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Heat-Treated Pallets

ISPM-15 compliant, heat-treated and IPPC-stamped pallets — certified and documented for international shipping.

Heat-treated export pallet with IPPC stamp
Overview

Export-ready, stamped, and documented

If your wood pallets cross an international border, they almost certainly need to meet ISPM-15 — the global standard that regulates wood packaging material to stop pests from hitching a ride between countries. The fix is heat treatment: the wood is heated until its core kills any pests, then certified with an internationally recognized stamp.

At Pallet Nation we heat-treat to the ISPM-15 standard and apply the IPPC mark under the guidelines of the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC), which certifies that stamped pallets meet the requirement. We handle new, repaired, and recycled export pallets — with the documentation that keeps your freight from getting held at customs.

  • Heat treatment only — no chemicals or fumigation
  • IPPC / ISPM-15 stamping under ALSC certification
  • Certified for new, repaired & recycled export pallets
How It Works

From kiln to customs

Heat treatment is a controlled, chemical-free process — and the paperwork matters as much as the heat.

01

Build or Select

New, repaired, or recycled pallets are prepared to your export spec.

02

Kiln Heat-Treat

The wood’s core is held at a minimum of 56°C (133°F) for 30 minutes — killing pests with heat alone.

03

Moisture & QC

Moisture content is checked and the pallet is verified against the ISPM-15 requirements.

04

Apply IPPC Stamp

The certified mark is branded on: country code, facility number, and the HT treatment code.

05

Document

Certification paperwork is prepared so your shipment clears inspection cleanly.

06

Deliver

Export-ready pallets delivered on your timeline, ready to load.

The Two Treatments

Heat treatment vs. methyl bromide

ISPM-15 allows two methods. We use heat — it’s cleaner, safer, and accepted everywhere.

Heat Treatment (HT) — what we use

  • Heat only — no chemicals or fumigation
  • Core held at 56°C for 30+ minutes
  • Safe for food, pharma & sensitive goods
  • Eco-friendly, odorless, residue-free
  • Marked HT on the IPPC stamp

Methyl Bromide (MB)

  • Chemical fumigation treatment
  • Being phased out (ozone-depleting)
  • Restricted or banned in many countries
  • Marked MB on the stamp
  • Not offered at Pallet Nation
Know The Rules

When does a pallet need (re)treatment?

A common question from exporters: can I reuse a pallet without treating it again? It depends on how much wood changed.

Reused As-Is

No wood replaced? The original HT certification stays valid — the pallet can ship again with no re-treatment or re-stamping.

Repaired (≤ ⅓ wood)

Any wood added in the repair must already be heat-treated, and each piece individually marked to show it meets the HT standard.

Remanufactured (> ⅓)

The old stamp is obliterated, the whole pallet is heat-treated again, and a new certification stamp is applied.

Recycled For Export

Under ALSC rules, recyclers must re-heat-treat the entire pallet and re-stamp it before it can be used for international shipping.

Reading The Stamp

What the IPPC mark tells customs

Every compliant export pallet carries the IPPC mark — the wheat-stalk symbol that tells inspectors anywhere in the world the wood was treated to ISPM-15. Around it you’ll find a short code that proves who treated it and how.

  • IPPC wheat symbol — internationally recognized
  • Country code (e.g. US) and region
  • Facility number — the ALSC-certified treater
  • Treatment code — HT (heat-treated), DB (debarked)
See the Pallet Guide
Stamped export pallets staged for international freight
Who Needs It

If you ship abroad, you need this

ISPM-15 applies to wood packaging across most of the world’s trading nations.

Agriculture & ProduceMachinery & EquipmentAutomotive PartsElectronicsChemicalsFood & Beverage ExportFurnitureAerospace
FAQ

Good to know

Still have a question? Call +1 (909) 509-5026.

It’s the international rule (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) for treating wood packaging so it can’t carry pests across borders. Most countries require it for wood pallets and crates used in export.

No. HT is heat only — the wood’s core is held at a minimum of 56°C (133°F) for at least 30 minutes. It’s chemical-free, residue-free, food-safe, and eco-friendly.

Yes — as long as no wood has been replaced, the original certification holds. If the pallet has been repaired or remanufactured, the ISPM-15 re-treatment rules apply.

Not necessarily. Kiln-drying lowers moisture for weight and mold control, but only treatment that reaches the 56°C / 30-minute core standard — and is certified — earns the export HT stamp.

Yes. We certify new, repaired, and recycled export pallets and supply the paperwork you need to keep freight moving through customs without delays.

Shipping overseas?

Get ISPM-15 heat-treated, stamped, and documented pallets so your freight clears customs the first time.

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