Heat treated pallets are specially treated to prevent insects and fungi from being transported. The International Organization for Standardization regulates the size of wooden pallets for shipping. Heat treated pallets must be certified according to ISPM 15 heat treatment requirements. To create a heat-treated pallet, the wood must be heated to at least 132.8 degrees Fahrenheit or 56 degrees Celsius.
Heat treated pallets are a type of wooden pallet used to transport goods. They are specially treated to prevent insects or fungi from being transported by the wooden pallet from one place to another. A pallet is a frame constructed from wood with slats across the top. The wooden slats are spaced approximately one inch (2.5 cm) between each slat so that the weight of the goods placed on top of the pallet can be distributed evenly and prevent the slats from bending.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) regulates the size of wooden pallets for shipping, and there are six globally accepted sizes. Most shipping companies require pallets to conform to these ISO dimensions so they can fit into trucks and ocean containers without wasting too much space. Standard pallet configurations also work better with forklifts as most forklifts have been designed to accommodate standard pallets.
Traditionally, a wooden pallet is made up of two by four lumber and may or may not be treated. In 2002, members of the United Nations signed a treaty during the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) requiring heat treatment or fumigation of wooden packaging such as pallets for export. The purpose of heat treated pallets is to prevent the transmission of insect or fungal infestation through wood packaging materials as shipping pallets are often shipped from one country to another. If heat treated pallets are not used, the shipper may be subject to fines and his product seized for destruction.
Pallets treated with heat or fumigation are stamped with a certification that reduces the possibility of the shipment being delayed in customs. Heat treated pallets must be certified according to ISPM 15 heat treatment requirements. These requirements, developed as a result of the IPPC treaty, provide guidelines on how companies manufacture heat treated pallets. While this requirement strictly regulates international shipments only, many companies have moved to only heat-treated pallets for consistency.
To create a heat-treated pallet, the wood must be heated to at least 132.8 degrees Fahrenheit or 56 degrees Celsius. Before heating, the wood used in the pallets must also be debarked so that only the core wood is used to make the pallet. The thermal process removes some of the moisture from the wood, which also makes it more weather resistant and less likely to rot. Once the drying process is completed, a seal with the ISPM mark and the country of origin is stamped on the pallet.
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