MIL-STD-2073 - Standard Practice for Military Packaging

1 MIL-STD-2073 - Standard Practice for Military Packaging Subject/Scope: This document outlines Standard processes for the development and documentation of Military Packaging , as distinct from commercial Packaging . This Standard covers methods of preservation to protect materiel against environmentally induced corrosion and deterioration, physical and mechanical damage, and other forms of degradation during storage, multiple handling, and shipment of materiel in the defense transportation system. A decision chart is included for determining the applicability of commercial or Military Packaging practices (see figure 1). If Military Packaging is applicable, figure 1. will further aid in the development of detailed Packaging requirements. Keywords: Mil, container, Packaging , type, requirement, material, class, unit, astm, method, preservation, Military , sealed, document, packing, cushioning, shipping, wood, design, specification, document, pack, heat, rsc, category, size, government, corrosion, fiberboard, contract, reusable, protection, Standard , storage, watervaporproof, barrier, style, greaseproof, level, grade, test, waterproof, flexible, method, resistant, fragility, drawing, requirement, system, desiccant, water, plastic, sealable, shock, identification, equipment Published: 5/23/2008.

2 Text in blue boxes such as this one is instructional and is intended to assist you in understanding the document. Text in red boxes such as this explains changes made to the document by The Wooden Crates Organization. Red text has been added to the document or modifies the document since its final version was officially published. Soft Conversion of Imperial to Metric Conversions, when made, consider materials that are available in metric or imperial sizes rather than converting sizes exactly. For example: Panelboard (plywood) in the US is typically 4 feet X 8 feet (1220 x 2440 mm) while panelboard in metric countries is typically 1200 X 2400 mm. Since the Standard was developed based on readily available materials these variations in material sizes could not have been practically considered. The content of the document below has not been modified.

3 NOT MEASUREMENT. SENSITIVE. MIL-STD-2073 -1E. 23 May 2008. SUPERSEDING. MIL-STD-2073 -1D. 15 December 1999. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Standard Practice FOR. Military Packaging . AMSC N7296 AREA PACK. MIL-STD-2073 -1E. FOREWORD. 1. Details and decision logic for the use of this Standard are described in , , figure 1, and 2. This Standard is approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense. 3. For additional guidance on the contents of this document, contact the Commanding Officer, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, (Code ), Bldg. 596-2, Highway 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733. 4. Comments, suggestions, or questions on this document should be addressed to: Commanding Officer, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, (Code 41K000B120-3), Highway 547, Lakehurst, NJ 08733-5100, or email to Since contact information can change, you may want to verify the currency of this address information using the ASSIST Online database at ii MIL-STD-2073 -1E.

4 CONTENTS. Paragraph Page 1. Applicability ..1. Applicability determination ..1. 2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS ..3. Government documents ..3. Specifications and Other Government documents, drawings and publications ..4. Non-Government Order of 3. DEFINITIONS ..6. Categorization ..6. Common group Container Design Retrieval System (CDRS)..6. Critical Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive (ESDS) items ..7. Fragility factor ..7. Hazardous material ..7. Military 7. Packaging design validation ..8. Repairable item ..8. Reusable container ..8. Selective group Special group 4. GENERAL Military Packaging Development of Military Packaging details and data 10. Hazardous material ..10. iii MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). Paragraph Page Packaging of classified Quantity per unit pack (QUP) ..10. Containers ..10. Repairable excess and residual parts.

5 11. Loose fill materials ..11. Shock and vibration absorption ..11. Determination of item fragility ..11. Packaging materials ..11. 5. DETAILED Military Packaging General Military package design considerations ..11. Military Cleaning and Preservatives ..12. Preservative Application of contact Application and use criteria of volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCI)..12. Methods of Military preservation - general Surfaces coated with preservatives ..14. Metal surfaces not coated with preservatives ..14. Method 10 - Physical Method 20 Physical protection with preservative (with greaseproof wrap, as required)..15. Method 30 - Waterproof or waterproof-greaseproof protection with preservative ..15. Method 31 - Waterproof bag, heat Method 32 - Container, waterproof bag, heat Method 33 - Greaseproof-waterproof bag, heat 16. Method 40 - Watervaporproof protection with preservative as required.

6 16. Method 41 - Watervaporproof bag, heat Method 42 - Container, watervaporproof bag, heat sealed, Method 43 - Floating watervaporproof bag, heat sealed ..17. Method 44 - Rigid container (other than metal), sealed ..17. Method 45 - Rigid metal container, sealed ..17. iv MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). Paragraph Page Method 50 - Watervaporproof protection with 17. Method 51 - Watervaporproof bag with desiccant, heat Method 52 - Container, watervaporproof bag with desiccant, heat sealed, container .. 19. Method 53 - Floating watervaporproof bag with desiccant, heat 20. Method 54 - Rigid container (other than metal) with desiccant, Method 55 - Rigid metal container with desiccant, sealed ..20. Military preservation requirements for items with specific characteristics ..21. Electrostatic discharge sensitive (ESDS) items ..21. Items capable of Flexible-coilable Caging or Items with Rubber and synthetic rubber items.

7 21. Hazardous Moveable Items compatible with Vacuum sensitive items ..22. Level A and B packing requirements ..22. Intermediate Exterior Container selection ..22. Minimal packing requirements ..23. Military Packaging design validation Quality assurance provisions ..23. 6. NOTES ..24. Intended use ..24. Acquisition requirements ..24. Associated Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) ..24. Testing Subject term (key word) listing ..25. Copies of regulations ..25. v MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). Paragraph Page Changes from previous issue ..25. Changes in methods of preservation Conversion of heat sealable bag designators ..26. Commercial Packaging applicability ..27. FIGURES. Figure Page 1 Military Packaging requirements development decision TABLES. Table Page I Approximate fragility factors ..28. II Method of preservation vs. appropriate MIL-DTL-117 bag designations and materials.

8 29. III Heat-sealable bag designator conversion chart ..30. vi MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). APPENDICES. APPENDIX A. DEVELOPMENT OF Military Packaging REQUIREMENTS. Paragraph Page APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS ..31. Government documents ..31. Specifications and Other Government documents, drawings and publications ..34. Non-Government USE OF EXISTING Packaging HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ..36. Hazardous material package testing ..36. Hazardous material shipment Military Packaging CODE Item classification ..36. Item characteristics ..37. Categorization ..37. Category code ..37. Category code First category physical and chemical Item composition/properties Critical item criteria ..39. Contact preservative criteria ..39. Second category weight/ Third category Military Packaging code Military Packaging codes for common Military Packaging codes for selective items.

9 40. Recording of developed Packaging data ..40. vii MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). APPENDICES (Continued). APPENDIX A (Continued). Paragraph Page CONTAINER Packaging DESIGN VALIDATION ..40. Common items ..40. Selective and special items ..40. FIGURES. Figure Page A-1 Format for interpretation of Packaging code sequence ..41. A-2 Military Packaging data development flow chart ..42. TABLES. Table Page A-I Physical and chemical characteristics category code determination ..43. A-II Weight/size/and non-operational fragility category code determination ..49. A-III Contact preservative category code A-IV Predetermined Military Packaging data for common A-V Calculation of material sizes and weights ..59. A-VI Procedural Packaging specifications ..61. viii MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued). APPENDICES (Continued). APPENDIX B. FACTORS AND FORMULAE ESTABLISHING Military Packaging QUP AND ICQ.

10 Paragraph Page APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS .. 63. DETERMINATION OF QUP ..63. Repairable items (depot or field level) or items designated Hi-value or Consumable Irregular configuration, delicate or fragile items ..63. Pairs and sets items ..63. Items unit packed in accordance with Method 50 ..63. Kit ..64. Lumber, raw stock, paints, oils and dope ..64. Factors and formulae establishing QUP ..64. Consumable items having both maintenance and overhaul applications ..64. Consumable items having overhaul applications only ..64. QUANTITY PER UNIT PACK DETERMINATION FORMULAE ..66. Formula A ..66. Formula B ..67. DETERMINATION OF ICQ ..68. Quantities per intermediate container ..68. Intermediate container limitations ..68. TABLES. Table Page B-I Guidance for establishing number of unit packs per intermediate ix MIL-STD-2073 -1E. CONTENTS (Continued).