Temperature test standards for thermal packaging: ISTA 7D, ISTA 7E and AFNOR
Temperature test standards for thermal packaging describe test methods or ambient temperature exposures used to assess packaging protection. ISTA 7D, ISTA 7E and the French standard NF S99-700 serve different purposes. AFNOR is the French standards organisation, not the name of an individual temperature profile.
What does each document cover?
- ISTA 7D is a development test for the effects of external temperatures on the packaged product. Its general profiles do not demonstrate a lane-specific worst case.
- ISTA 7E contains temperature profiles based on measured parcel transport conditions. Using them alone is not sufficient for ISTA certification; Standard 20 also applies.
- NF S99-700 describes a method for the thermal qualification of autonomous isothermal solutions for healthcare products. The edition used must be identifiable in the supporting evidence.
What does such a test demonstrate?
A result applies to the tested configuration, payload, duration and ambient temperature profile. A standard’s name alone establishes neither suitability for every transport lane nor general approval of the product.
Related terms: Qualification · Environmental chamber test