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Sterilizing LumberQuestion
Forum Responses
Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor
You may have heard about the new rules for softwood lumber in crates and pallets going to Europe. All softwood lumber used in crates and pallets must be marked with a stamp certifying that the center of the boards has reached 56C and been held at that temperature for at least 30 minutes. The USDA has published charts for various wood and temperatures that show how long it takes to reach 56C in the center. Inspectors will spot check your operation and they will look at procedures and you will be allowed to continue to stamp. Hardwoods are not involved yet but it appears they will be according to conventions being adopted by the United Nations. The crate wood can be sterilized by fumigation but it appears that the rules may be changed to just temperature. Today I received a copy of heat treating standards in Australia. This process some believe could become the standard in Europe also - a minimum 74C (165F) at four hours for every inch of thickness. This temperature at the core will kill all stages of insect life. Would it really take that long? Would this also affect finish dimension? What about strength? They do not classify the wood as hard or soft, but "any timber" that is used in distribution - pallets, crates, etc.
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