Amazon SIPP (Ships in Product Packaging) Type D Package Testing

Amazon has introduced the Type D package testing protocol, tailored for Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipments that weigh under 100 pounds. LTL shipments refer to those not typically handled by conventional parcel delivery services such as Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or the US Postal Service.

Despite their LTL classification, these packages are processed using standard handling procedures.

The Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) standard is tailored for products shipped in their retail packaging, eliminating extra Amazon boxing and over-boxing. SIPP packages must endure the entire Amazon fulfillment process, from origin to the final customer.

ISTA 6 SIPP Type D Verification Process

For Amazon vendors and sellers, undergoing package verification is often mandatory. This process requires the submission of package testing data via Amazon Seller Central, including a comprehensive test report from an Amazon-certified packaging test laboratory.

Laboratories receive certification through Amazon’s APASS (Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network), ensuring they possess a thorough understanding of Amazon’s fulfillment packaging guidelines. Additionally, the Amazon vendor enrollment protocol often includes package certification. This requires the use of predominantly recycled materials, ease of opening, and minimizing added weight or dimensions, in line with Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) initiative.

Amazon’s APASS network facilitates a standardized lab certification procedure for packaging test labs. The necessity for package certification arises under several circumstances:

Introduction of new products or packaging on Amazon.
Modifications to an existing product’s design.
Revisions to Amazon’s packaging requirements rendering a package previously exempt now subject to certification.
Observation of damages during product shipment.

Engaging in the package testing process affords sellers and vendors numerous advantages, including expedited market entry, optimized distribution costs, diminished product damage and loss, heightened customer satisfaction, and bolstered confidence in product launches.

Criteria for Unacceptable Packaging

For a package to be eligible for certification, it must adhere to specific standards:

Packages must be durable, six-sided rectangular boxes.
All openings must be securely sealed to maintain integrity during shipment, excluding the use of staples for sealing, although they may be employed on the manufacturer’s glue joint.
Any locking tabs should be secured with tape or adhesive.
Labels and markings on the package must unambiguously indicate the contents and any special handling instructions required.
Consideration should be given to the product-to-package ratio, or the total cubic volume occupied by the primary product and its essential components.

Amazon SIPP Type D Pass/Fail Determinants

Amazon delineates precise pass/fail standards for its SIPP program prior to testing. This preparatory phase is a collaborative effort among shippers, manufacturers, Amazon, and additional stakeholders, focused on safeguarding both product and packaging integrity. Key considerations include:

Defining Product Damage: Clarifying the criteria for unacceptable product damage post-shipment.

Package Condition Post-Testing: Determining the acceptable level of wear and tear on the package from transit.

Damage Tolerance: Establishing the thresholds for permissible damage during shipment.

Product Condition Evaluation: Consensus on methods for assessing the condition of the product upon receipt.

These standards are integral to upholding Amazon’s commitment to customer satisfaction, minimizing transit damage, and advocating for environmentally responsible packaging solutions, thereby ensuring a flawless delivery experience.

Overview of the ISTA-6 Type D Test Plan

The testing protocol for Amazon Type D products is a collaboration between Amazon and ISTA (International Safe Transit Authority), officially named ISTA-6 Type D.

Type D – LTL Delivery of Individual Packaged-Products Less Than 100 lb (43 kg)
Sequence Number	Test Category	Test Type	Test Level	Remarks
1	Atmospheric Preconditioning TEST BLOCK 1	Temperature and Humidity	Lab ambient, 12 hours	Required
2	Atmospheric Conditioning TEST BLOCK 1	Controlled Temperature and Humidity	Temperature and humidity chosen from table	Optional
3	Shock TEST BLOCK 3	Tip/Tip Over	Use a 22 degree tip angle	Required for packages ≥48 in. (1.2 m) tall and any one base dimension < ½ the height; or for packages ≥ 30 in. (760 mm) tall and with a center of gravity vertical location > ½ the package height
4	Shock TEST BLOCK 4	Free-Fall Drop	6 drops – 18 in (460 mm) max	Required
5	Compression, Vertical TEST BLOCK 9	Test in the intended shipping orientation or most stable orientation	Calculated from formula, Maintain force for 1 hour	Required, Machine, or weights and load spreader
6	Compression, Horizontal TEST BLOCK 10	Clamping Simulation	Calculated from formula, Clamp in multiple orientations as directed	Required For any of the 2 axes with a width dimension ≥ 24 in (610mm) and < 75 in (1905 mm)
7	Vertical Vibration TEST BLOCK 13	Random With Top Load	Overall Grms level of 0.54	Required
8	Shock TEST BLOCK 16	Free-Fall Drop	6 drops – 32 in (810 mm) max	Required
9	Shock TEST BLOCK 22	Full Rotational Flat Drop	Varies with packaged-product dimensions	Required for Elongated and Flat Packages
10	Shock TEST BLOCK 23	Bridge Impact	Hazard Box dropped 16 in (400 mm)	Required for Elongated Packages Only
11	Shock TEST BLOCK 24	Concentrated Edge Impact	Hazard Box dropped 16 in (400 mm)	Required for Flat Packages Only

Upon completing APASS package testing, a test report is prepared for submission through Amazon vendor enrollment or to seller central.

Expert SIPP Package Integrity Testing Laboratory

Ready to benefit from a certified package? Our team specializes in e-commerce package testing. Request a quote or contact us for guidance. We understand the intricacies of the requirements and can advise on grouping ASINs to minimize testing.

As a leader in Amazon package testing, Keystone Package Testing assists hundreds of companies annually with compliance testing needs. We look forward to helping you certify your packages through our efficient process.

For more information on SIPP testing, follow the corresponding links: