The International Safe Transit Association, known as ISTA, is an organization dedicated to transportation packaging. ISTA testing procedures outline how packaging should perform to protect its contents during transit. By applying ISTA test methods, companies can minimize risks in the shipping environment and build greater confidence in safely delivering packaged products. ISTA was a pioneer 70 years ago in introducing the concept of packaging performance testing and certification, and today their testing protocols and certification programs remain at the cutting edge of transportation packaging.
ISTA has organized its testing protocols into a series as follows:
Series 1: Non-Imitative Integrity Performance Testing
Challenge the strength and robustness of product and packaging combinations—not designed to simulate environmental events. Useful as a screening test, especially when used as a consistent benchmark.
1A Product packaged and weighing ≤150 lbs (68 kg)
1B Packaging products weighing ≥150 pounds (68 kg)
1C Products weighing ≤150 lbs (68 kg) in single packaging undergo extended testing.
1D: Extended testing for single-packaged products weighing ≥150 lbs (68 kg)
1E Combined Packaging Loading
1G ≤150 lbs (68 kg) – Random Vibration of Packaged Products
1H ≥150 lbs (68 kg) Packaging product random vibration
Series 2: Partial Simulation Performance Testing
In addition to the basic components for the non-analog integrity test of the 1-series model, there must be at least one general analog performance test from the 3-series model, such as atmospheric conditioning or modal random vibration testing.
2A Weight ≤150 lbs (68 kg) packaged product
2B Products weighing ≥150 lbs (68 kg) in packaging
2C Furniture Packaging
Series 3: General Analog Performance Testing
Designed to provide a laboratory simulation of the general damage-inducing motions, forces, conditions, and sequences found in transportation environments. Suitable for a wide range of scenarios, such as various vehicle types and routes, or differing numbers of handling exposures. Features include simple-shaped random vibrations, adjustable drop heights for sample packages, and/or controlled atmospheric conditions.
3A: Packaging products for parcel delivery systems, weighing ≤70 kg (150 lbs)
3B LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) packaged products
3E: Similar packaged products in unified loading for truck shipments
3F Weight ≤100 lbs (45 kg) – Mixed pallet-packaged products for regional transportation
3H: Products or packaged goods transported in mechanically handled bulk shipping containers
3K: Fast-Moving Consumer Goods in Europe's Retail Supply Chain
Series 4: Enhanced Analog Performance Testing
A general simulation test featuring at least one focus simulation element, such as a test sequence or condition tied to a known, real-world distribution. Project 4AB is currently the only protocol in this series. 4AB is a web-based, advanced simulation test plan generator that is freely accessible online to all ISTA members. It seamlessly links tests and sequences to user-defined distribution patterns, while also providing comprehensive, up-to-date, and quantitative information on environmental hazard distributions.
4AB Project: Packaging Products Transported Through Known Distribution Channels
5 Series: Premium Simulation Line
Non-Active Series: A guide to creating laboratory simulations based on real-world field measurements and observed hazards and levels. The 5-series tests are not performance tests themselves but rather provide the information and instructions needed to set up user-defined, focused simulation tests.
Series 6: Member Performance Testing
Test protocols created by ISTA members or jointly developed by ISTA and its member companies, tailored to meet their specific purposes and applications. These tests may be entirely original, or they could involve modifications, alterations, or adaptations of existing ISTA procedures, projects, or other published and widely accepted test methods.
6-Amazon.com - Over Boxing Project: E-commerce parcel delivery and shipping
6-Amazon.com - S.I.O.C. Project: Self-Imported Container (SIOC) for Amazon.com distribution system shipments
FedEx A and FedEx B are testing delivery procedures for packaging products weighing up to 150 pounds—both domestically and internationally.
6-SAMSCLUB Project: Packaging Products for Sam's Club Delivery System
7 Series: Development Testing
These tests are used in the development of transport packaging. They can be employed to compare the relative performance of two or more container designs—but they are not intended for evaluating the protection offered by the packaged product itself.
7D Temperature Testing for Transport Packaging
7E Parcel Transportation System: Thermal Transport Packaging Test Standards
