ASTM E171/E171M-11 (2020) PDF

Full title and description

ASTM E171/E171M-11 (Reapproved 2020) — "Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging". This practice establishes standard laboratory atmosphere conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and related procedures for conditioning and testing flexible barrier packaging and flexible barrier packaging materials at nominally ambient conditions to reduce test result variation due to environmental factors.

Abstract

This practice defines the standard temperature and humidity for conditioning and testing of flexible barrier packaging and flexible barrier packaging materials under nominally ambient conditions. It explains when conditioning is advisable (for hygroscopic materials or when minimizing inter-laboratory variation), states that instruments and measurement techniques must be validated, and notes that other storage/test environments (refrigerated, freezer, abusive) are outside its scope. The standard treats SI and inch‑pound unit systems separately.

General information

• Status: Published, active (designation E171/E171M − 11; reapproved 2020).
• Publication date: 01 May 2020 (reapproval of the 2011 designation).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 19.040 — Environmental testing; Packaging / barrier packaging test methods.
• Edition / version: E171/E171M-11 (Reapproved 2020).
• Number of pages: 2 pages (concise practice document).

Scope

This practice applies to flexible barrier packaging and flexible barrier packaging materials and defines standard laboratory temperature and humidity conditions for conditioning and testing at nominally ambient conditions. It does not establish conditions for specialized end-use environments (for example freezer, refrigerated, or abusive storage) and notes that temperature/humidity alone do not fully define a storage condition (other factors such as time, light, and pressure may be relevant). Values given in SI and inch‑pound units are to be regarded independently.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of a standard laboratory atmosphere for conditioning and testing of flexible barrier packaging materials.
• Guidance on when conditioning is necessary (e.g., hygroscopic materials, inter-laboratory comparisons, when temperature/humidity affect test outcomes).
• Requirement that instruments and techniques used to measure and control temperature and humidity be validated and suitable for the specified conditions.
• Statement that SI and inch‑pound unit values are separate standards and should not be mixed.
• Clarification that other environmental factors (time, light, atmospheric pressure) may affect results but are not defined by this practice.

Typical use and users

Test laboratories, packaging material manufacturers, quality and R&D teams, packaging design engineers, suppliers and customers performing comparative testing, and certification bodies use this practice to ensure consistent conditioning and test environments for flexible barrier packaging materials and components. It is often referenced when establishing test protocols for moisture- or humidity-sensitive plastics, films, foils, laminates, and paper-based barrier materials.

Related standards

Commonly referenced or related documents include ASTM D4332 (conditioning containers, packages, or packaging components for testing), ASTM F17 terminology relating to primary barrier packaging, ASTM F2825 (climatic stressing for parcel delivery), and other ASTM practices and test methods that require defined conditioning atmospheres. Users should consult referenced ASTM standards for complementary procedures.

Keywords

conditioning, standard atmosphere, temperature, relative humidity, flexible barrier packaging, packaging materials, conditioning procedure, laboratory atmosphere, validated measurement, E171.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E171/E171M-11 (Reapproved 2020) is a short ASTM practice that defines standard laboratory temperature and humidity conditions and related conditioning/testing guidance for flexible barrier packaging and packaging materials.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers nominally ambient conditioning and testing atmospheres for flexible barrier packaging materials, guidance on when conditioning is appropriate, validation of measurement equipment, and unit‑system conventions. It explicitly excludes specialized end‑use environments such as freezer or refrigerated conditions.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Packaging test laboratories, material manufacturers, R&D and QA/QC personnel, suppliers and customers conducting comparative testing, and conformity assessment organizations working with flexible barrier materials.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The practice is listed as E171/E171M-11 and was reapproved in 2020; the document is published and active in that reapproved form (effective 01 May 2020). Users should check ASTM records or the publisher for any amendments or later revisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a stand‑alone ASTM practice but commonly appears in the context of packaging test methods and is cross-referenced by other ASTM standards dealing with packaging conditioning, terminology, and climatic stressing.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Conditioning, standard atmosphere, relative humidity, temperature, flexible barrier packaging, packaging materials, E171, validation.