Starting in 2002, 150 countries around the globe adopted the ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) standard. It’s purpose? To greatly reduce the spread of pest in wood packaging materials shipped around the world.
Invasive pests entering a new country can have massive environmental and economic harm associated with them. As one of the largest consumer societies, the U.S. has dealt with this over the years with the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Dutch Elm Disease.
Today, we must treat all wood packaging materials with heat treatment, fumigation using methyl bromide or sulfuryl fluoride, or dielectric heating. Heat treatment is the ISPM 15 industry standard and requires that all solid wood components of wood packaging materials be heated in a kiln to an internal temperature of 133 degree F for 30 minutes. This applies to all solid wood materials such as pallets, skids, boxes, crates, reels, etc., in addition to individual pieces utilized for blocking, bracing, and dunnage for securing the shipment while in transport.
Manufactured wood products such as plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) and particle board do not need to be treated as any pests are destroyed during the manufacturing process.
When you partner with us, at Industrial Lumber Company in Kansas City, KS, you can rest assured that all of our lumber listed in our crating grade lumber inventory meets or exceeds the ISPM 15 standards. Heat treatment is performed at the mill where the lumber is manufactured and each piece is mill stamped HT or KD/HT as required.
Industrial Lumber also operates its own certified heat treating chamber and is licensed to treat previously untreated lumber and stamp it for use in export packaging. This heat treatment chamber can also be used to treat wood crates, boxes and skids built by our customers that do not have their own official HT Stamp.
Partner with a us and get a professional and local team that produces custom wood skids and crates that meet all international ISPM 15 standards. We will show up and help create a solution for your most difficult projects. And if it helps you out, let us pack and load it for you while we’re at it.
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