Handbook 44 – 2010 4.43. Measure-Containers 

Table of Contents 

Section 4.43. Measure-Containers ........................................................................................ 4-23

A. Application .................................................................................................................................................. 4-23

S. Specifications............................................................................................................................................... 4-23

S.1. Units................................................................................................................................................... 4-23

S.2. Capacity Point.................................................................................................................................... 4-23

S.3. Shape.................................................................................................................................................. 4-23

S.4. Marking.............................................................................................................................................. 4-23

S.4.1. Capacity Point...................................................................................................................... 4-23

S.4.2. Capacity Statement. ............................................................................................................. 4-23

N. Notes............................................................................................................................................................. 4-23

N.1. Test Liquid......................................................................................................................................... 4-23

N.2. Preparation of Container for Test....................................................................................................... 4-24

N.2.1. General................................................................................................................................. 4-24

N.2.2. Restraining Form for Test.................................................................................................... 4-24

T. Tolerances.................................................................................................................................................... 4-24

T.1. Tolerances on an Individual Measure. ............................................................................................... 4-24

T.2. Tolerance on Average Capacity......................................................................................................... 4-24

UR. User Requirements ..................................................................................................................................... 4-24

UR.1. Limitation of Use............................................................................................................................... 4-24

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Handbook 44 – 2010 4.43. Measure-Containers 

Section 4.43. Measure-Containers

A. Application 

A.1. This code applies to measure-containers, including lids or closures if such are necessary to provide total 

enclosure of the measured commodity, as follows: 

(a) Retail measure-containers intended to be used only once to determine at the time of retail sale, and from 

bulk supply, the quantity of commodity on the basis of liquid measure. The retail measure-container serves 

as the container for the delivery of the commodity. 

(b) Prepackaged measure-containers intended to be used only once to determine in advance of sale the quantity 

of a commodity (such as ice cream, ice milk, or sherbet) on the basis of liquid measure. The prepackaged 

measure-container serves as the container for the delivery of the commodity, in either a wholesale or a 

retail marketing unit. 

A.2. This code does not apply to rigid containers used for milk, cream, or other fluid dairy products, which are 

covered by packaging requirements. 

A.3. See also Section 1.10. General Code requirements. 

S. Specifications 

S.1. Units. – The capacity of a measure-container shall be a multiple of or a binary submultiple of a quart or a 

liter, and the measure shall not be subdivided. However, for prepackaged measure-containers, any capacity less than 

1⁄4 L or 1⁄2 liq pt shall be permitted. 

(Amended 1979) 

S.2. Capacity Point. – The capacity of a measure-container shall be sharply defined by: 

(a) the top edge, 

(b) a line near the top edge, or 

(c) the horizontal cross-sectional plane established by the bottom surface of the removable lid or cap when 

seated in the container. 

S.3. Shape. – A measure-container shall be designed as some suitable geometrical shape, and its capacity shall be 

determined without distortion from its normal assembled shape. 

S.4. Marking. 

S.4.1. Capacity Point. – If the capacity point of a measure-container is defined by a line, the container shall 

be marked conspicuously on its side with a suitable statement clearly identifying this line as the capacity point. 

S.4.2. Capacity Statement. – A measure-container shall be clearly and conspicuously marked with a 

statement of its capacity in terms of one of the units prescribed in S.1. Units. 

N. Notes 

N.1. Test Liquid. – Water shall be used as the test liquid for a measure-container. 

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4.43. Measure-Containers Handbook 44 – 2010 

N.2. Preparation of Container for Test. 

N.2.1. General. – Before an actual test is begun, a measure-container shall, if necessary, be so restrained that 

it will maintain its normal assembled shape and that its sides will not bulge when it is filled with water. 

N.2.2. Restraining Form for Test. 

N.2.2.1. For Rectangular Containers of One Liter, One Quarter Less. – Bulging of the sides of a 

rectangular measure-container of 1 L (1 qt) capacity or less may be controlled by holding against each side 

of the container, with a cord, rubber bands, or tape, a metal plate or a piece of heavy cardboard slightly 

smaller than the side of the container. 

(Amended 1979) 

N.2.2.2. For Rectangular Prepackaged Measure-container of Two Quarts or Two Liters or 

Greater. – A rectangular prepackaged measure-container of 2 L (2 qt) capacity or greater shall be 

supported during a test by a rigid restraining form. This form shall restrain not less than the entire area of 

the central two-thirds of each side of the container, measured from bottom to top. The inside width 

dimension of any side panel of the restraining form shall be 1.6 mm (1

/16 in) greater than the corresponding 

outside dimension of the container. (The outside width dimension of any side panel of the container shall 

be established by adding to the inner side center-of-score to center-of-score dimension two thicknesses of 

the board used, and the sum thus obtained shall be rounded off to the nearest 0.4 mm (1

/64 in).) 

(Amended 1979) 

T. Tolerances 

T.1. Tolerances on an Individual Measure. – The acceptance tolerances in excess and in deficiency on an 

individual measure shall be as shown in Table 1. Acceptance Tolerances, in Excess and in Deficiency, for MeasureContainers. 

T.2. Tolerance on Average Capacity. – The average capacity on a random sample of 10 measures selected from 

a lot of 25 or more shall be equal to or greater than the nominal capacity. 

(Amended 1979) 

UR. User Requirements 

UR.1. Limitation of Use. – The use of a measure-container with a rectangular cross section of a capacity of 2 L 

(2 qt) or greater shall be limited to the packaging, in advance of sale, of ice cream, sherbet, or other similar frozen 

desserts. 

(Amended 1979) 

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Handbook 44 – 2010 4.43. Measure-Containers 

Table 1. 

Acceptance Tolerances, in Excess and in Deficiency, for Measure-Containers

Nominal Capacity Tolerance 

In Excess In Deficiency 

milliliters milliliters 

1⁄4 liter or less 10 5.0 

1⁄2 liter 15 7.5 

1 liter 20 10.0 

Over 1 liter Add per liter 

10 milliliters 

Add per liter 

5.0 milliliters 

fluid drams cubic inches fluid drams cubic inches 

1⁄2 pint or less 3 0.6 1.5 0.3 

1 pint 4 1.0 2.0 0.5 

1 quart 6 1.4 3.0 0.7 

2 quarts 9 2.0 4.5 1.0 

3 quarts 10 2.4 5.0 1.2 

4 quarts 12 2.8 6.0 1.2 

Over 4 quarts Add per quart 

3 fluid drams 

Add per quart 

0.7 cubic inch 

Add per quart 

1.5 fluid drams 

Add per quart 

0.35 cubic inch 

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