Dielectric heating
Dielectric heating (DH) is an ISPM 15 treatment that uses microwave or radio-frequency energy to heat wood packaging to at least 60 °C for one continuous minute throughout the wood profile. Treated wood carries the code DH on its ISPM 15 mark.
Also called DH, microwave treatment, RF heating
Reviewed
How DH compares with other treatments
| Code | Method | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| HT | conventional heat treatment | 56 °C at the core for 30 minutes |
| DH | microwave or radio-frequency heating | 60 °C for 1 continuous minute throughout the profile |
| MB | methyl bromide fumigation | fumigant schedule |
| SF | sulfuryl fluoride fumigation | fumigant schedule |
DH heats the wood with microwave or radio-frequency energy rather than hot air. The wood must still be debarked, and the ISPM 15 mark shows DH as the treatment code.
Why it matters to buyers
A DH mark is as valid as an HT mark wherever ISPM 15 applies. When a spec says "ISPM 15 compliant", it accepts any approved code unless the buyer states HT specifically. See ISPM 15.
Questions
- Is DH the same as HT?
- Both are ISPM 15 heat treatments. HT heats the core to 56 °C for 30 minutes; DH uses microwave or RF energy to reach 60 °C for one minute throughout the wood.
Related
- Heat treatmentHeat treatment (HT) heats pallet wood until its core reaches 56 °C for 30 minutes, the ISPM 15 treatment that lets wood pallets cross borders. Marked HT.
- ISPM 15 markThe ISPM 15 mark is the stamp showing wood packaging was treated for export: the IPPC wheat symbol, country code, producer number and treatment code such as HT.
- ISPM 15: heat treatment and marking for export palletsISPM 15 requires export wood pallets to be debarked and treated, usually heat treated to 56 °C core for 30 minutes, and stamped with the IPPC mark.
- Heat-treated pallet: ISPM 15 HT explainedA heat-treated pallet has had its wood core held at 56 °C for 30 minutes under ISPM 15 and carries the HT mark. What the stamp means, KD vs HT, who needs it.
- Double-faceA double-face pallet has both a top and a bottom deck. It can be non-reversible (fewer bottom boards, like a GMA 48x40) or reversible (identical decks).
- EPAL palletAn EPAL pallet is a Euro pallet built by an EPAL licensee: EPAL 1 is 1200 x 800 x 144 mm, about 25 kg, with 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails. SWL 1,500 kg.