Effects of heat treating pallets with Direct gas fired heating system.

This test was performed at Granville Pallet Company in North Carolina during the certification run. Timber Products Inspection has certified the kiln and the facility. They also will be performing the monthly inspections. (List of inspection agents in the USA). This test and comparison run was performed in one our our turn-key pallet kilns using a direct gas heating system.

Background for test run and comparison
Location:	Granville Pallet Company
Inspection agent:	Timber Products Inspection (List of other inspection agents in the USA
Kiln type:	Kiln-Direct PalletTreater using a direct gas heating system
Controller type:	Kiln-direct heat treatment controller using internal temperature sensor into the pallet stringers.
Pallet to be heat treated:	Mainly stringer pallets with 1 7/8" stringers This takes about 50% longer than your average 1 1/8" stringer

Based on this and earlier certifications we have the following comments:

• We see very little or no drying signs on the pallets.
• During treatment the pallets loose 1-7 pounds, which is about a moisture content loss of 2-10%. This is probably less than the drying that occurs during transport on a open flat bed trailer.
• The most common visible sign of drying is a split at the end of the deck board where the nail is placed. But rarely there is any sign of drying on the stringers.
• This test run was on pallets with 1 7/8" stringer and the more common 1 1/8" stringer should cut 30-35% off the heat up time.
• We have seen very little or no cupping or twisting on the top and bottom boards.

Documentation from this test run:

• Temperature readings by TPI during the certification.
• Report generated by our software.
• Temperature readings by TPI during the certification. (146 KB pdf)

For this certification process we took pictures of and weight of eight pallets before and after the heat treatment process to learn more about the actual effects of using direct gas heating. Please view the collected information and pictures in the table below.

Before	After
Picture not available. Weight: 66 lbs	Weight: 59 lbs
Weight: 72 lbs	Weight: 68 lbs
Weight: 53 lbs	Weight: 50 lbs
Weight: 75 lbs	Weight: 72 lbs
Weight: 74 lbs	Weight: 73 lbs
Weight: 72 lbs	Weight: 71 lbs
Weight: 72 lbs	Weight: 72 lbs
Weight: 70 lbs	Weight: 68 lbs

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