ISO 8113:2004

Overview

ISO 8113:2004 - "Glass containers - Resistance to vertical load - Test method" specifies a standardized laboratory method to determine the resistance of glass containers (bottles, jars, etc.) to external forces applied along the vertical axis. The standard defines sampling, required apparatus, test procedures (pass test and total progressive test), safety precautions and mandatory test-reporting details. It is published as EN ISO 8113:2004 under the ISO/CEN Vienna Agreement.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Measurement of vertical-load resistance of glass containers under controlled conditions.
• Sampling: Tests are carried out on a predetermined number of containers that have not been subjected to previous mechanical or thermal tests.
• Apparatus:
  • A press or equivalent capable of indicating force to an accuracy of at least 2.5%.
  • Two horizontal flat steel pressure plates: self-aligning upper plate and a lower plate with centring marks.
  • Protective cover or a firm cylindrical cover per container type (slightly lower than container height).
  • Pads (cardboard, folded paper, plastic/rubber sheets) to prevent glass-to-metal contact and to distribute load evenly.
• Test procedure:
  • Sample temperature must not differ from ambient by more than 5 °C.
  • Ensure centerline alignment, clean plate surfaces, and use fresh upper/lower pads or closures for each container.
  • Maintain a constant approach speed (rate of force increase); report the value.
  • Two test types:
    • Pass test: increase force to a specified value and withdraw; record containers that fail.
    • Total progressive test: increase force progressively until container breaks; record breaking force for each sample.
• Measurements & reporting:
  • For progressive tests record force to break (kN), mean value and standard deviation.
  • Test report must include apparatus description, sample size, pads/closures used, approach speed, results, date, location and responsible signature.
• Safety: Operators must follow safety precautions to avoid injury from broken glass.

Applications

ISO 8113:2004 is applied by:

• Glass container manufacturers for design validation and quality control.
• Packaging engineers to verify stacking or end-use vertical load performance.
• Quality control and testing laboratories to produce comparable, documented results.
• Procurement and regulatory bodies assessing container suitability for transportation and storage.

Typical uses include verifying load-bearing capacity during stacking, assessing closure‑finish interaction under compressive loads, and ensuring product protection during distribution.

Related standards

Standards commonly referenced alongside ISO 8113:2004:

• ISO 7458 - Internal pressure resistance test methods
• ISO 7459 - Thermal shock resistance and endurance
• ISO 8106 - Determination of capacity by gravimetric method
• ISO 9008 / EN 29008 - Verticality test method
• ISO 9009 / EN 29009 - Height and finish non-parallelism
• ISO 9885 / EN 29885 - Wide-mouth container top sealing surface flatness

Keywords: ISO 8113:2004, glass containers, vertical load, resistance test method, pass test, progressive test, packaging testing, glass bottle strength.