Pallet Markings Guide | Storage Equipment Systems (2024)

FAQs

What are the markings on pallets? ›

The standard is a 2 letter country code (xx), a unique number (000) assigned by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), HT for Heat Treatment or MB for Methyl Bromide, and DB to signify debarked.

Each pallet pile should be separated from other pallet piles by at least 8 feet of clear space or 25 feet of commodity. There's also the option of constructing a specialized storage room within your facility that's sprinklered and has 3 hour-rated firewalls.

The room should have at least one exterior wall, and storage should be piled no higher than 12 feet. should be piled no higher than 4 feet. Separate each pallet pile (no more than 2 stacks per pile) from other pallet piles by at least eight feet. Separate each pallet pile from other commodities by at least 25 feet.

If the pallet does not have any stamps or markings on it, it is a “national pallet”. These pallets are used for domestic transport within the country, and most are not chemically treated. Pallets with an IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) stamp are used for international shipping.

Marking should be:

Placed in a visible location, preferably on at least two opposite sides of the article being certified.

Pallets must be positioned in a stable manner to avoid collapse or sliding when stacking goods on it. Avoid keeping stacked pallets in high traffic areas. Stack pallets up to 15 feet high, however, this will depend on the type of goods you stored on them. Do not stack products only on one side of the pallet.

A good place to start: “the three times rule”

1.3 of NFPA 13 (2022 edition). The gist is that sprinklers should be spaced away from an obstruction at a distance at least three times the object's maximum dimension (its height or width, whichever is greater)—up to 24 inches of separation, maximum.

OSHA sets no specific standards for pallet rack capacity. Instead, they refer to the regulations the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) set in standard MH16. 1-2023. These ANSI racking standards lay out how pallet racks should be designed, tested, and used.

A typical pallet rack compartment or cell can hold two pallets, each weighing 2,000 lbs on a pair of beams, for a total of 4,000 lbs.

Pallet rack is a material handling storage aid system designed to store materials on pallets (or “skids”). Although there are many varieties of pallet racking, all types allow for the storage of palletized materials in horizontal rows with multiple levels.

Can you store empty pallets in a warehouse? ›

Stacks above six feet inside the warehouse should be safeguarded by an automatic fire sprinkler system, following NFPA standard 13. Empty pallets stored in racks require protection through an Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinkler system to optimize warehouse storage space.

If a pallet is unmarked, it generally means that it's a 'national' pallet used within a particular country. The wood in these is generally untreated but may still be safe to use.

A Chemical Pallet or CP Pallet is one of the many kinds of plastic pallets. This pallet was originally intended to bring unity to pallets that are used for the chemical and plastic industry in Europe. They are often referred to as CP pallets. Chemical Pallets are also used in many other industries.

HT – Heat Treated.

This pallet has been heat treated to eliminate parasites and insects. The wood is heated to a minimum of 56°C (60°C for hardwoods) for at least 30 minutes.

Stamped on the side of your wooden pallets, you should see a symbol made of on straight line with several diagonal lines branching off it, along with the letters IPPC. IPPC stands for the International Plant Protection Convention. This stamp means that the wood has been properly treated before use.

The first two letters will indicate which country the pallet is from (as per ISO 3166), followed by a regional identifier. After these geo-specific codes the pallet will receive a unique registration number. The final section of the pallet's stamp is a little more variable.

Barcode readers are used as warehouse scanning systems and incoming pallets are scanned as they enter the facility. Codes on pallets are used to route items to their appropriate locations and provide information about the materials on the pallet.

Methyl bromide is a highly toxic colourless gas. It used to be widely used as a fumigant and pesticide for timber, soil and agriculture. Pallets that have been fumigated with methyl bromide are stamped with 'MB'.