Quick answer: A case certification set for a powered inspection unit shipped to the EU means four reports: RoHS plus SVHC, ISTA 3A, IP67 and UN 38.3, about 8 weeks.

Table of contents

  • The four slots of the set
  • Material compliance: RoHS and SVHC
  • Transport packaging: ISTA 3A or D4169
  • IP rating and dangerous goods
  • Validity and batch matching
  • FAQ

1. The four slots of the set

A powered inspection unit exported to the EU was asked for four case-side reports: material compliance, transport packaging, ingress protection and dangerous goods. The machine's own CE file is a separate stack, checked at another counter.

The four answer four questions: what is in the plastic, whether the box survives transit, whether water and dust get in, and whether the lithium pack is dangerous goods. Miss one and the file waits 3 to 4 weeks for a correction.

ReportBasisCoversPagesValidity
MaterialRoHS ten + REACH SVHCShell, gasket, latches, foam, ink4–612 months
TransportISTA 3A or ASTM D4169Packed case with insert8–12design change
IngressIEC 60529, IP6X and IPX7Empty sealed case3–55 years
Dangerous goodsUN 38.3 + packing instructionBattery and package10–15battery change

They run in parallel but cannot start together: material returns in 9 days, ingress waits for the shell tool, dangerous goods waits for battery samples. Three tracks, about 8 weeks combined.

A case certification set is four timelines, not a pile of paper.

2. Material compliance: RoHS and SVHC

RoHS caps lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP at 0.1%, and cadmium at 0.01%, across five homogeneous materials: PP shell, TPE gasket, stainless latches, foam and ink.

Case certification set stock of black cases on wooden pallets, corrugated sheets between layers, clear stretch film, kraft cartons and white resin sacks beside
Case certification set stock of black cases on wooden pallets, corrugated sheets between layers, clear stretch film, kraft cartons and white resin sacks beside

SVHC works at 0.1% by weight and the list has passed 240 entries, so the front page must show the test date and revision. A claim of REACH compliance without a revision number returns as soon as the buyer's list moves.

Colour is the missed variable: one PP with two masterbatches can pass on one and fail on the other, since masterbatches may carry chrome yellow or brominated flame retardant.

Regrind belongs in the report. Moving from 10% to 30% lifts phthalate and bromine readings, and most buyers retest at a 10 point shift.

This slot is cheap, but it is the only one tied to the formulation.

3. Transport packaging: ISTA 3A or D4169

ISTA 3A covers parcel delivery up to 70 kg, running conditioning, drops, random vibration and more drops; a 22 kg unit with its foam is one sample and 5 working days.

ASTM D4169 works off a distribution cycle number. Sea export usually takes DC 13 at assurance level II with a 1.0 Grms spectrum for 3 h, and a report without the DC number says nothing.

The two do not substitute; a contract naming ISTA 3A rejects D4169. Parcel channels want 3A, container cargo wants D4169, which costs about 40% more across 7 to 10 working days.

This report binds loosely to the shell and tightly to the insert: 20 mm foam against 30 mm changes cushioning at the same drop height, so labs rerun the drop.

Weight moves it too: 6.8 kg empty against 9.2 kg steps the drop height down one row.

4. IP rating and dangerous goods

IP6X is dust tight, 8 h at 2 kg/m³ of talc with no deposit inside; IPX7 is 1 m of immersion for 30 min. Together they read IP67, listed as two sets of conditions.

Case certification set showroom, man in a white polo with hand on a black case, white shelves of orange and yellow cases behind
Case certification set showroom, man in a white polo with hand on a black case, white shelves of orange and yellow cases behind

IP67 does not cover IP66: a 12.5 mm nozzle at 100 L/min is a jet test that immersion never performs.

A built-in lithium pack needs UN 38.3, eight tests from T1 altitude to T8 forced discharge, run on cells and pack, with the package under P903 or P908.

The case side supplies the package drop: 1.2 m, one drop on each of five faces, no panel crack, no cell displacement. UN 38.3 belongs to the battery, so cell and package reports come from two suppliers.

Change the battery model and both expire, resetting this slot of the case certification set.

5. Validity and batch matching

Validity is not a uniform 12 months: material at 12 months, transport on design change only, ingress 5 years, dangerous goods on the battery model.

ChangeRetestReport neededLead time
New masterbatchYesMaterial9 days
New shell supplierYesMaterial + ingress4 weeks
New battery modelYesUN 38.3 + package6 weeks
New outer dimensionsYesTransport2 weeks
Repeat order, same formulaNoNone0
DestinationMaterialTransportIngressDangerous goods
EURoHS + SVHCISTA 3A or D4169IP6X + IPX7UN 38.3 + P903
UKUKCA statementISTA 3AIP67UN 38.3
USABuyer specifiedISTA 3AIP67UN 38.3
GulfRoHSISTA 3AIP67UN 38.3 + air declaration
JapanBuyer specifiedJIS Z 0200IP67UN 38.3

Batch matching rests on formula, supplier and production date; hold all three for 12 months and the old file stands.

Put the report number on the shipping document, since 40 units carry several case batches.

Conclusion

The case certification set closes on a destination table, not on a page count. The EU column runs material, ISTA 3A or D4169, IP6X with IPX7 and UN 38.3 with P903, all four filled. The UK swaps the declaration to UKCA and keeps transport and ingress. The US drops the mandatory material item and keeps ISTA 3A. The Gulf adds an air declaration, and Japan swaps transport to JIS Z 0200. Tick the grid before quoting, because the empty cell is the lead time risk: 9 days for material, 2 weeks for transport, 4 weeks for ingress, 6 weeks for dangerous goods. Filling it costs ten minutes; discovering it at the port costs a month.

This article discusses container-side specifications and design implications only, and does not cover any handling, loading or use of the contents.

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