Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification

Purpose
To define NAOU specifications, in addition to those described in KORE (PK-SP-1015), for
Plastic Flat Cap Closures.

Scope
Apply specification to plastic flat cap closures.

Global KORE Specifications

PK-SP-1015 must be followed for those specifications covered by KORE listed below:
Packaging Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Material Approval SM-PR-2030
Taste Compatibility and Appearance - Plastic SM-PR-1030
Historical Tamper Evidence (TE 40+) SM-PR-1260
Advanced Tamper Evidence – Package Closure SM-PR-3187
Opening Performance - Cold and Hot SM-PR-1180

NAOU Specifications
Dimensional Specification
Attribute/Test Specification Method
Closure Dimension Closure should conform to supplier drawing and NA-PK-115
tolerances. Closure weight should conform to weight
target and tolerance. In absence of a drawing
showing the critical to quality dimension, these will
need to be agreed upfront with NAOU

Physical Performance Specification

Attribute/Test Specification Method
Proper Application • No closure shall leak or vent at or below the P1 NA-PK-104
(Secure Seal) pressure.
• No closure shall release from the finish at or below
the P2 pressure.

Elevated Cycle • Closure must stay on bottle for three (3) NA-PK-121
Modified consecutive test cycles.
• Closure cocked on finish is acceptable.
• Closure leak is acceptable.
• Closure surface cracks are not acceptable.

Standard Methods NA-PK-113 Issued: March 31, 2022

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 Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification
Attribute/Test Specification Method
Ball Impact Closure NA-PK-116
crack,
Bottle Drop split, leak,
NA-PK-117
Separation or vent
or release pressure
of the (also
closure includes
from the instant Closure Foil
bottle leaker that breaks ruptures
finish reseals) into pieces (if used)
Carbonated
Not Not
Beverages, Allowed N/A
Allowed Allowed
including waters
NCB (Excluding
water), Including Not Not Not
N/A
hot fill, aseptic and Allowed Allowed Allowed
chilled

Not Not
NCB with foil seals Allowed Allowed
Allowed Allowed

Non-Carbonated
Not Not
Waters - Allowed N/A
Allowed Allowed
Pressurized
Non-Carbonated
Not
Waters - Non- Allowed Allowed N/A
Allowed
Pressurized
Removal Torque This specification does not apply to immediate removal NA-PK-123
torques which must be provided by the closure
supplier.

Cap Size Spec Spec

(mm) Bottle Finish (in-lbs) (kg-cm)
<28 All 3 - 12 3 - 14
28 All Except 1810 5 - 15 6 - 17
28 1810 5 - 17 6 - 20
29 - 43 All 5 - 25 6 - 29
>43 All 24 - 60 28 - 69

Note: NAOU specifications are based on

manual/spring torque meters using a hand chuck.

Top Load Vent No headspace gas vents from the applied NA-PK-125
closure.

Closure Stress Crack Closure should not exhibit any cracks NA-PK-114
Resistance

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 Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification
Attribute/Test Specification Method
Strip Torque Closure Criteria All Product NA-PK-124
Size(mm) types
22mm Greater than 16 in-lbs. or 18.4
maximum static cm-kg at 38 ± 1°C
application torque, (100 ± 2°F)
but not less than…
26 - 33 mm Greater than 25 in-lbs. or
maximum static 28.8 cm-kg at 38
application ± 1°C (100 ±
torque, but not 2°F)
less than…
> 33 mm Greater than 30 in-lbs. or 34.6
maximum static cm-kg at 38±1°C
application (100±2° F)
torque, but not
less than…

For still water closures: A lower strip torque value

may be acceptable. Such as 5 in-lbs. (5.76 cm-kg)
greater than max application torque recommended by
supplier when tested at room temperature.
NOTE: This would require conducting a second
strip torque test at room temperature.
For hot filled/aseptic closures: A lower strip torque
value may be acceptable. For instance, a strip torque
value could be set at 5 in-lbs. (5.76 cm-kg) greater
than maximum application torque value
recommended by closure supplier when tested at 38
± 1°C (100 ± 2°F).
Foil Removal The foil must detach completely (in one piece). The NA-PK-127
foil should not tear.
• Max peeling force 20N
• No leakage during squeeze test
The rim of the bottle finish should not distort
significantly or form sharp edges
Vacuum Retention All samples retain vacuum through all test NA-PK-126
intervals.

Opening After bottle reclosing, closures must not leak/vent at NA-PK-128

Performance After or below 0.3 bar, nor release at or below 6.9 bar.
Reclosing
Closures must not have a premature release during
opening at any internal pressure below the venting
pressure of the closure.

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 Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification
Attribute/Test Specification Method
Carbonation Average CO2 value and standard deviation for test NA-PK-118
Retention – Elevated, package at all testing intervals must be comparable
NA-PK-119
Non- Topload, to control samples tested under the same
Topload conditions. NA-PK-120

NOTE: Overall CO2 loss for a given

package is not necessarily indicative of closure
performance. If test packages exhibit average
CO2 values comparable to control packages,
tight CO2 ranges, and small standard deviations,
then the closure provides satisfactory sealing
performance.

Pressure Average pressure value and standard deviation for NA-PK-122

Retention- Non- test package at all testing intervals must be
Topload Ambient comparable to control samples tested under the
and Elevated same conditions.

NOTE: Overall pressure loss for a given

package is not necessarily indicative of
closure performance. If test packages
exhibit average pressure values
comparable to control packages, tight
pressure ranges, and small standard
deviations, then the closure provides
satisfactory sealing performance.

Functional Performance Specification

Attribute/Test Specification Method
Line Trial Samples specified must meet requirements. If an NA-PK-107
inspection is required, then the inspection must meet
quality requirements for this type of product.
Application/Seal Angle
As defined in the Technical Bulletin provided for the
specific closure by the closure supplier.
Pull-Up Distribution (NCB Non-Pressurized & Hot-
fill)
As defined in the Technical Bulletin provided for the
specific closure by the closure supplier.

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 Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification
Attribute/Test Specification Method
Operational Trial • Removal torques and Application Angle and Pull- NA-PK-108
Up must meet requirements
• Removal Torques must show Cpk at or above
1.0 at 24/48 hours.
• Application defect rate less than 1/10k for critical
defects
• No critical tamper band defects

NOTE: If test closures exhibit

performance levels comparable to control
closures, then NAOU Package R&D or
Commercialization may determine that the
closure provides satisfactory performance.
Stack Ship Test for • No carbonation loss. NA-PK-110
Closures • No loss of seal integrity.
• No change in removal torque when compared to
controls.
• No top print distortion

Field Trial • Removal torques and Application Angle and Pull- NA-PK-109
Up must meet requirements
• Removal Torques must show Cpk at or above
1.0 at 24/48 hours.
• Application defect rate less than 1/10k for critical
defects
• No critical tamper band defects

NOTE: If test closures exhibit

performance levels comparable to control
closures, then NAOU Package R&D or
Commercialization may determine that the
closure provides satisfactory performance.

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 Plastic Flat Cap Master Specification
Revision History
Revision Date Summary of Change

31-Mar-2022 Changed document numbers to new NA format. Added table to SST requirement. Added
Stress Crack Resistance test requirement.
18-Dec-2020 Moved previous KORE document to NAOU Standard Methods format. Removed Global
KORE details from NAOU document. Modified layout for SST requirement to detail P1
and P2 requirements. Inserted table of requirements for Ball Impact and Bottle Drop to
clarify requirements, without changing requirements. Modified Removal Torque
requirements to correspond to NAOU standards. Eliminated low specification on Foil Seal
test, and added squeeze test. Modified Line Trial, Operational Trial and Field Trial
requirements to match NAOU standards. Added print inspection to Stack Ship test
requirements.
15-Jun-2015 Updated Sensory Evaluation terminology and specification. Incorporated 22 mm option for
removal torque and strip torque.

14-Jun-2013 Deleted specifications and content no longer applicable to the plastic flat cap
authorization process. Updated content for clarity and added additional specifications
where applicable. Updated names and or titles to align with the specification purpose and
content.

29-Jul-2011 Reformatted into KORE template. Replaces PK-SP-010 which is incorporated into
this document. Added scope and removed the content section. Reformatted
specification and updated the following; Ball impact, Liner Security, Secure Seal,
Removal Torque, Pull-Up.

14-Dec-2007 Added note that divisions can use stricter specifications; added promotional ink note, slip
agents note, and supplier dimensional data note; divisions can use either
Application/Seal Angle or Pull-Up Distribution tests; instantaneous leaker failure;
combined Topload, Non-topload and Elevated Carbon Retention into one section;
changed “CSD to Sparkling Beverages” and NCB to NCB/STILL; added NCB/STILL Non-
pressurized and Hot-Fill to Opening Performance Cold and Hot; added bottler torque
paragraph in Removal Torque Cold and Ambient note; changed NCB/STILL Pressurized
leak/vent performance from 3.45 bar to 2.07 bar; release performance changed from
6.90 bar to 4.83 bar; changed NCB/STILL Hot Fill leak/vent performance from 1.72 bar to
1.50 bar and 4.83 bar to 3.10 bar and changed release performance 4.83 bar to 3.10 bar;
changed Strip Torque Criteria from 5 in-lbs. or 5.76 kg-cm at 38±1°C (100±2°F) to
greater than the maximum static application torque, but not less; and added water
categories to Tamper-Evident; combined NCB/STILL Pressurized and Non-Pressurized
on Secure Seal chart.
29-Jun-2007 Removal of Triangle Taste Test Methodology and Analysis of the Data.
Added reference to the Sensory Manual, Standard Methods, and Triangle Test Procedure
(SM-PR-900).

Standard Methods NA-PK-113 Issued: March 31, 2022

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