This description is from ISTA document.
ISTA 3 Series tests are advanced tests and are designed to:
- Challenge the capability of the package and product to withstand transport hazards, but
- Utilize general simulation of actual transport hazards, and
- Do not necessarily comply with carrier packaging regulations.
When properly executed, ISTA procedures will provide tangible benefits of:
- Product to market time reduction
- Confidence in product launch
- Reduction in damages and product loss
- Balanced distribution costs
- Customer satisfaction contributing to increased market share
There are three sections to this Procedure: Overview, Testing and Reporting
- Overview provides general knowledge required before testing and
- Testing presents the specific instructions to do laboratory testing and
- Reporting indicates what data shall be recorded to submit a test report to |STA.
Two systems of weights and measures are presented in ISTA test procedures: SI (Metric) or English system (Inch-Pound). Metric
units are shown first followed by the Inch-Pound units in parentheses; there are exceptions in some tables (when 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.
