Overview
ISO 13106:2014 specifies requirements for blow‑moulded polypropylene (PP) containers used to package liquid foodstuffs. The standard covers round containers with capacities up to and including 2 litres and addresses raw material designation, dimensional and mass tolerances, sampling and testing methods, and key performance tests (leakage, drop impact, stacking, ink adhesion and compatibility). ISO 13106:2014 is intended to ensure consistent manufacturing quality and measurable performance for PP food‑packaging containers.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to blow‑moulded (extrusion, injection blow, injection stretch blow) round PP containers up to 2 L for liquids for human consumption.
- Raw material: Uses PP grade designations per ISO 1873‑1/2; selection depends on application, filling method and conversion process.
- Capacity & brimful: Defines brimful capacity (overflow capacity), nominal capacity and required fill level/headspace considerations for filling operations.
- Container mass tolerances: Specified tolerances (by mass band):
- Up to 10 g: ±10.0%
- Over 10 g up to 25 g: ±7.5%
- Over 25 g: ±5.0%
- Weighing accuracy guidance: 0.1 g for tare up to 25 g, 0.5 g for tare up to 100 g.
- Dimensional tolerances: Overall height (OH) and diameter (D) tolerances up to ±1.5% for finished empty containers. Methods for measuring wall thickness, OH, diameter, neck dimensions and thread are provided in annexes.
- Wall thickness: Minimum wall thickness must meet application requirements; a minimum of 0.2 mm is noted as reasonable in many cases. Measurement methods are normative (Annex C).
- Performance tests: Includes closure leakage, drop impact resistance, stack load, leakage, ink adhesion, and compatibility tests with detailed procedures in annexes.
- Conformity & sampling: Sampling and acceptance criteria follow established rules (ISO 2859‑1 referenced).
Applications and who uses it
ISO 13106:2014 is used by:
- Packaging designers and container manufacturers specifying and validating blow‑moulded PP bottles and jugs (≤ 2 L).
- Resin suppliers selecting PP grades for blow moulding and food packaging.
- Brand owners and food processors setting procurement and quality acceptance criteria for liquid food packaging.
- Testing laboratories and QA teams performing dimensional, mass and performance tests to confirm conformity.
Benefits include reproducible container specifications, reduced field failures (leakage, stacking damage), and clearer supplier–buyer agreements.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 13106:2014, blow‑moulded polypropylene containers, packaging of liquid foodstuffs, brimful capacity, container mass tolerance, drop impact resistance, stack load test, closure leakage test.