There are a vast number of tests that can be performed on many materials or converted items. When choosing which ones and why, it is important to make sure they are the meaningful ones for the final product plus making sure time & staff used to perform them is economically justified.

Specifications of material / products need to relate to what is needed, a supplier may have a large range of results for a product but some of the figures quoted may not be important for your use.

There are different levels of standards tests. There are the International Standards tests carried out to standards like ISO, “national standards” tests relating to Countries or groups of Countries like ones produced by European Countries called CEN or by organisation like TAPPI (paper & pulp in N. America but widely used around the World). Finally there are tests produced and carried out by a company for a specific need. Ideally test equipment calibration should be traceable back to know international values. Tests normally give methods of test but don’t state what values are suitable of any particular need. Also discussed is that tests sometimes do have limits on what range the test give & “spread” of results.

I have seen a compliant from a user that a transit test produced a fail for their pack but in use their product transported satisfactorily. Transporting over a smooth surface road is much easier than driving on a rough pot holed track. The test must be appropriate for the potential risks. Don’t over specify. If you aren’t getting a small amount of product damage you may be over packing & thus wasting money. However if you are transporting nuclear waste this doesn’t apply!