Packaging must meet different safety standards for the product, transport route and target market. By assessing legislation, international standards and customer requirements, you can select the right framework. This creates a safe, demonstrably compliant packaging solution for transport, storage and use.
Summary of this article
Safety standards for packaging help ensure that products can be transported and stored safely. They protect the contents against shocks, vibrations, moisture and temperature fluctuations while reducing risks to people and the environment. The requirements that apply depend on the product, its hazard class, the mode of transport and agreements with the customer. There is no single universal packaging standard.
Packaging must perform throughout transport, storage, handling and use at the final location. A design suitable for road transport may not provide sufficient protection during air freight, long-term storage or repeated use. Standards and test methods make performance measurable and help determine whether packaging can withstand the expected loads.
For hazardous materials, packaging directly contributes to reducing the risk of leakage, fire, exposure and environmental damage. For expensive or sensitive equipment, the main concern is often operational reliability. Damage to medical systems, high-tech components or defence equipment can result in downtime or equipment that is no longer deployable.
Standards also provide a common technical language. Customers, manufacturers, carriers and testing laboratories can work with the same requirements and acceptance criteria. This helps prevent differences in interpretation.
The applicable requirements originate from different types of documents. It is important to distinguish between transport regulations, technical testing standards, national or European standards and contractual defence specifications.
The UN Model Regulations provide an international basis for the rules governing the transport of hazardous materials. They cover classification, packing instructions, packaging construction and testing, marking, labelling and documentation. These principles are incorporated into regulations for individual modes of transport, such as ADR for road transport.
ISO packaging standards are not limited to quality management. Specific ISO standards are available for testing complete, filled transport packages and unit loads. These include test methods for stacking, compression, vibration, dropping, impact and low-pressure conditions.
NEN is not a separate international family of standards with one defined scope. NEN publishes Dutch standards and Dutch versions of European and international standards. A designation such as NEN-EN-ISO means that an ISO standard has been adopted at European level and published as a Dutch standard.
MIL-STD specifications apply when they are referenced in a defence contract or set of requirements. They may include requirements for preservation, packaging, marking, documentation, storage and handling. Specific environmental tests may be defined in separate standards or test specifications.
| Document type | When is it relevant? | What does it cover? |
|---|---|---|
| UN Model Regulations and transport regulations such as ADR | When transporting hazardous materials | Classification, packing instructions, authorised packaging types, testing, marking, labelling and documentation |
| ISO packaging standards | When designing and assessing transport packaging | Test methods for conditioning, dropping, vibration, stacking, compression, impact and low air pressure |
| EN and NEN-EN-ISO standards | When a European or Dutch edition of a standard is specified | The technical requirements of the relevant standard; the prefix indicates the level at which it has been adopted and published |
| MIL-STD specifications | When contractually required for a defence project | Preservation, packaging, packaging data, marking, storage, handling and military logistics requirements |
A standard is not automatically a legal requirement. Standards are generally voluntary unless legislation refers to them or their application is contractually required. For hazardous materials, the applicable transport regulations are decisive. In defence projects, a MIL-STD specification may form part of the agreed requirements. We therefore begin by identifying which legal, contractual and technical requirements apply.
Hazardous materials are divided into nine classes. Where applicable, they are also assigned to Packing Group I, II or III. Packing Group I represents a high level of danger, while Packing Group III represents a lower level of danger. The classification helps determine the applicable packing instruction and required performance level.
A UN marking indicates that a specific packaging design has been tested according to the prescribed method. Depending on the packaging type and application, this may include drop, stacking, leakproofness and internal pressure tests. The closure method, filling level, inner packaging and instructions for use are also important. A change in material, construction or contents may therefore require a new assessment.
There is no fixed list of NEN standards that is mandatory for every type of industrial packaging. The relevant standards depend on the product, packaging design, transport scenario and requirements imposed by the customer, sector or authorities. NEN manages national standards as well as European and international standards adopted in the Netherlands.
Standards for transport packaging may cover handling symbols, drop testing, vibration testing, stacking and compression. The current edition, status and exact scope of a standard must always be checked. A familiar standard number is not automatically suitable for every packaging challenge.
NEN-EN 12642 is sometimes mentioned in connection with packaging, but this standard concerns the body structures of commercial vehicles and trailers. It is not a general packaging standard. This illustrates why the title and scope of a standard must always be verified before it is included in a set of requirements.
MIL-STD specifications apply when the customer or contract explicitly refers to them. They do not automatically apply to every supplier working for a defence organisation. The relevant requirements depend on the equipment, logistics chain, storage period, operational profile and agreed set of requirements.
MIL-STD-2073-1 describes a methodology for developing and documenting military packaging requirements. It covers matters such as preservation, physical protection, packaging methods, storage, handling and documentation. Additional test methods may also be specified.
Effective defence packaging is not simply packaging that is as heavy or robust as possible. Over-engineering increases weight, volume and costs. The objective is to provide demonstrable protection without compromising operational deployability.
Start by assessing the product, its vulnerabilities and the complete logistics route. Record its dimensions and weight, critical functions, any hazardous-material classification, modes of transport, climatic conditions, storage period, handling points, intended reuse and requirements imposed by the customer or authorities.
Translate this information into a clear set of requirements. This should specify which risks must be controlled, which regulations and standards apply, which tests are required and when the design will be accepted. This prevents a familiar standard from being selected while the actual risks and loads remain insufficiently addressed.
At Faes, we consider standardisation and compliance to be part of the wider packaging challenge. We combine packaging development and custom engineering with production, assembly, testing and specification. Where necessary, we work with specialised testing partners and support customers with documentation, testing and the technical justification of the selected solution. For defence applications, we also consider storage, handling, repeated use and operational deployment.
This means that we do not wait until the end of the process to determine whether a design meets the applicable requirements. We incorporate regulations and specifications into the material selection, construction, interior, closures and instructions for use from the outset. The result is a robust and manufacturable packaging solution that suits both the product and the logistics chain in which it must perform.
Robert Verboven is Sales Manager at Faes and advises customers on smart packaging solutions within the industry. He translates complex packaging needs into practical solutions that contribute to a more efficient supply chain.
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