If you’re considering heat-treating raw lumber or pallets on-site, you’ll need a proper kiln to carry out heat treatment cycles on wood packaging material. While kilns can be purchased directly from manufacturers, often including setup and service, some operations choose to build their own homemade heating units. This is acceptable under ISPM-15 guidelines, as long as all requirements are met.

Whether you’re purchasing a kiln or building your own, here’s what you need to know to remain compliant:

Kilns must be airtight and sealed.

Working wood probes are commonly used to monitor internal core temperatures during the heating cycle. To meet compliance, the wood must reach 140°F (60°C) for 30 consecutive minutes. There is no set number of probes required, but the number used should be appropriate for the size of your kiln. If multiple probes are used, they must be evenly distributed throughout the kiln to detect any cold spots. All probes must be fully functional for every charge.

If using air temperature monitoring instead of wood probes, a recording device must capture and log the air temperature throughout the cycle. In this case, the requirement is 160°F (71°C) for 4 consecutive hours.

You must maintain detailed records, either printed or electronic, showing startup temperatures and tracking data throughout the heat treatment cycle. This documentation is essential for regulatory agencies to review and confirm compliance.

If you have any questions about kiln requirements or the heat treatment process, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts. We’re here to help you stay compliant and operate with confidence.