Plastics : GSA IDA Certificate for Plastics used in government identifications and access

A GSA IDA (General Services Administration Identity and Authentication) certificate for plastics is a certification that verifies plastic materials meet specific government standards for identity, composition, and security features when used in federal identification cards, access cards, and other secure government-issued credentials.

In-Depth Explanation:

Purpose:

These certificates ensure that plastic materials used in government ID cards has the following:

• Maintain structural integrity over time
• Support necessary security features
• Meet environmental and durability requirements
• Can be properly authenticated
• Resist tampering and counterfeiting

Certification Process:

Plastic manufacturers must submit their materials for testing against criteria such as:

• Physical properties (tensile strength, flexibility, lamination quality)
• Chemical resistance (to solvents, UV exposure, temperature variations)
• Compatibility with security features (holograms, microchips, RFID)
• Durability under typical usage conditions
• Compliance with environmental regulations

Practical Example: 

A company manufactures polycarbonate sheets designed for secure ID cards. 

To obtain GSA IDA certification:

The manufacturer submits samples to GSA-approved testing facilities and the plastic undergoes rigorous testing including:

• Heat and cold cycling (-40°C to +70°C)
• Abrasion resistance (5,000+ cycles)
• Chemical exposure tests
• Integration testing with embedded electronics
• Tamper-evidence verification
• If passed, the material receives certification with a specific identification code

Government agencies can then use this certified plastic material for producing secure ID cards like:

• PIV (Personal Identity Verification) cards that are used by federal government employees and contractors to enable physical access to buildings and logical access to computer systems.
• CAC (Common Access Cards) for military personnel
• TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards that provide maritime workers with unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, and offshore facilities 

This certification helps ensure consistent security standards across government identification systems while giving plastic manufacturers clear specifications to meet when producing materials for these applications.