ISTA 6 - Amazon.com SIOC

Summary

This procedure has been designed to provide a standard set of tests to simulate e-commerce shipments of packaged products that have been shipped by vendors to Amazon.com Fulfillment Centers to then be delivered to end customers. This procedure is intended for any parcel or LTL shipments that Ships In Own Container (SIOC).

Test Details

The procedure includes test parameters for several classifications of packages including:

Type A – Individual packaged-product weighing less than 50 lbs. (23 kg)

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing using Free-fall drop
4. Vibration Testing using random vibe with and without top load  
5. Shock testing using Free-fall drop
6. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop (for elongated and flat packages)
7. Shock testing using Full Rotational Edge Drop (for elongated and flat packages)
8. Shock testing using Bridge Impact (for elongated packages only)
9. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact (for flat packages only)
10. Integrity testing via Leak Detection (for liquids only)  

Type B - Individual packaged-product weighing 50 lbs. (23 kg) to less than 100 lbs. (43 kg)

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing using Free-fall drop
4. Shock testing via Tip/Tip Over (for packages ≥48 in. tall and any base dimension ≤1/2 the height OR ≥30 in. tall and a center of gravity vertical location ≥1/2 the height)
5. Vertical compression testing (in the intended shipping orientation)
6. Compression testing using clamping simulation (for any of the 2 axes with a width dimension ≥24 in. and ≤75 in.)  
7. Vibration testing using random vibe with and without top load
8. Shock testing using Free-fall drop
9. Shock testing using Full Rotational Edge Drop (for elongated and flat packages)
10. Shock testing using Bridge Impact (for elongated packages only)
11. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact (for flat packages only)
12. Integrity testing via Leak Detection (for liquids only)  

Type C - Individual packaged-product weighing 100 lbs. (43 kg) or greater

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing using Free-fall drop
4. Shock testing via Tip/Tip Over (for packages ≥48 in. tall and any base dimension ≤1/2 the height OR ≥30 in. tall and a center of gravity vertical location ≥1/2 the height)
5. Shock testing using Rotational Flat Drop
6. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop
7. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact
8. Vertical compression testing (in the intended shipping orientation)
9. Compression testing using clamping simulation (for any of the 2 axes with a width dimension ≥24 in. and ≤75 in.)  
10. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact
11. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop (for elongated of flat packages)
12. Shock testing using Full Rotational Flat Drop  (for elongated of flat packages)
13. Shock testing using Bridge Impact  (for elongated packages only)
14. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact  (for flat packages only)  

Type D – LTL delivery of individual packaged-products weighing less than 100 lbs. (43kg)

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing via Tip/Tip Over (for packages ≥48 in. tall and any base dimension ≤1/2 the height OR ≥30 in. tall and a center of gravity vertical location ≥1/2 the height)
4. Shock testing using Free-Fall Drop  
5. Vertical compression testing (in the intended shipping orientation)
6. Compression testing using clamping simulation (for any of the 2 axes with a width dimension ≥24 in. and ≤75 in.)  
7. Vertical vibration testing using Random with Top Load
8. Shock testing using Free-Fall Drop
9. Shock testing using Full Rotational Flat Drop (for elongated of flat packages)
10. Shock testing using Bridge Impact  (for elongated packages only)
11. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact  (for flat packages only)  

Type E - LTL delivery of individual packaged-products weighing 100 lbs. (43 kg) or greater

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing via Tip/Tip Over (for packages ≥48 in. tall and any base dimension ≤1/2 the height OR ≥30 in. tall and a center of gravity vertical location ≥1/2 the height)
4. Shock testing using Rotational Flat Drop
5. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop
6. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact
7. Vertical compression testing (in the intended shipping orientation)
8. Compression testing using clamping simulation (for any of the 2 axes with a width dimension ≥24 in. and ≤75 in.)  
9. Vertical vibration testing using Random with Top Load
10. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact
11. Shock testing using Bridge Impact  (for elongated packages only)
12. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact  (for flat packages only)  

Type F - LTL delivery of individual palletized packaged-products

1. Atmospheric pre-conditioning with ambient temperatures and humidity
2. Atmospheric conditioning under controlled temperature and humidity (optional)
3. Shock testing via Tip/Tip Over (for packages ≥48 in. tall and any base dimension ≤1/2 the height OR ≥30 in. tall and a center of gravity vertical location ≥1/2 the height)
4. Shock testing using Rotational Flat Drop
5. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop
6. Shock testing using Rotational Corner Drop
7. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact  
8. Vertical compression testing using Top-to-Bottom testing with pallet on top
9. Shock testing using Fork Lift simulation
10. Vertical vibration testing using Random with Top Load   
11. Shock testing using Rotational Flat Drop
12. Shock testing using Rotational Edge Drop  
13. Shock testing using Rotational Corner Drop  
14. Shock testing using Inclined or Horizontal Impact   
15. Shock testing using Concentrated Edge Impact (for flat packages only)

Types of packaging tested under this method

See packaging specifications above.

*Please Note: The information outlined above is to be used as reference for ISTA 6-Amazon.com-SIOC. Please refer to ISTA's website for current information on the proposed procedure.

Support for ISTA Distribution Testing
If you are considering testing to ISTA 6 - Amazon.com SIOC, or would like support selecting the most appropriate distribution testing approach, Smithers can help. Our experts support organisations with transit simulation, packaging validation, and distribution testing programmes aligned with real-world supply chain conditions. Speak with a distribution testing specialist.