scope:

The transport stability of packages is a vital part of transport safety and the possibility of securing the cargo on different types of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs). This document specifies the requirements for marking and different methods for testing the transport stability of packages.

A package means the complete product of the packing operation, consisting of the packaging and its contents prepared for transport.

The transport stability of the packages is divided to different levels depending on the capability to withstand the forces during the transport. The transport stability of packages requires different types of CTUs and/or securing methods to obtain safe cargo securing during the entire transport. Due to the different transport stability of the packages and different types of CTUs, additional securing of the cargo has to be determined in each specific case.

Before the package is prepared for the transport it can be defined as a handling unit without any transport packaging material to obtain transport stability. The minimum requirement for the stability of the handling unit is set to obtain a safe handling both before and after the transport.

The aim of the different test methods is to define the Transport Stability Level (TSL) of a package or handling unit.