PKG&QAP MIL-DTL-32438

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SECTION C

This document covers hot beverage box (HBB) for use by the Department of Defense as a 

component of operational rations.

C-1 ITEM DESCRIPTION

PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS AND QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS FOR 

MIL-DTL-32438, HOT BEVERAGE BOX

SECTION D

D-1 PACKAGING 

 A. Material safety data sheets. When required, a material safety data sheet (MSDS) shall be 

prepared in accordance with the requirement of FED-STD-313.

D-2 LABELING

 A. MSDS. The MSDS, when required, shall be attached to the unit loads.

D-3 PACKING

 A. Packing for shipment to field units. Five (5) HBBs shall be packaged in a RSC. The 

RSC shall be made of V3c. Figure 1 specifies the design requirements and dimensions of the 

box. The five (5) activation fluid units shall be packed into an insert that will be placed 

within the RSC. Figure 2 specifies the design requirements and dimensions of the insert.

 B. Packing for shipment to ration assembler. Not more than 40 pounds of product shall be 

packed in a fiberboard shipping box constructed in accordance with style RSC of ASTM 

D5118/D5118M, Standard Practice for Fabrication of Fiberboard Shipping Boxes. The 

fiberboard shall conform to type CF, class D, variety SW, burst grade 200 or ECT grade 32 

of ASTM D4727/D4727M, Standard Specification for Corrugated and Solid Fiberboard 

Sheet Stock (Container Grade) and Cut Shapes. Each box shall be closed in accordance with 

ASTM D1974/D1974M, Standard Practice for Methods of Closing, Sealing, and Reinforcing 

Fiberboard Boxes. 

D-4 UNITIZATION

 A. Unit loads. Unit loads shall be as specified in MIL-STD-147, Palletized Unit Loads.

The HBBs, packed as specified in D-3, shall be palletized on a 4-way entry pallet in 

accordance with load type Ia of MIL-STD-147. Each prepared load shall be bonded with 

primary and secondary straps in accordance with bonding method D and film bonding 
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methods F or G. A bottom cap and top cap, conforming to MIL-STD-147, shall be used on 

each unitized load. Stability dunnage type 29 shall be used when bonding method G is 

employed. Each palletized unit load shall be provided with all legally required 

documentation.

D-5 MARKING

 A. Shipping containers and unit loads. Shipping containers and unit loads shall 

be marked in accordance with MIL-STD-129, Military Marking for Shipment and Storage.

SECTION E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

The following quality assurance criteria, utilizing ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, Sampling Procedures and 

Tables for Inspection by Attributes, are required. Unless otherwise specified, single sampling 

plans indicated in ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 will be utilized. When required, the manufacturer shall

provide the Certificate(s) of Conformance to the appropriate inspection activity. 

Certificate(s) of Conformance not provided shall be cause for rejection of the lot.

 A. Definitions.

(1) Critical defect. A critical defect is a defect that judgment and experience indicate 

would result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using, maintaining, or 

depending on the item; or a defect that judgment and experience indicate is likely to prevent 

the performance of the major end item, i.e., the consumption of the ration.

(2) Major defect. A major defect is a defect, other than critical, that is likely to result 

in failure, or to reduce materially the usability of the unit of product for its intended purpose. 

(3) Minor defect. A minor defect is a defect that is not likely to reduce materially the 

usability of the unit of product for its intended purpose, or is a departure from established 

standards having little bearing on the effective use or operation of the unit.

 B. Classification of inspections. The inspection requirements specified herein are classified 

as follows:

(1) Conformance inspection. Conformance inspection shall include the 

examinations/tests and the methods of inspection cited in this section.
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E-5 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS (PRODUCT)

 A. Product examination. The finished product shall be examined and tested for

conformance to the requirements specified in MIL-DTL-32438 and in this Packaging 

Requirements and Quality Assurance Provisions document.

E-6 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS (PACKAGING AND PACKING 

MATERIALS)

 A. Packing.

(1) Shipping container and marking examination. The filled and sealed shipping 

containers shall be examined for the defects listed in table I. The lot size shall be expressed in 

shipping containers. The sample unit shall be one shipping container fully packed. The 

inspection level shall be S-3 and the AQL, expressed in terms of defects per hundred units, 

shall be 4.0 for major defects and 10.0 for total defects.

TABLE I. Shipping container and marking defects

Category Defect

Major Minor

101 Marking missing or incorrect or illegible.

102 Inadequate workmanship. 1/

201 Insert missing or does not separate activation fluid units.

202 Not 5 HBBs when specified.

203 More than 40 pounds of product.

1/ Inadequate workmanship is defined as, but not limited to, incomplete closure of container 

flaps, loose strapping, inadequate stapling, improper taping, or bulged or distorted container.

 B. Unitization.

(1) Unit load examination. The unit load shall be examined in accordance with the 

requirements of MIL-STD-147, Palletized Unit Loads. Any nonconformance shall be 

classified as a major defect.
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SECTION J REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Unless otherwise specified, the applicable version of these documents is that which is active 

on the date of the solicitation or contract.

FEDERAL STANDARD

FED-STD-313 Material Safety Data, Transportation Data and Disposal 

Data for Hazardous Materials Furnished To Government 

Activities

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SPECIFICATIONS

MIL-STD-147 Palletized Unit Loads

MIL-STD-129 Military Marking for Shipment and Storage

MIL-DTL-32438 Hot Beverage Box

NON-GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY (ASQ) www.asq.org

ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by 

Attributes

ASTM INTERNATIONAL www.astm.org

D1974/D1974M Standard Practice for Methods of Closing, Sealing, and 

Reinforcing Fiberboard Boxes

D4727/D4727M Standard Specification for Corrugated and Solid Fiberboard Sheet 

Stock (Container Grade) and Cut Shapes

D5118/D5118M Standard Practice for Fabrication of Fiberboard Shipping Boxes
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FIGURE 1. Hot Beverage Box 5 Count Shipping Case
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FIGURE 2. Hot Beverage Box 5 Count Shipping Case Insert