ASTM D6199-97(2005)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D 6199 – 97 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Practice for
Quality of Wood Members of Containers and Pallets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6199; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.2.2 crate frame members, n—those parts which form the
fundamental structure upon which the strength and rigidity of
1.1 This practice covers the quality requirements for three
crates depend.
classes of hard and soft wood members, excluding man–made
3.2.3 diagonals, n—frame members placed at angles of
or fabricated wood composites, used in the construction of
nearly45°tootherframemembers,toensuretherigidityofthe
boxes, crates, pallets, and blocking and bracing.
crate.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.2.4 linderman joint, n—glued dove-tailed joint between
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
two or more pieces of wood.
information only.
3.2.5 longitudinal frame members, n—horizontal members
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the
of the side, end, and top panels of crates.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.6 punk, n—decay characteristic, which is very dry,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
powdery, and crumbly wood.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.7 siftproofness, n—the prohibition of the migration of
bility of the regulatory limitations prior to use.
material, of any size, from the interior to the exterior of a
2. Referenced Documents
container.
3.2.8 struts, n—vertical frame members placed between the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
upper and lower frame members of the side and end panels of
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood
a crate that serve as columns for supporting vertical stacking
D 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
loads.
ments
D 4442 TestMethodsforDirectMoistureContentMeasure-
4. Significance and Use
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
3 4.1 Each wood member contains a combination of charac-
2.2 ASME/ANSI Standard:
teristics which affects the performance of the container or
ASME/ANSI MH1.8M Wood Pallets
pallet in which it is used. The requirements for classes, herein
3. Terminology
specified, have been established as these characteristics are
related to the functional application of members in container
3.1 Definitions—General definitions for packaging and dis-
and pallet construction and to the service that the container or
tribution environments are found in Terminology D 996. Gen-
pallet may be called upon to perform.
eral definitions for wood are found in TerminologyD9.
4.2 Any other specified requirements or limitations peculiar
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
to a particular container or pallet construction or use, such as
3.2.1 brash, n—decay characteristic, which is the breaking
prohibiting knotholes or loose knots to provide siftproofness,
of the grain without splintering.
limitation to certain wood groups or species, or the selection of
applicable classes for specific members of or types of contain-
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
ers or pallet shall be the responsibility of the standard for that
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.26 on Shipping Containers,
container or pallet.
Crates, Pallets, Skids and Related Structures (Disbanded 5/05).
Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally
5. Wood Member Classification
e1
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as D 6199 - 97 .
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1 Class 1—Structural (highly stressed members).
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.2 Class 2—Structural (moderately stressed members).
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
5.3 Class 3—Non-structural (lightly stressed members).
the ASTM website.
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 6199 – 97 (2005)
6. Wood Characteristics classified as indicated in Table 1 (see Appendix X1, Table
X1.1, for groups specific to pallet construction). When it is
6.1 Classification:
stipulated that members shall be fabricated from a particular
6.1.1 Groups—For the purposes of this practice, wood is
wood group, the species within that group may be mixed
broken into four groupings. These groupings are general in
together or used interchangeably.
nature and do not include all species of wood. Woods used
6.2 Surfaces—Rough lumber is permitted in the construc-
specifically in pallet construction include additional species
tion of the crate bases, sheathed-crate framing, boxes, and
that are listed in ASME/ANSI MH1.8M. Table X1.1 provides
pallets. For box and crate sheathing, at least one surface of all
a cross reference between the wood groups used herein and
wood members will be sufficiently smooth to permit legible
those listed in ASME/ANSI MH1.8M.
marking.
6.1.1.1 Group I—This group embraces the softer woods of
both the coniferous and the broad-leafed species. These woods
6.3 Dimensional Requirements:
are relatively free from splitting in nailing, have moderate
6.3.1 When nominal sizes of lumber are specified, the
fastener withdrawal resistance, moderate strength as a beam,
minimum sizes shall be as shown in Table 2.
and moderate shock resisting capacity. They are soft, light in
6.3.2 When sizes of wood members other than the nominals
weight,easytowork,holdtheirshapewellinmanufacture,and
cited in Table 2 are specified, undersizing in thickness and
are normally easy to dry.
width shall not be permitted in more than 10 % of the number
6.1.1.2 Group II—This group consists of heavier coniferous
of pieces. In addition, these parts shall be no thinner than ⁄8 of
woods, only. These woods usually have a pronounced contrast
the stated thickness and no narrower than ⁄4 in. (6 mm) less
in the hardness of the springwood and the summerwood. They
than the stated width. An exception to this requirement is that
have a greater fastener withdrawal resistance than Group I
if members of nailed-wood boxes ⁄8 in. (10 mm) or more in
woods, but are more likely to split, and the hard summerwood
thickness are surfaced on both sides (to protect the contents)
bands occasionally deflect the nails causing them to run out at
then the thickness may be ⁄32 in. (1 mm) less than stated.
the sides of the piece.
6.3.3 Whennominal2in.(50mm)thicklumberisresawnto
6.1.1.3 Group III—This group consists of hardwoods of
obtain 1 in. (25 mm) nominal thick members, the resulting
medium density. These woods have about the same fastener
minimum thickness shall be ⁄16 in. (18 mm) for dry lumber;
withdrawal resistance and strength as a beam as the Group II
except that for Class 1 structural members, which shall be ⁄4
woods, but are less likely to split and shatter under impacts.
in. (20 mm).
The species in this group are the most useful for constructing
6.4 Moisture Content—Container and pallet members shall
box ends and cleats. They also furnish most of the rotary-cut
have a moisture content (as measured by an electric type
veneers for wirebound boxes and plywood panels for construc-
moisture meter or by the oven drying method), at the time of
tion of plywood boxes.
fabrication, of not greater than 19 % nor less than 9 % of their
6.1.1.4 Group IV—This group consists of the high density
ovendry weight.
hardwood species. They have both the greatest shock resisting
6.4.1 Methods of Determination:
capacity and fastener withdrawal resistance, but because of
their extreme hardness present difficulties with respect to the 6.4.1.1 Moisture Meters—Meters measuring moisture con-
driving of nails, plus the greatest tendency to split at the nails. tents ranging as high as 30 % shall be used to determine
They are the heaviest and hardest domestic woods and are moisture content of Group IV pallet members. Meters measur-
difficult to work. They are especially useful where high ingmoisturecontentsashighas25 %shallbeusedforallother
fastener withdrawal resistance is required and many of them wood members. The accuracy of the meter used shall be 61%
make excellent rotary cut veneers for wirebound and plywood of true moisture content. Electric-type moisture meters may be
boxes. either the resistance type or radio frequency power loss type
6.1.2 Species—Thespeciesofwood,inthefourgroups,that exceptthatonlytheresistancetypemaybeusedonroughsawn
may be used for wood members of containers or pallets are lumber. In addition, readings using the resistance type meters
TABLE 1 Wood Groups
Group I
Aspen Basswood Buckeye Cedar Chestnut
A
Cottonwood Cypress Fi
...