DIN 5014 is a German test method for determining the compressive strength (strip crush resistance) of paper and board using a test strip clamped into an S-shape and loaded in compression parallel to the paper plane.
It is commonly referenced for corrugated and packaging paper evaluation where short-span compression performance is used to compare furnish, refining, forming, and process changes. If you need help matching an S-test setup to your material type and the cited edition, you can talk with our team.
DIN 5014: Testing of paper and board — Compressive strength of an in S-shape fixed sample
DIN 5014 specifies an S-shaped clamping approach (often called the “S-test”) used to determine the maximum compressive force a paper or board strip can withstand under a short-span, buckling-type failure mode.
Document type: Test method.
Status note: DIN 5014 (2019-04) is published as withdrawn and has been replaced by DIN ISO 7763.
Quick Definition
DIN 5014 describes a short-span compression-style test where a narrow paper/board strip is held in an offset, S-shaped clamping geometry and compressed parallel to the sheet plane until failure, reporting the maximum force (and, depending on the lab’s practice, derived strength values).
What This Standard Covers
The standard covers the determination of compressive strength using an S-shaped fixed specimen. It is typically applied to paper materials within a defined basis-weight range and can also be used outside that range when appropriate to the product and agreement between parties.
Key idea: The S-shaped grip geometry produces a short test length and a double-flexure/buckling behavior that is useful for differentiating paper structure and process changes.
Why This Standard Matters in Testing
Short-span compressive performance is a practical way to compare lots, suppliers, and process settings for packaging papers where compression and stability drive in-use performance. For QA/QC teams, it can support incoming inspection and trend monitoring; for R&D, it is often used to quantify the effect of furnish, forming, and moisture-related changes.
Revision sensitivity: Results can be sensitive to clamping geometry, span/offset details, loading conditions, and reporting conventions—so equipment configuration and software reporting should match the exact cited edition (or its replacement standard) used in customer specifications.
Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered
DIN 5014 is commonly associated with paper and board used in corrugated and packaging applications where compression resistance is important.
Common use cases: Corrugated-paper evaluation, packaging paper development, supplier comparisons, and process control testing tied to compression-related performance.
Common Test or Verification Workflow
Typical laboratory workflow includes conditioning as required by the governing paper test practice, preparing strips to the specified dimensions, clamping the strip in the defined S-shaped arrangement (usually in the machine direction when required), and running a compression test to the specified endpoint while capturing maximum force.
Common outputs: Maximum compressive force and any calculated values required by the purchasing specification or internal quality plan.
Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard
DIN 5014 testing is most often run on a materials testing machine configured for low-force compression with specialized S-test grips/fixtures designed to create the required offset, short test length, and stable alignment.
Common equipment: Electromechanical universal testing machine (low-force range), S-test grip/fixture set, load cell sized for expected peak forces, and software capable of capturing peak force and producing the required report format.
Practical selection note: The fixture and alignment package usually matter more than frame capacity for this method; repeatability depends heavily on consistent gripping, jaw guidance, and controlled compression travel/speed.
If you are selecting a test frame and S-test fixture package for paper and board compression work, you can request a detailed quote with options sized to your force range and throughput.
How to Read This Designation or Revision
DIN standards are commonly cited by the base number and (in many catalogs and specifications) by an issue date such as “DIN 5014:2019-04”. When a specification calls out DIN 5014, confirm whether it allows the replacement document (DIN ISO 7763) and whether the customer requires strict use of the withdrawn DIN edition.
Best practice: Match the test report header, conditioning references, and fixture geometry to the exact designation stated in the purchase specification.
Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks
This method is commonly discussed alongside other paper compression tests used for packaging performance comparisons. Depending on the product and customer requirements, labs may also reference short-span compression approaches and corrugated-medium focused compression methods.
Important: Related methods are not automatically interchangeable—do not substitute a different compression method unless the customer specification explicitly allows it.
Get help configuring a DIN 5014 / S-test setup
For help selecting a low-force test frame, S-test grips, load cell range, and reporting outputs aligned to your cited edition (or the replacement DIN ISO standard), contact our team with your material type, basis weight range, and required reporting format.