Become an Expert: Heat Treating for Export

The heat treating process for pallets, crates, or wood pieces is intended to kill any living organism in the material before export. We will discuss when a pallet should be heat treated, how a pallet should be heat treated, what heat treat stamp marks mean, and some cautions to keep in mind when considering heat treating for export.
Definitions
IPPC: The International Plant Protection Convention is a resolution created by the Food and Agriculture Organization with the intended aim to establish global standards for plant health. The part of this resolution that pertains to pallets is referred to as ISPM-15.
ISPM-15: This is the set of regulations that specifically refer to the standards that govern wood greater than 6millimeters that needs to be heat treated when shipping products to different countries
What can be heat treated?
Any kind of wood can be heat treated: new, recycled, reused, repaired, single pieces, bundles - all can be treated, but all must be stamped with the corresponding stamp.
Why do you need heat treated pallets?
The goal of heat treating is to kill bugs and any living organisms so that they won't be given a free international cruise or flight, bringing their sicknesses and diseases with them. Heat treating does not increase the strength or durability of the pallet, it only protects it from bugs.
Exemptions
Anything 6mm or less
Any wood that has been processed in a way that kills pests, like a cigar or wine box
Any type of wood that uses glue, veneer, or processed strand board
Previously heat treated pallet that has not been repaired, remanufactured, or altered in any way with a valid certification stamp
Corrugate, plastic, other non wood items
Process
Both new pallets and recycled pallets need to be appropriately debarked. Small isolated pieces of bark are allowed if they are less than 3cm wide or with total surface area less than 50mm, which is about the size of a credit card.
After a pallet, crate, or dunnage piece has been appropriately debarked, it then enters the heat treater to be heated to 56 Celsius 132.8 Farenheit for 30 minutes. Then and only then can the heat treat stamp be applied.
If no structural changes are made to the pallet, the pallet should be able to retain their heat treat status indefinitely.
Stamp elements
Wheat stamp: This signifies compliance with the IPPC, and will appear to the left of the rest of the information
Country of origin: The country code is always 2 letters
Producer / treatment provider: this is a combination of digits and or letters that uniquely identify the producer
Treatment Code: This is either an "HT" or "MB" marking on the material signifying whether or not the it was heat treated or methyl bromide treated
Agency: In the US, the inspection agency is also included in the stamp information
For each stamp to be compliant for export, It must be: Durable, Legible, Visible when in use with no aids, and stamped with black ink, because red or orange are often used to signify a harmful product type
If the mark does not meet all of these criteria, the packaging item may be subject to confiscation by export authorities.
Alternative methods for export
Fumigation Fumigation using methyl bromide is the only other way to export wood without changing the composition of the pallet. With fumigation, the pallet is confined in a gas chamber for anywhere from 4-24 hours to soak in all of the gaseous methyl bromide.
The other way to export is to use a substance that made or processed in a way that eliminates the opportunity for life growth in the pallet. Some examples of this would be plastic, plywood, particle board, OSB, strand board, corrugate, to name a few.
Cautions
Some pallet companies have been caught with expired or suspended heat treating licenses, so if you have any questions or suspicions about a particular company and their heat treating process, be sure to get a copy of the company's heat treat certificate issued by their inspection agency. That way, the agency can confirm or deny the validity of the questionable heat treating process. If a company is hesitant or slow to release their certification, something may be going awry.
You might find some pieces that have the letters "HT" stamped on them, but if they do not have the complete mark like we mentioned before, they are not legally exportable in their current state.
Summary
When looking to export a product, heat treating is a great way to go. There are regulations to what is allowed to be heat treated, and be sure your packaging company is following the rules that are in place. Once that homework is finished with the documentation in place, happy exporting!

[@TheBalrog111]

Thanks for the video . DH is another, dielectric heat treatment.

Great information. Thanks!

[@ranganathspa7854]

Hello author! Thanks for the vedio.
Could you please explain why a plywood or pressedwood exempted? I want to know the concept of why it doesn't required so that I can educate others!
Thanks,
Sri

[@LAKSANABERKAH123uesalquroni]

Good👍🏽..

[@James-do8oe]

Hi. This is very informative. I'm planning to use a pallet for a DIY buffet table. Do you know what type of gas is used to heat treat pallets?

[@gruberpallets]

It all depends on the heat treat chamber the pallet company used to heat the KILN. It's common for companies to use natural gas.

[@Popounited]

I have a client that wants a mold proof wooden pallet, this is the first dealing with this situation, and i been told light wood is better for that then heavy wood, and HT should be enough, any tips?

[@gruberpallets]

To mitigate mold, long dry cycles (12+hrs) are recommended. This removes the moisture from the wood and makes the environment difficult for mold growth.

[@johnpita1227]

How much does a person encharge of heat treating make!?

[@clarissastewart4872]

Where can I purchase these?

[@ndhakal9]

Hi,
Please can you give me idea.
I have heat treated sleepers 3000X175X75 mm
Stamp is : IPPC, ES-04 , 0014 HT
Can I you those wood for retaining wall is so how long last will be? Is you share your idea that would be great.
Thank you

[@warrenser202]

How long the heat treatment certificate last. 21 days or 3 months.

[@kampspallets4830]

If the pallet has been properly heat treated, and no new wood components have been used, it will never expire. However, as soon as wood components are repaired or replaced, the pallet is no longer considered a certified heat treated pallet.

[@ndhakal9]

@@kampspallets4830 Hi,
Please can you give me idea.
I have heat treated sleepers 3000X175X75 mm
Stamp is : IPPC, ES-04 , 0014 HT
Can I you those wood for retaining wall is so how long last will be? Is you share your idea that would be great.
Thank you

[@justsmallstuff4994]

Fuck heat treatment become a fumigator like me