ISO 22015:2019

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22015
First edition
2019-07
Packaging — Accessible design —
Handling and manipulation
Emballages — Conception accessible — Manutention et manipulation
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
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ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Design considerations for increasing accessibility in handling and manipulation .2
4.1 General . 2
4.1.1 General considerations . 2
4.1.2 Mapping . 2
4.1.3 Affordance . 2
4.1.4 Feedback . 2
4.1.5 Avoidance of simultaneous multiple operations . 2
4.2 Weight and shape . 3
4.2.1 Weight . 3
4.2.2 Shape . 3
4.2.3 Grip and grip size . 3
4.2.4 Balance and stability . 3
4.3 Ease of manipulation for opening and reclosing . 3
4.3.1 Opening and reclosing mechanisms . 3
4.3.2 Screw-tops . 4
4.3.3 Top seals . 4
4.3.4 Tearing . 4
4.3.5 Lids . 4
4.4 Ease of use: taking out contents . 4
4.4.1 Measured dispensing . 4
4.4.2 Prevention of splashing or spilling . 4
4.5 Storage . 4
4.6 Disposal and recycle . 4
4.6.1 Disposal and separation . 4
4.6.2 Folding and crushing . 5
5 Safety . 5
5.1 General . 5
5.1.1 Foolproof . 5
5.1.2 Failsafe . 5
5.2 Specific considerations . 5
5.2.1 Sharp points or edges . 5
5.2.2 Weight . 5
5.2.3 Heat protection . 5
6 Evaluation of handling and manipulation . 5
6.1 General . 5
6.2 Instrument-based evaluation . 6
6.3 User-based evaluation . 6
7 Conformance . 6
Annex A (informative) Ergonomics and ergonomic data for handling and manipulation of
packaging . 7
Annex B (informative) Examples of packages of ease of handling and manipulation .20
Bibliography .26
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging.
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iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Introduction
While packages have become usable to a wide user range, including older people and people with
disabilities, some users have difficulties with handling and manipulating packages. This includes
holding, lifting, carrying, and grasping packages. These difficulties can be due to a heavy weight or
a large size which is hard to lift or grasp for people with reduced physical abilities because of age or
physical impairments. These problems, which are clearly addressing accessibility issues, should be
solved with urgent attention for consumer packages to be used widely by users who have weakened or
limited physical abilities.
Standards for increasing accessibility in packaging have been developed progressively for some
particular issues, such as ease of opening and clear information and marking, as well as some specific
cases, such as Braille on medicinal packages. While these standards have contributed effectively to
make packages accessible, they still do not cover all the accessibility issues related to handling and
manipulation of packages, even though the issues have been clearly addressed in the general framework
of a set of accessibility standards in packaging.
This document was developed with an intention to provide requirements and recommendations with
regard to handling and manipulation for increasing accessibility of packaging in the concepts and goals
[1] [2]
which are expressed in ISO/IEC Guide 71 and ISO/TR 22411 .
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22015:2019(E)
Packaging — Accessible design — Handling and
manipulation
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations in designing consumer packages,
independent of material, to increase accessibility with regard to handling and manipulation. The
document considers packaging needs from a wide range of users with diverse human abilities and
needs in diverse contexts of use.
Handling and manipulation include human physical abilities like holding, lifting, carrying, pulling,
pushing, sliding, grasping, twisting, tearing and any combination of those actions related to portability,
opening, re-closing and taking out contents of packages as well as to storage and disposal. Requirements
and recommendations with regard to those abilities are provided for people with special needs
including older people and people with disabilities in their handling and manipulation of packages. This
document focuses on physical handling and manipulation which necessarily includes the processes
of opening and closing specifically detailed in ISO 17480. It applies to reclosable and non-reclosable
consumer packaging without using any other mechanical means.
This document is primarily for designers, developers and evaluators of packaging and is also useful for
other disciplines.
Handling and manipulation for transportation of packaging is not covered in this standard. It does not
apply to products regulated for safety or other reasons (e.g. toxic or dangerous goods and substances,
medicinal products, and medical devices).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 17480, Packaging — Accessible design — Ease of opening
ISO 21067-1, Packaging — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 17480, ISO 21067-1 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https: //www .iso .org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http: //www .electropedia .org/
3.1
accessibility
extent to which products, systems, services, environments and facilities can be used by people from a
population with the widest range of user needs, characteristics and capabilities to achieve identified
goals in identified contexts of use
Note 1 to entry: Context of use includes direct use or use supported by assistive technologies.
[SOURCE: ISO 9241-112:2017, 3.15]
3.2
reclosable package
package which, after it has been initially opened, is capable of being reclosed with a similar degree of
security and is capable of being used a sufficient number of times to dispense the total contents without
loss of security
[SOURCE: ISO 8317:2015, 2.4]
3.3
user-based evaluation
evaluation that uses a method involving users with or without the use of measurement instruments
and provides insight into the user’s sensory, physical, and cognitive aspects
[SOURCE: ISO 17480:2015, 3.7]
4 Design considerations for increasing accessibility in handling and
manipulation
4.1 General
4.1.1 General considerations
Packaging shall be designed taking into account users with physical, visual, and cognitive disabilities
who have increased difficulty when handling and manipulating packaging that is likely to result in
undesirable outcomes. Design items that relate to ease of carrying, opening, reclosing, measuring,
take-out, storage, and disposal, shall be considered to increase accessibility to those people
[18]
(see ISO 11156 ).
4.1.2 Mapping
The direction of movement in handling and manipulation should correspond with that shown in signs
or labels.
EXAMPLE A screw-top of clockwise rotation with a label of arrow(s) showing clockwise.
4.1.3 Affordance
The action that users need for handling and manipulation of packaging should be easily understood
from the design before operation.
EXAMPLE A triangle notch at the edge of packaging to show to tear off for opening.
4.1.4 Feedback
Feedback of operation in handling and manipulation of packaging should be provided in any form when
possible.
EXAMPLE A click sound at reclosing.
4.1.5 Avoidance of simultaneous multiple operations
Simultaneous multiple operations such as pressing and rotating at the same time should not be used
except for the case of secure safety such as child-resistance.
2 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

4.2 Weight and shape
4.2.1 Weight
Packages should be light enough to be held and lifted whether they are intended to be handled by both
hands or by one hand. If packages are too heavy, mechanical assistance should be provided for ease
of holding, lifting and carrying. Ergonomic knowledge and data for weight of packages are given in
Annex A.
NOTE Some older users or users with physical disabilities like rheumatism have difficulty in holding, lifting,
and carrying of packages due to their weak muscle strength.
EXAMPLE Handle(s) attached to the side of a package for easy lifting (see Annex A and Figure B.1).
4.2.2 Shape
The shape of packages should be designed for ease of handling and manipulation in accordance with the
types of holding, lifting, and grasping packages.
The shape of packages should be designed so that they accommodate users and situations where only
one hand is available.
4.2.3 Grip and grip size
Non-slippery surface finish should be used for ease of handling and grasping to exert the hand and arm
strength of the user effectively.
EXAMPLE 1 Grooves or dents on the side of a heavy PET bottle (see Figure B.2).
EXAMPLE 2 Dimple processed edges of a flexible bag (see Figure B.3).
The width and shape for hand-gripping should be designed for easy gripping and holding by users with
the widest range of characteristics and capabilities. Ergonomic knowledge and data for grip size and
grip force are given in Annex A.
EXAMPLE 3 Pinched waist of a PET bottle or a cosmetic bottle (see Figure B.4).
4.2.4 Balance and stability
Packages should be designed well balanced in weight so that they do not tip over easily when placed on
a flat surface.
NOTE 1 Users with hand tremor have difficulty in fine controlling of placing packages.
NOTE 2 Users with visual disabilities are able to touch and tip over packages unintendedly.
4.3 Ease of manipulation for opening and reclosing
4.3.1 Opening and reclosing mechanisms
Opening and reclosing mechanisms of packaging shall be easily understood and manipulated for
intended actions such as grasping, pinching, rotating, twisting, tearing, pushing and pulling.
Reclosing should provide a mechanism to confirm the packaging is closed providing visual markings,
tactile markings, auditory information such as a click sound, or strength limits (see ISO 17480).
4.3.2 Screw-tops
A screw-top shall be easy for pinching. Its diameter should not be too small or too large. A screw-top
should have a sufficient purchase or friction (see Annex A).
EXAMPLE Longitudinal grooves on a screw-top of a PET bottle (see Figure B.5).
EXAMPLE 30 mm is commonly used for the diameter of a PET bottle for drinking.
4.3.3 Top seals
Packages with a top seal or a soft sheeted lid for opening should provide a tongue of suitable size for
easy pinching and pulling.
4.3.4 Tearing
Packaging that needs tearing off or peeling off for opening should not require fine dexterity or excessive
strength for pinching and grasping to users.
EXAMPLE A large tab of a top sealed package for easy pinching to open (see Figure B.6).
4.3.5 Lids
Lids of jars should be opened without the user feeling pain or discomfort. Care should be taken for
appropriate torque force and height for lids as affecting factors on ease of opening of jars (see Annex A).
NOTE Torque force data are found in ISO 17480:2015, Annex C.
4.4 Ease of use: taking out contents
4.4.1 Measured dispensing
Packages should be designed to support measured dispensing when useful and/or required.
EXAMPLE Measured quantity dispenser (see Figure B.7).
4.4.2 Prevention of splashing or spilling
Packages should be designed to assist users by preventing splashing and minimizing waste.
EXAMPLE Anti-splashing or anti-spilling bottle (see Figure B.8).
4.5 Storage
Accessible packages shall be designed in a shape which allows easy and efficient storage and ensures
stability during storage.
EXAMPLE Milk containers of rectangular shape that fit in the refrigerator box (see Figure B.9).
4.6 Disposal and recycle
4.6.1 Disposal and separation
Packages should be designed to enable users for easy disposal and for clear separation of material.
4 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

4.6.2 Folding and crushing
Packages should be designed for easy folding and crushing after use for disposal, even for users with
weak muscle strength.
EXAMPLE Paper boxes easily folded, and plastic bottles easily crushed for disposal (see Figure B.10).
5 Safety
5.1 General
5.1.1 Foolproof
Packaging should be designed so that any misuse or wrong operation cannot happen during handling
and manipulation of packages.
[19]
EXAMPLE Child-resistance packaging .
5.1.2 Failsafe
Packaging should be designed so that the effects can be recovered to the previous state or minimized
even when misuse or wrong operation happened.
EXAMPLE Child pouch cap (see Figure B.12).
5.2 Specific considerations
5.2.1 Sharp points or edges
Packages shall not have sharp points or harmful edges on the surface.
NOTE People with visual disabilities have a higher risk of being injured by sharp points or edges.
5.2.2 Weight
Packages shall not be too heavy, to avoid unintended drop during use (see 4
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