CP Pallets for the Chemical Industry (CP1 to CP9)

CP pallets ("chemical pallets") are a family of nine standardized wooden block pallets, CP1 to CP9, designed for the chemical and plastics industries, where loads such as sacks of polymer granulate, drums, octabins and big bags must run reliably on automated conveyors and in high-bay warehouses. EPAL CP pallets are made by EPAL-licensed producers to fixed specifications: heights of 138 mm (CP1 to CP5) or 156 mm (CP6 to CP9), footprints from 760 × 1140 mm to 1300 × 1100 mm, and mandatory ISPM 15 heat treatment.

Why the chemical industry needs its own pallets

Chemical and polymer producers ship heavy, dense, often palletized goods: 25 kg bags of plastic pellets stacked to around a tonne, steel or plastic drums, octagonal bulk boxes (octabins) and flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs or big bags). These loads typically move through fully automated filling lines, roller and chain conveyors and automated storage systems that tolerate very little variation in pallet dimensions, deflection or bottom-deck layout.

A generic "white" pallet bought on price may have the right footprint but the wrong bottom-board orientation, too much bow or protruding nails, and any of these can jam a conveyor. The CP system solves this by defining exactly how each pallet is built, from board thickness to the position of every nail, so that a CP3 from one licensed producer behaves identically to a CP3 from another. The guide to pallets in automated warehouses explains why such consistency matters.

Dimensions of CP1 to CP9

The table below lists the official dimensions and construction counts published by EPAL. Length is given first, as EPAL lists it; the first dimension is not necessarily the direction of the bottom boards.

Two groups stand out:

• CP1 to CP5 (138 mm high) use 13 to 15 boards and 60 to 87 nails: lighter constructions.
• CP6 to CP9 (156 mm high) use 20 to 28 boards and 84 to 116 nails, so more of the load and of the bottom surface is supported by timber. CP6 and CP7 cover the same footprints as CP1 and CP4 with a heavier build, while CP3, CP8 and CP9 share the square 1140 × 1140 mm footprint but differ in deck design and, for CP8, in having 12 blocks instead of 9.

The 1140 × 1140 mm square formats are typical for loads with a square or round footprint, such as octabins, FIBCs and drums. The 1000 × 1200 mm types (CP1, CP6) share their footprint with the 1200 × 1000 mm industrial pallet, while CP2 matches the Euro pallet footprint but is a different, lighter construction.

PHOTO 1Row of EPAL CP3 and CP9 pallets showing different bottom deck layoutsassets/img/rehber/cp-chemical-pallets-1.jpg

Construction rules

All CP pallets are block pallets: deck boards are nailed through "stringers" (stringer boards) into nine or twelve wooden blocks. EPAL's specifications set the same core rules across the range:

• Board thickness: top deck and bottom boards 18 to 20 mm; stringers up to 22 to 24 mm.
• Timber restrictions: poplar is not permitted for stringers, and stringers must be free of wane (missing wood or bark on the edge of a board).
• Nails: only EPAL-approved nails tested by neutral institutes; each approved nail carries a two-letter head marking. Nails must be placed as far apart as possible and at least 20 mm from the edges of components, in an even, repeating pattern.
• Nail positions: fixed for each type to guarantee the diagonal rigidity of the pallet, which prevents the pallet from racking into a parallelogram under load or on a conveyor.

The stringent rules on wane and species for stringers reflect where CP pallets usually fail: the stringer boards carry the load between blocks and take the impact of fork tines. For a broader view of components, see pallet anatomy, and for how nails are specified and tested, pallet nails and fasteners.

Markings and ISPM 15

Every EPAL CP pallet carries a defined set of markings, burned or stamped on the blocks:

1. The EPAL brand mark
2. The IPPC symbol confirming ISPM 15 compliance
3. The ISO country code
4. The registration number issued by the national plant protection organization
5. The treatment code (HT for heat treatment)
6. The EPAL control staple
7. Repair nail marking, where a pallet has been repaired
8. The CP type designation (CP1 to CP9)
9. The licence number with year and month of production

According to EPAL, all EPAL CP pallets have been heat treated to ISPM 15 since 1 January 2010, and methyl bromide fumigation is not permitted. Because the IPPC mark is applied as standard, CP pallets can be used for export without additional treatment, which is important for chemical producers shipping worldwide in containers. Details of the treatment are in the guide to heat treatment (HT) for wood packaging.

PHOTO 2Close-up of EPAL CP pallet block markings showing CP type, IPPC symbol and control stapleassets/img/rehber/cp-chemical-pallets-2.jpg

Choosing the right CP type

Selecting a CP pallet usually starts with the customer or filling line, not with the pallet catalogue. Chemical producers and logistics providers often name a particular CP type in their delivery conditions, and a pallet of the wrong type may be refused at goods receipt. Once the load footprint is known, the choice is mostly between a lighter and a heavier build.

Points to check before ordering:

• Conveyor direction and transfer points: confirm which way the bottom boards must run for your rollers and chain conveyors.
• Load data: EPAL's overview lists dimensions but not load ratings for CP pallets; obtain the product data sheet and, where needed, test results under ISO 8611 for the specific load and support conditions.
• Racking: the rack supplier must confirm that the chosen type and orientation are suitable for the beam spacing and load.
• Moisture and hygiene: freshly produced pallets may still be relatively moist; producers of high-purity polymers may set limits on moisture, mould and debris.
• Repairs: repaired CP pallets must keep the same construction and carry the repair nail marking.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. EPAL load carriers overview — EPAL
2. EPAL CP pallets — EPAL
3. EPAL CP1 pallet — EPAL
4. EPAL CP3 pallet — EPAL
5. EPAL CP8 pallet — EPAL
6. EPAL CP9 pallet — EPAL