Quick Answer
Test a foundation pump’s restart behavior after an agreed idle period using the intended formula and complete pack. Record the first strokes, nozzle condition, recovery and any cleanup before changing the setup. A pump that dispenses well immediately after filling is not automatically approved for repeated stop-and-start use.
This trial is narrower than selecting a pump by viscosity or nominal output. It asks what the user encounters when the pack has stood unused, and gives the technical team a traceable observation rather than a general statement that the pump clogged.
Define the use sequence before filling
Identify the formula version, pump, bottle, fill quantity and assembly. Agree the initial priming procedure, dispensing action, idle intervals and storage conditions with the responsible teams. Include the cap or actuator cover as intended in normal use. Acceptance limits should come from the product brief and technical review, not a universal number of presses.
Capture the first event without intervention
At each restart, inspect the visible nozzle and surrounding area before wiping or pressing. Record whether the actuator moves normally, whether product appears, and whether the first discharge differs from subsequent strokes. Use an agreed output measurement if quantity matters, retaining the individual observations rather than only the average.
- Sample identity, idle interval and storage orientation.
- Cover fitted or absent as required by the trial.
- Visible residue and its location before the first stroke.
- Actuation sequence and observed discharge behavior.
- Any spitting, delayed discharge or flow interruption.
- Recovery and any intervention used.
Keep investigation separate from acceptance
If a sample fails to restart, preserve the observation before cleaning, shaking or dismantling. Those actions can change the evidence. The supplier and formulation team should agree the next investigation step. Do not assume dried residue, a valve, air or the formula is the cause simply from the first symptom.
If cleaning is part of an intended user instruction, evaluate that specific instruction separately. A technician’s workaround should not silently turn an unsuccessful restart into an unconditional pass.
Repeat at relevant fill levels
Where the intended use warrants it, compare early use and partly depleted samples under the same sequence. Keep each sample’s history visible. Do not mix observations from different formula versions or pump variants and call them one trial.
Document what was approved
Retain the raw record, affected sample and accepted configuration. State any limitations such as storage orientation or required cover. A nozzle, valve, formula or cap change should trigger review of the applicable restart evidence.
Build a restart timeline for each sample
Label the complete pack and keep every restart event connected to its prior use. Record the starting fill, initial priming and storage sequence. A sample cleaned or otherwise modified during investigation should no longer be mistaken for an untouched restart candidate.
| Event | Observation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Before idle | Stable delivery condition | Preparation and use history |
| Before restart | Visible nozzle condition | Storage and fitted cover |
| First strokes | Movement and discharge | Agreed actuation method |
| Investigation | Change after intervention | Action and sample identity |
Keep individual observations rather than only a final recovered output. Recovery may be relevant, but it should not erase the user’s first experience after the idle period.
Separate a symptom from a proposed cause
For example, a pump may move normally but deliver intermittently on restart. This illustrative observation does not identify whether the formula, nozzle or internal assembly caused it. Preserve the pack and ask the technical teams to define the next controlled comparison.
A revised pump or formula needs a separate trial identity. If several changes are necessary, record them all and avoid attributing the result to a single unverified cause. Cleaning should follow the agreed investigation or intended-use procedure.
Handover the accepted stop-and-start configuration
List the pump, bottle, formula and cover references together with the reviewed sequence. State which conditions were assessed and which remain open. A repeat order should use the same accepted configuration or reopen affected checks.
Keep trial limits distinct from consumer instructions. A successful technical workaround is not automatically a reasonable user requirement or a basis for an unrestricted restart claim.
FAQ
Does successful initial priming approve restart? No. They are different stages of use.
Should a blocked sample be cleaned immediately? Record its condition first, then follow the agreed investigation procedure.
Can a water trial represent pigmented foundation? It cannot establish behavior for the intended formula without relevant evidence.
Include restart results in the sample approval record, or share the pump and use-sequence brief.