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TIMBER PRODUCTS June 2023 HT Newsletter Volume: 06/13/2023
Online Newsletter
Matt McGowan - WPM Program Manager
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
Office: 770.785.4769
Mobile: 678.480.2451
Mobile: 678.480.2451
For more information on the IPPC program
Please contact:
Matt McGowan
Director of Wood Packaging
Peachtree City GA
Office 770.785.4769
Mobile 678.480.2451
The unauthorized and/or fraudulent use of the TP IPPC mark is illegal and a situation we take seriously. Anyone with information regarding the misuse of IPPC marks should contact TP's WPM Manager immediately. Thank you for helping to protect the integrity of the ISPM 15 program which is vital to our business and economy.
Quotes from the Philoshopher Chuck Norris (and Walker Texas Ranger)
"Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth."
"If you’re going to do it, do it right or don’t do it at all."
“Every man dies, not every man really lives.”
“There’s no substitute for hard work and dedication.”
“Never quit, never give up, never surrender.” “The good guys may not always win, but they never quit.”
“Always do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular.”
“If you want to make the world a better place, start by making yourself a better person.”
“Leadership is not just about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those in your charge.”
Is Your Facility Moving?
Facilities that change locations or ownership should make certain to notify their TP Inspector or our office as early as possible. Doing so can help to prevent issues related to invoicing along with the processing and applying of payments received. Our clients are extremely important to us and your cooperation in this area is vital in keeping our information up-to-date. Please let us know if you have any questions and thank you for assisting us in this area.
Pests Regulated Under ISPM 15
ISPM 15 heat treatment prescribed standards are based on testing that was performed to address Pine Wilt Disease. Scientific data shows this time and temperature, specified by ISPM 15, is also efficacious in killing most insect pests that the standard was established to protect against. The general listing of these pests is based on families and listed as:
- Anobiidae, Bostrichidae, Lyctidae - These three families are part of the superfamily Bostrichoidea, which includes wood boring beetles (powder post beetles), auger beetles, spider beetles and furniture beetles.
- Buprestidae - Metallic wood boring beetles (i.e. Emerald ash borer).
- Cerambycidae - Beetles with long antennae (i.e. Long Horned Asian Beetle).
- Curculionidae, Scolytidae - These two families share the snout and bark beetles, which includes weevils.
- Isoptera - Termites
- Oedemeridae - Fungus, darkling and blister beetles
- Siricidae - Wood wasps
- Bursaphelenchus Xylophilus - Pine wood nematodes / pine wilt nematodes, dirt nematodes
There are thousands of species in these families worldwide and it depends on the specific country as to which pests would be considered harmful under ISPM 15. While the specific species list can change with each country, as long as your material is properly treated, debarked, and marked there are no issues with other countries importing and accepting your WPM.
Noticeably absent from this list are carpenter ants, which are in the Formicidae family. Carpenter ants will excavate into wood to build nests, but do not consume the tree cambium or other critical biological areas like the insects in the list above. Concerns related to carpenter ants come up occasionally, but because they are not a pest addressed by ISPM 15, the heat treatment prescribed is not meant to be effective in eradicating them from your WPM.
Marking Options for Smaller Dimensions. 
ALSC Lumber Enforcement Regulations 6.2.2 states:
"When pieces are marked HT or KDHT only, with no reference to grade, and the size of individual pieces is:
a) 30 inches or less in length; or
b) 1/2 inch nominal or less in thickness; or
c) 2 inches nominal or less in width,
the HT or KD HT mark shall be applied by stamping not less than 25% of the pieces of a unit. Units that are partially marked shall also be stenciled with the same information as indicated by the agency HT or KDHT stamp."
This is a pretty straight forward section that permits smaller dimension wood pieces, that meet the criteria described in the section, to have a minimum of 25% legibly marked pieces as long as the bundle (the pieces are in) is marked with the same information that is on the stamp. For example, if a facility's HT mark is TP 0000 HT, and the material met one of the above criteria, then if at least 25% of the pieces in the unit have a legible TP 0000 HT on them and the unit is stenciled TP 0000 HT it would be conforming under lumber regulation 6.2.2.