TIMBER PRODUCTS May 2025 HT Newsletter Volume: 05/05/2025

The Secondary Heat Treat Facility (SHTF)

The obliteration of marks on used pallets is a big task that is expensive and can create ongoing nonconforming issues for recycling operations. Under the proper guidance and oversight, a secondary heat treat facility (SHTF) can be created to avoid obliterating old marks on every pallet that passes through the entire operation. The SHTF is a separate company at the facility that encompasses the heat chamber and acts as a contract heat treating operation on site. TP's agreement and monitoring are then with this company and not with the main operation. There are specific requirements related to the establishment of a SHTF which are listed below, and these must be strictly followed to avoid major issues.

Requirements for Secondary Heat Treatment facilities (SHTF)

• The SHTF operation is a separate company from the main facility.
• There should be a defined area marking the boundaries of the SHTF. Stationary (i.e. fencing, concrete or cement barriers, wood structures, etc.) or Flexible (i.e. 5 gallon weighted buckets with sand/cement and a chain connecting them).
• The SHTF must have an area (locker, desk, shed) where stamps and QC process can be located and secured.
• The SHTF must be in an area that pallets, not associated with the program, cannot pass through. Only pallets being heat treated and IPPC marked can enter and exit the SHTF.
• A map of the compartmentalized boundaries of the SHTF is required along with a written addendum outlining the SHTF processes. The written addendum should thoroughly explain the movement of material from the non-HT operation to the SHTF and how conformance is maintained within the heat treating location. This addendum and map must be approved by the Director of Wood Packaging prior to being utilized. 
• Pallets treated and marked in the SHTF must meet all ALSC/IPPC requirements before exiting the SHTF boundaries.
• Pallets treated and IPPC marked in the SHTF are subject to review for conformance. IPPC marked WPM can be transferred to an identified HT loading area outside the SHTF, but are subject to review at any point after transferring out of the SHTF as they are considered shipped. The TP Inspector will need to walk around the main operation to verify that program material has been limited to the identified HT locations on the map and determine conformance on anything found.
• There should be paperwork (invoices, work order, etc.) showing the SHTF's services are used to heat treat WPM for the original facility. 

NOTE:  If new pallets are being built using HT lumber by a facility utilizing a SHTF, these new pallets would not qualify for receiving an IPPC mark by the SHTF unless they are built within the boundaries of the SHTF or the new pallets are heat treated at the SHTF before marking. The main facility cannot simply transfer newly built pallets from HT lumber to the SHTF for marking. TP's agreement is with the SHTF only and prebuilt new pallets coming into it cannot be IPPC marked unless heat treated at the SHTF.

There is an additional cost for utilizing this program, but this amount is small in comparison to what a recycler can save in labor and paint. This is because TP's agreement is only with the SHTF and not the larger recycling operation, so the larger facility's pallets do not fall under the WPM program's oversight.