Foam Selection Guide

Follow these easy steps:

Determine the “fragility” level of your product-using Chart 1 as a guideline.
Determine your product's static loading on the foam (psi). Do this by dividing your products gross weight by the largest surface area that will rest on the foam (square inches).
Example: If your product weighs 10 lbs. and the largest surface area which will rest on the foam insert is 25 in.2, the static loading will be 0.4 p.s.i. (10/25 = .04)
Match your answer to Chart 2.
Find your foam on Chart 3. Enter at your products fragility level, move horizontally to intersect the drop height curve. Then move vertically from the point of intersection to determine the required foam thickness.

Chart 1: Approximate Fragility of Typical Packaged Articles
Extremely Fragile	Missile guidance systems, precision aligned test instruments	15-25 g’s
Very Delicate	Mechanically shock-mounted instruments and electronic equipment (Shock mounts should be firmly secure prior to packaging. They are provided for in-service protection only.)	25-40 g’s
Delicate	Aircraft accessories, electric typewriters, cash registers and other electronically operated office equipment	40-60 g’s
Moderately Delicate	Television receivers, aircraft accessories	60-85 g’s
Moderately Rugged	Laundry equipment, refirgerators, appliances	85-115 g’s
Rugged	Machinery	115 g’s and up

Chart 3: Foam Thickness

2 pound/foot3 polyurethane

4 pound/foot3 polyurethane

2 pound/foot3 polyethylene

Type of Handling	Weight of Item (lbs)	Drop Height (in)
Heavy equipment	250+	12
Light equipment	100-250	18
2 people carrying	50-100	24
1 person carrying (arms down)	20-50	30
1 person carrying (arms extended)	10-20	36
1 person throwing	0-10	42

General Information: