, D: Edited to include qualifiers for Exception One and Two testing. Clarification May 2007
2C
Shock Test Block C: Corrected the face orientations that are impacted to small, opposite small, large and opposite large. Correction May 2007
3A
Added a second series of free fall drops for FLAT and ELONGATED packaged-products. Click here for details on this addition.
TECHNICAL March 2007
3A
Page 2 (Preface): picture graphics added to help with identifying the different package types. Enhancement March 2007
3A
Page 16 (Before You Begin OPTIONAL Vibration Under Vacuum):Changed unit "mm HG/torr" to "mm Hg (torr)", in order to avoid confusion. Some vacuum chambers use torr instead of mm Hg as the measured value. Clarification March 2007
7D
Correction made to last Cycle Period listed on Page 6 (Cold/Hot and Hot/Cold). Due to a copy and paste error, this table is incorrect in the 2007 Resource Book. Correct table is listed in the 2006 version. Correction March 2007

 

The following changes to ISTA Procedures will be included in the 2007 edition of the ISTA Resource Book, which will be available for distribution and purchase after February 1, 2007. All ISTA Members in good-standing (having paid dues for 2007) will be sent their complimentary copies of the Resource Book after Feb. 1.

Members may LOGIN at any time for access to the most current procedures.

PROCEDURE
CHANGE MADE
TYPE OF CHANGE
DATE OF CHANGE
3A
Test Block 7: SMALLS changed to "do NOT test in bag"
Correction January 2007
3A
Test Block 6: SMALLS changed to "do NOT test in bag" Correction January 2007
3A
Test Block 8 for SMALLS: orientations listed corrected to correspond with ID of faces/corners/edges Clarification January 2007
3A
Equipment Required for SMALLS: added statement to fill internal dunnage packages Clarification January 2007
3A
Before You Begin Optional Vibration Under Vacuum: In the unit table, "torr" was added to metric units for barometric pressure Clarification January 2007
3A
Test Blocks 4, 5, 6 and 7: added random vibration spectrum being used Clarification January 2007
3A
Identification of Orientations: NOTE added that most stable orientation may be different than intended shipping orientation. Clarification

January 2007

3A
Equipment Required Additional: For SMALLS, added approximate sizes for overnight envelope, #5 and #6 mailers Clarification January 2007
7A
Equipment Required Shock: text change from "potatoes" to "simulated product"
Clarification
January 2007
7A
Before You Begin Atmospheric: text change from "potatoes" to "simulated product"
Clarification
January 2007
7A
Shock Testing: text change from "potatoes" to "simulated product"
Clarification
January 2007
7D
Many editorial changes were made throughout the document to clarify the testing procedure. Clarification January 2007

 

 

The changes listed below were made to ISTA Procedures between 2005 and 2006.

PROCEDURE
CHANGE MADE
TYPE OF CHANGE
DATE OF CHANGE
2A
In the Random VIbration test block, Page 14, Step 11 was corrected to show the end of testing.
Typographical Correction
September 2006
3A
In Test Block 10, Page 22, Step 5 was removed for redundancy.
Typographical Correction
May 2006
7D
In the Before You Begin Atmospheric Temperature Testing section, Page 6, the 72-hour international expedited airfreight transport profiles listed an incorrect time for the 4th sequence. The Cycle Period Hours should be 24, not 14.
Technical Correction
October 2005
3A, 3C
In the Before You Begin Vibration Under Dynamic Load section, the units for top-loads have been corrected to read Kilograms and Pounds.
Typographical Correction
June 2005
2A, 2B, 2C, 3E, 3H

In the Before You Begin Compression section of Procedures 2A, 2B, 3E and 3H the formulas have been corrected. The formula for the dead weight test should be:

Wt x (S-1) x F

In the Before You Begin Vibration Under Dynamic Load section of Procedure 2C, the 9.8 metric conversion factor has been removed from the dead weight formula.

Technical Correction
June 2005
2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3C, 3E, 3F, 3H, 7A, 7B and 7C
In the “Before You Begin Atmospheric Conditioning” blocks in the referenced Procedures, the humidity for the “Controlled temperature” sequence should be 50% RH ± 5%.
Technical Correction
May 2005
2B
In the Identification of Faces, Edges and Corners section, the Edge is mislabeled. It should be Edge 1-2.
Typographical Correction
May 2005
3A
In the “Second Shock Test Block for STANDARD and SMALL”, the drop heights listed in the “Small (in a bag)” column were incorrect. The proper drop height is 610 mm (24 in.)
Technical Correction
April 2005
7D
the “Cycle Period Hours” numbers are inconsistent with the “Total Time Hours” in two of the tables. At the bottom of page 5 of 13, the “8”s in the “Cycle Period Hours” columns should be “12”s (2 places). On the top of page 6 of 13, the “12”s in the “Cycle Period Hours” columns should be “6”s (2 places).
Technical Correction
April 2005
1B, 1E, 1H, 2B

Under the Caution statement in the Before You Begin Shock Testing section, the last bullet point should read:

• you may conduct the Rotational Edge Drop test on both of the shortest edges.

Typographical Correction
January 2005