ASTM D7478/D7478M-08

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 7478/D 7478M – 08
Standard Specification for
Heavy Duty Sheathed Wood Crates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7478/D 7478M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversrequirementsfortwotypesand
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
two classes of sheathed crates each of which may have two
base styles.The crates are designed for net loads not exceeding
2. Referenced Documents
30 000 pounds lb [13 607 kg] and to withstand the most severe
2.1 ASTM Standards:
overseas shipping and storage conditions.
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
1.2 Thecratesdescribedbythisspecificationareintendedto
ments
protect items from atmospheric elements during shipment and
D 3953 Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals
storage. They are designed to withstand the rough handling of
D 4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
logistic operations including stacking and outside storage for a
tainers and Systems
prolonged period.
D 4442 TestMethodsforDirectMoistureContentMeasure-
1.3 Class 1 and 2 crates may be used interchangeably as
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
desired. However, the Class 2 crate should be used when
D 6199 Practice for Quality of Wood Members of Contain-
weight is a prime consideration, as the lack of diagonals and
ers and Pallets
thinner plywood sheathing results in a lighter crate.
F 1667 Specification for Driven Fasteners: Nails, Spikes,
1.4 Demountable crates, Type II, should be used whenever
and Staples
it is expected that the contained item will require reshipping to
2.2 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
another destination.
Standards:
1.5 Sill bases, Style B, are intended for items that project
PS1 Voluntary Product Standard, Structural Plywood
below their mounting points, such as disassembled vehicles.
PS20 American Softwood Lumber Standard
1.6 If the use of other construction method or techniques is
2.3 Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association Standard:
acceptable and permitted (see 5.10), the resulting packaging
ANSI/HPVA HP-1 American National Standard for Hard-
systems shall be of equal or better performance than would
wood and Decorative Plywood
result from the use of these specified materials and procedures.
2.4 National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) Stan-
Theappropriatedistributioncycle,specifiedinPracticeD 4169
dard:
can be used to develop comparative procedures and criteria.
Rules for the Measurement and Inspection of Hardwood
1.7 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
and Cypress
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance 2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
with the standard. See IEEE/ASTM SI 10 for conversion of contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
units.
the ASTM website.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Available from APA, The Engineered Wood Association, 7011 South 19th St.,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Tacoma, WA 98466–5399, http://www.apawood.org.
Available from American Lumber Standards Committee, Inc., (ALSC), P.O.
Box 210, Germantown, MD 20875–0210, http://www.alsc.org.
1 5
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Available from Hardwood Plywood and VeneerAssociation (HPVA), P.O. Box
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.12 on Shipping 2789, Reston, VA 22090–0789, http://www.hpva.org.
Containers, Crates, Pallets, Skids and Related Structures. Available from National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), 6830 Ra-
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2008. Published November 2008. leigh LaGrange Rd., Memphis, TN 38134, http://www.natlhardwood.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 7478/D 7478M – 08
2.5 ASME/ANSI Standards: used on the top panels is called top sheathing; that used on the
B18.2.1 Square and Hex Bolts and Screws Inch Series side or end panels is called side or end sheathing; that nailed to
B18.5 Round Head Bolts (Inch Series) the top of skids is called flooring; and that nailed to the bottom
B18.22.l (B18.22M) Plain Washers of sills is called bottom sheathing.
3.2.13 side frame members—side frame members are the
3. Terminology
members of the crate top, without joists, which are parallel to
the long dimension and serve as fastening members and to tie
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for packaging and dis-
the crate construction together.
tribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.
3.2.14 sill bridging—sill bridging are members of the same
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard—The
depth as the sills, which are inserted at right angles to the
crate component parts discussed herein were selected on the
intermediate sills, and serve to prevent lateral sill turning or
basis of part function. Alternate names are sometimes used by
buckling.
industry.
3.2.15 sills—sills are the members, which with sill bridging
3.2.1 diagonals—diagonals are frame members positioned
form the frame work of sill-type bases. Sills carry and transfer
between parallel frame members and placed at nearly 45°
loads to side panels and serve as fastening members. There are
anglestothem.Diagonalsserveasbracesandensurerigidityin
side, end, and intermediate sills.
the crate.
3.2.16 skids—skids are longitudinal members attached to
3.2.2 end frame members—end frame members are similar
the crate bottom, which serve to support and transfer the load
to side frame members but perpendicular to the long dimen-
to the side panels.
sion.
3.2.17 sleepers—sleepers are members underneath the floor
3.2.3 filler strips—filler strips are boards placed across the
of skid-type bases to which the item is anchored (through the
ends of thin, non-load-bearing floorboards, which serve to fill
floor) so that the tie-down stress will be distributed.
the space below the lower frame member of the crate sides.
3.2.18 struts—struts are vertical frame members, placed
3.2.4 frame members—frame members are those parts
between the side and end panels’ upper and lower frame
which form the fundamental crate structure upon which the
members, and serve as columns for supporting vertical stack-
strength and rigidity of a lumber-sheathed crate depends.
ing loads. The end struts are sometimes referred to as corner
3.2.5 hanger-metal—hanger-metal is a metal nailed strap
posts.
used to aid in support of the intermediate sill in sill-type bases.
3.2.19 upper and lower frame members—upper and lower
3.2.6 headers—headers are either transverse members at
frame members are those horizontal members at the top and
each end of skid bases or longitudinal members at each end of
bottom of the side and end panels which serve to tie the
top joists. Headers in bases serve to hold the base together as
construction together.
a unit, to transfer loads to outside skids, and to provide a
3.2.20 vertical joist supports—vertical joist supports are
fastening member for end panels. Headers in top panels serve
vertical members attached to the crate sides inside face, which
to position and support joists and to provide a fastening
serve to support the joists and assist the struts in supporting
member for side panels.
vertical stacking loads.
3.2.7 horizontal braces—horizontal braces are members
positioned between struts and parallel to the upper and lower
4. Classification
frame members and serve to reduce the unsupported span of
4.1 Crates shall be of the following types, classes, and
the sheathing.
styles:
3.2.8 joists—joists are members extending across the crate
4.2 Type:
underneath the top, which serve to support and transfer vertical
4.2.1 Type I—Nailed.
stacking loads to the side panels. Joists also serve to prevent
4.2.2 Type II—Bolted.
crushing or buckling of crate tops when slings or grab hooks
4.3 Class:
are used.
4.3.1 Class 1—Lumber sheathed.
3.2.9 lag screw strap—lagscrewstrapisametalreinforcing
4.3.2 Class 2—Plywood sheathed.
strap used on bolted crates sides and ends to reinforce and
4.4 Style:
increase lag screw lateral resistance.
4.4.1 Style A—Skid base.
3.2.10 load-bearing floorboards—load-bearing floorboards
4.4.2 Style B—Sill base.
are transverse base members which serve to distribute and
transfer loads to the outside skids.
5. Ordering Information
3.2.11 rubbing strips—rubbing strips are longitudinal mem-
5.1 Purchasers should select the preferred permitted options
bers nailed to the skid bottom to provide for sling and forklift
and include the following information in procurement docu-
truck handling.
ments:
3.2.12 sheathing—sheathing is the plywood or boards
5.2 Specification title, number, and date.
nailed to the frame members and enclose the crate. Sheathing
5.3 Crate type, class, and style (see Section 4).
5.4 Contents weight.
5.5 Crate dimensions specified in order of length by width
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
by depth.
International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016–5990, http://
www.asme.org. 5.6 When inspection doors are required.
D 7478/D 7478M – 08
5.7 When top, sides, and ends shall be assembled with nails 7.4 Fasteners—Fasteners are classified as driven nails,
and the entire assembly bolted to the base. bolts, lag bolts, wood screws, and metal strapping.
5.8 Whether crates are to be shipped assembled or knocked 7.4.1 Nails—NailsshallbeinaccordancewithSpecification
down. F 1667 and other industry standards. Nails are classified as
5.9 Whether other construction methods or techniques are plain-shank, helically threaded, annularly threaded, fluted, or
acceptable and permitted (see 1.6). twisted square wire.
5.10 Whether proof that other constructions methods or 7.4.2 Staples—Staples have either round-wire or approxi-
techniques are acceptable (see 1.6) is required. mately square-wire legs, referring to the cross-sectional shape
5.11 If packaging is other than as specified. of the wire. Staples should be made of low carbon steel wire
and galvanized.
6. General Requirements
7.4.3 Bolts, Lag Bolts, Nuts and Washers—Bolts, lag bolts
6.1 Crate Loading—When crates are furnished as filled
and nuts shall conform toASME/ANSI B18.2.1,ASME/ANSI
containers, the extent of contents disassembly, the anchoring,
B18.5 and other industry standards. Washers shall conform to
blocking, and lifting attachments application shall be in accor-
ASME B18.22.l (B18.22M) and other industry standards.
dance with this specification’s Supplemental Requirements.
Standard steel carriage bolts can be used in any of three styles:
6.2 Dimensions: standard, slotted, or large head.
6.2.1 Inside Dimension—Inside crate length or width is the
7.4.4 Wood Screws—Screws shall be inserted into the crate
distancebetweenoppositestrutsinnersurfaces.Insideheightis components to be assembled with a screwdriver or screw
the distance between skid base floorboards or sill bases’ sill
motion machine tool. Approximately two-thirds of the screw
tops and the underside of top joists or framing members. length and seven times the shank diameter shall be the
6.2.2 Outside Dimensions—Outside dimensions are the
penetration length into the fastening member. Where pre-
crate, or its contents, overall length, width, and height, which- drilling is required, the maximum lead-hold diameter shall be
ever is greater. Actual dimensions, except in designing, are
the fastener-shank diameter, and the pilot-hole diameter shall
corrected whole inches [25 mm increments], any fraction less
not be larger than the thread-root diameter.
1 1
than ⁄2 in. [13 mm] being disregarded, and any fraction of ⁄2
7.4.5 Strapping—Strapping shall conform to Specification
in. [13 mm] or greater being considered a full inch [25 mm
D 3953, Type 1 or 2 as applicable. Finish shall be A, B, or C.
increment].
7.5 Protective Covering—Felt or film.
6.2.3 Cubic Displacement—Crate cubic displacement is
8. Construction
calculated from the outside dimensions in inches [millimetres]
8.1 Nailing Procedure—Sinkers, coolers, corkers, or com-
and is stated in cubic feet [cubic metres].
mon nails shall be used. Nail sizes specified for crate fabrica-
6.2.4 Limitations—The crate exterior dimensions shall not
tionarebasedonPracticeD 6199GroupIandIIWoods.When
exceed the following limitations:
Group III or IV Woods are used, nail sizes may be one-penny
6.2.4.1 Length—30 ft [9144 mm].
size smaller than those specified. The nail patterns to be used
6.2.4.2 Width—9 ft [2743 mm].
fornailingtwoflatpiecesoflumbershallconformtothedetails
6.2.4.3 Height—10 ft [3048 mm].
shown in Fig. 1 or as specified herein. Unless otherwise
6.2.5 Interior Clearance—A clearance of not less than 42
specified herein, the following requirements shall determine
in. [2551 mm] shall be allowed between the item and the
nail size, placement, and quantity.
closest side, end, or top crate member. Additional clearances
8.1.1 All adjacent crate members shall be securely fastened
may be provided for shock-mounted items. Protruding parts at
nailed to each other, either directly or by means of the
the top may be allowed to extend between joists; joist spacing
covering.
may be adjusted slightly to accommodate projections.
8.1.2 All nails that are not to be clinched shall be cement-
7. Materials and Manufacture
coated.
7.1 Materials—Materials shall be as specified herein. Ma- 8.1.3 Nails shall be driven through the thinner member into
terials not specified shall be selected by the contractor or crate the thicker member wherever possible.
builder and shall be subject to all provisions of this specifica- 8.1.4 Nails for fastening plywood to framing shall be
tion (see Section 11). Materials shall be free of defects, which clinched at least ⁄4 in. [6 mm]. Nail heads shall always be on
adversely affect performance or serviceability of the finished the plywood side.
product. 8.1.5 When the flat faces of lumber pieces are nailed
7.2 Lumber—LumbercomponentsshallconformtoPractice together and the combi
...