Process
What it is
Heat treatment is a phytosanitary process that is required for all wood packaging materials used in international shipments. The process eliminates pests such as the Pinewood Nematode and the Asian Long-Horned Beetle which may, as they travel from one nation to another, pose a threat to forests and crops.
The heat treatment process was developed by the IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) and is defined in ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, Publication 15).
How it Works
Wood packaging materials, including lumber, panels, crates, pallets, skids, reels and other types of dunnage, are placed in a special chamber and heated according to specific criteria. In order to be ISPM 15 compliant, a wood core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius must be reached and maintained for a period of 30 minutes or more.