Heat Treatment & ISPM 15 Compliance

Troymill heat-treats pallets, crates, and industrial lumber on-site to ISPM 15 standards, then stamps each piece with the ALSC-approved IPPC mark required for international shipment. Because the kilns are located on our Middlefield, Ohio campus, we process full truckloads on our own schedule rather than waiting on a third-party facility. Every order ships with a digital heat-treatment certificate attached to the BOL.

What ISPM 15 Actually Requires

ISPM 15 is the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It governs wood packaging material moving across international borders and exists to keep pests like the Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer from hitching a ride on pallets, crates, or dunnage.

The treatment standard is straightforward. Heat the wood until its core temperature reaches a minimum of 56°C, then hold it there for at least 30 continuous minutes. The wood must also be bark-free. Once treated, the packaging gets stamped with the IPPC mark, which includes a country code, the producer’s registration number, and the treatment code (HT for heat treatment).

Customs officers in nearly every major trading economy check for that mark. No mark, no entry. Shipments get held, fumigated at the port at the shipper’s expense, or turned back entirely.

How Troymill Heat Treats On-Site

Our kilns are American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) accredited. Pallets, crates, and lumber move from the production line directly into the heat treatment chamber, where chamber and core temperatures are monitored throughout the cycle. We hold the load until the wood hits compliant core temperature and stays there for the full dwell time, then mark each piece with our registered IPPC stamp.

Bark-free is non-negotiable. Every board running through our kilns has been inspected and squared at the mill, so shipments stay clean for customs and clean for the receiving dock.

Heat treatment and kiln drying are available upon request. Tell us at quote time whether your destination requires ISPM 15 marking and we will route the order through the kiln before it loads.

What Ships With Every Heat-Treated Order

• IPPC-stamped pallets, crates, dunnage, or lumber marked per ALSC and IPPC standards
• Digital heat-treatment certificate sent with the BOL
• Bark-free lumber compliant with IPPC ISPM 15 specifications
• Volume capacity for non-standard sizes, so an odd footprint doesn’t push your timeline

Heat Treatment vs. Pressure-Treated Lumber: Not the Same Thing

Heat treatment (HT) uses temperature alone to neutralize pests inside the wood. No chemicals enter the material. ISPM 15 accepts HT or methyl bromide fumigation (MB), but methyl bromide is being phased out in most markets, leaving HT as the dominant compliance path.

Pressure-treated lumber is a separate category entirely. It is chemically treated for outdoor durability against rot and insects in ground-contact applications. Pressure treatment does not satisfy ISPM 15 and is not what we produce. Do not confuse the two when sourcing export packaging.

Frequently Asked SPM 15 Heat Treatment Questions

What is ISPM 15?

ISPM 15 is the International Plant Protection Convention’s phytosanitary standard for wood packaging used in international trade. It requires that solid wood packaging be heat-treated (or fumigated) and marked with the IPPC stamp to prevent the spread of forest pests across borders.

What types of wood packaging require ISPM 15 treatment?

Solid wood packaging materials thicker than 6 mm: pallets, crates, boxes, dunnage, blocking, bracing, skids, and load boards. Manufactured wood like plywood, OSB, and particleboard is exempt because the manufacturing process already neutralizes pests. Raw lumber moving as cargo and finished consumer goods are also outside the standard.

What does the IPPC stamp on heat-treated wood include?

Three pieces of information at minimum. A two-letter ISO country code, the unique registration number of the producer (assigned by an ALSC-accredited agency in the United States), and the treatment code (HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide). Troymill’s stamp carries our registered producer number.

How much lead time does heat treatment add to an order?

For most orders, none are worth scheduling around. The kiln cycle is part of the production flow, not a separate step that adds days. Standard build time for heat-treated pallets and crates is about 10 business days, with expedited builds at around 5 business days. Tell us at the quote that you need ISPM 15 marking, and we will plan the kiln cycle.

Is heat-treated wood the same as pressure-treated lumber?

No. Heat treatment uses temperature alone to neutralize pests and meets the ISPM 15 export standard. Pressure-treated lumber is chemically infused for outdoor durability and does not satisfy ISPM 15 requirements. They are different products for different purposes.

Does an ISPM 15 mark expire?

The mark itself does not have an expiration date, but the packaging must remain in compliance to use it. If a pallet is repaired or remanufactured, the original mark is invalid. Any wood added during repair must be ISPM 15-compliant, and the rebuilt unit must be re-treated and re-marked by a registered facility.

Which countries enforce ISPM 15?

Nearly every major trading economy: the United States, Canada, Mexico, European Union member states, China, Japan, Australia, Brazil, India, and most others. The IPPC publishes the current list of countries enforcing the standard. If you ship internationally, assume compliance is required and confirm at quote time.

What documentation arrives with a Troymill heat-treated shipment?

A digital heat-treatment certificate is emailed along with the bill of lading on every ISPM 15 order. The certificate identifies the treatment date, the load, and our IPPC producer registration. The IPPC stamp on each piece serves as the physical confirmation customs officers look for.