ASTM D2063 and D7860 Torque Testing Standards vs ISO 8317
By Lim Xu, Export Manager
Three standards come up when buyers search for torque testing standards: ASTM D2063, ASTM D7860 and ISO 8317. The first two measure torque retention of continuous thread closures, one with manual equipment and one with automated equipment. ISO 8317 asks a different question, which is whether a package keeps children out.
Three standards, three different questions
ASTM D2063 and ASTM D7860 answer the same kind of question. They measure how much of the applied torque a closure keeps over time, under set conditions. They differ in the equipment they require.
ISO 8317 is not a torque retention method at all. It sets requirements and test methods for reclosable packages designated as child-resistant. Mixing it up with the two ASTM standards is the most common mistake, so the sections below take them one at a time.
What does ASTM D2063 cover?
ASTM D2063 is a quantitative method that measures the removal torque of continuous thread closures on containers with matching finishes, for predetermined environmental conditions over time. The range of values it can measure is limited to the equipment used.
It calls for non-automated equipment, meaning a spring torque meter with a dial or digital readout, or a torque wrench. It is suitable for packaging development and engineering evaluation. It is used under controlled conditions, where the application torque is known and the downward force on the closure is zero.
What does ASTM D7860 cover?
ASTM D7860 also evaluates the torque retention of continuous thread closures on containers with matching finishes. It uses automated equipment, an automated transducer-based torque meter that runs at a known rotational speed or a known torque ramp. It measures dry torque only, meaning torque applied with no product or lubricant on the threads.
It covers non-child-resistant closures and Type I style A push down and turn child-resistant closures. For the child-resistant type, the downward force on the closure is known and is recorded. The standard has two test methods, a static evaluation and a dynamic evaluation.
In the static method, samples are stored under set conditions and the removal torque is measured at set intervals. In the dynamic method, packages go through distribution testing practices first, and the removal torque is measured at the end of the cycles.
What does ISO 8317 cover?
ISO 8317 specifies performance requirements and test methods for reclosable packages designated as resistant to opening by children. Its acceptance criteria are based on how well the package restricts access by children, and on whether adults can still reach the contents.
The standard is intended for type approval only and is not intended for quality assurance. That makes it a design and registration test, run with test panels of people, rather than a routine torque check on a production line. Our page on ISO 8317 child-resistant closure torque testing explains where torque measurement fits around it.
Questions about a model or a test? Email Amy Zhao, Export Manager, at [email protected].
How do application torque and removal torque work in these standards?
Application torque is the torque used to close the container. Removal torque is the torque needed to open it later. D7860 refers to ASTM D3198 for the definitions of both terms.
D7860 adds three definitions. Immediate removal torque is the removal torque measured from 1 min to 5 min after the closure is applied. Torque retention is a comparison between the removal torque at the end of a test period and that immediate value. For the static method on non-child-resistant closures, the standard selects the minimum application torque the closure manufacturer recommends.
How do you choose the standard for your package?
Start from the question you need answered and the equipment you have. The table sets out the usual match.
| Situation | Standard to look at |
|---|---|
| Torque retention study with a manual torque meter or torque wrench | ASTM D2063 |
| Torque retention with an automated transducer-based torque meter | ASTM D7860 |
| Torque retention after storage or after distribution cycles | ASTM D7860, static or dynamic method |
| Child-resistance approval of a reclosable package design | ISO 8317 |
If the closure is not child-resistant, either ASTM standard can apply, and the equipment decides between them. If it is child-resistant, check the closure style against what each standard covers before you commit to a method. You can see our closure torque testers on the torquetester.co home page.
What should you record in a closure torque report?
A closure torque result is only useful with its conditions. Record these items for every run.
- The standard and, for D7860, whether the static or dynamic method was used
- Closure and container details, including the fill
- Application torque, and the rotation rate or torque ramp
- Storage conditions and the time intervals tested
- Removal torque for each specimen, and the number of specimens
- Instrument identity and the date of its last calibration
D7860 calls for at least ten specimens for each torque measurement point per test variable. It also expects the meter to be calibrated to a traceable standard and checked before testing. Our guide on how to calibrate a cap torque tester covers verification in practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ASTM D2063 and ASTM D7860?
D2063 is written for non-automated equipment such as a spring torque meter or torque wrench. D7860 requires an automated transducer-based torque meter, adds the static and dynamic methods, and also covers Type I style A child-resistant closures.
Does ISO 8317 specify a torque value?
No. ISO 8317 is a child-resistant packaging standard, and its acceptance depends on how child and adult test panels perform with the package. If you need torque numbers, use a torque retention method or your own product specification.
Which standard applies to non-child-resistant closures?
Both ASTM D2063 and ASTM D7860 cover non-child-resistant continuous thread closures. Pick by equipment, manual for D2063 and automated for D7860. ISO 8317 applies only to packages designated as child-resistant.
Can a digital torque tester be used for ASTM D7860?
A digital readout alone does not make a tester suitable. D7860 calls for an automated transducer-based torque meter with a programmable, fixed speed or fixed torque ramp. A manually operated meter with a digital display sits closer to D2063. Check the instrument specification against the standard.
Talk to our factory team
We sell direct from our factory, so you work directly with our factory team. Questions about a model or a test? Email Amy Zhao, Export Manager, at [email protected].
