ISO/DIS 8611-2

Pallets for materials handling -- Flat pallets

Palettes pour la manutention -- Palettes plates

Standards Content (sample)

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 8611-2
ISO/TC 51 Secretariat: BSI
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2021-03-16 2021-06-08
Pallets for materials handling — Flat pallets —
Part 2:
Performance requirements and selection of tests
Palettes pour la manutention — Palettes plates —
Partie 2: Exigences de performance et sélection des essais
ICS: 55.180.20
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
Contents Page

Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iv

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Test conditions ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.1 General ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.2 Wooden pallets ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.3 Metal pallets .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

4.4 Plastic pallets ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3

4.5 Paper pallets .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

4.6 Wood-based composite pallets ................................................................................................................................................. 4

5 Number of replicates ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

6 Performance requirements ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4

7 Selection of the tests ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

7.1 Intended use .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

7.2 Handling of goods with racking and stacking .............................................................................................................. 8

7.3 Handling of goods with stacking without racking .................................................................................................... 8

7.4 Handling of goods without racking or stacking .......................................................................................................... 8

7.5 Special applications ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9

7.5.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

7.5.2 Automatic handling or conveyors ..................................................................................................................... 9

7.5.3 Lifting with slings ............................................................................................................................................................ 9

7.5.4 Resistance to impact ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

7.5.5 Friction tests ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9

8 Test load — Nominal load ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9

8.1 Strength tests............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

8.2 Ultimate load, U ......................................................................................................................................................................................9

8.3 Stiffness tests ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

8.4 Nominal load ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

9 Duration for static stiffness tests .....................................................................................................................................................10

10 Number of impacts for dynamic tests ..........................................................................................................................................10

11 Test report ................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Annex A (informative) Plots of typical force versus deformation from pallet testsshowing

the deformation of ultimate load, U ...............................................................................................................................................11

Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................13

© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved iii
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards

bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out

through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical

committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International

organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of

electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are

described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the

different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the

editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of

patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of

any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or

on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not

constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and

expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the

World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/

iso/ foreword .html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 51, Pallets for unit load method of materials

handling.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 8611-2:2011), which has been technically

revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:

— Separate performance/deflection limits for the internal and external spans were defined for test

2a and 2b.

— It was clarified that test 5 applies for both twin track conveyors and narrow span beam racking.

— It was clarified in Table 2, that test 4a,b should be conducted for a pallet without racking or stacking

but only on the top deck.
— The determination of nominal load was clarified in Table 3.
A list of all parts in the ISO 8611 series can be found on the ISO website.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A

complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
Introduction

The forces to which pallets are exposed during use vary significantly. The test procedures described in

ISO 8611-1 are approximate simulations of pallet use. These tests help the pallet designer to establish

an initial acceptable balance between the cost and the performance of a pallet design. It is intended

that all results of tests performed using this protocol be confirmed and verified using field trials before

publication of performance or the commercial implementation of a new pallet design.

The nominal load, determined according to this test protocol, does not represent a payload and cannot be

verified using field trials. The nominal load is a minimum payload level for use in determining maximum

working load according to the procedures in ISO 8611-3. The maximum working load can be verified for a

specified payload and intended use, using field trials. It is intended that the publication of the maximum

working load include a description of the payload and the intended modes of use of the pallet.

It is essential to exercise care when comparing the results of tests with historic experience using

existing pallet designs. User expectations of pallet performance vary. Some require greater and some

accept lower levels of performance. Users are accepting different levels of risk when using pallets.

Because of the varied performance expectations of pallet users, the results of tests might not always

reflect the user's perception of pallet performance in use.

The nominal load might not reflect users' perception of pallet performance because the nominal load

does not represent a payload. It is intended that maximum working loads be used to compare with the

historic performance of existing pallet designs.
Regarding the use of the ISO 8611 series,
— ISO 8611-1 describes the test methods,

— this part of ISO 8611 describes the performance requirements and selection of tests, and

— ISO 8611-3 describes tests for determining maximum working loads for known payloads.

ISO 8611-1 and this part of ISO 8611 are required for determining nominal load. The nominal load is the

lowest safe load value for the specified support conditions, independent of the type of load (excluding

concentrated loads).

ISO 8611-1, this part of ISO 8611 and ISO 8611-3 are required for determining maximum working loads

for known payloads.

The nominal load for the intended use is established by the selection of tests in ISO 8611-1 and the

performance requirement is established from criteria in this part of ISO 8611.

The following three types of intended use with specified support conditions are defined:

— handling of loaded pallets with racking and stacking;
— handling of loaded pallets without racking;
— handling of loaded pallets without racking or stacking.

To determine the maximum working load through testing given in ISO 8611-3, the deflection under

the known payload cannot exceed the limiting deflection (see 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of ISO 8611-3:2011)

established in ISO 8611-1 and this part of ISO 8611. The maximum working load is the greatest payload

that a pallet can be permitted to carry in a specific loading and support condition.

Guidance is given in Annex A of ISO 8611-3:2011 as to the general effect on performance of different

load types and stabilization methods. These can only give guidance as to the likely result from tests

with the known payload.
Other tests for durability evaluation are specified in ISO 8611-1.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved v
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DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
Pallets for materials handling — Flat pallets —
Part 2:
Performance requirements and selection of tests
1 Scope

This part of ISO 8611 specifies the performance requirements to establish nominal loads for new flat

pallets.

It also specifies the tests required for new flat pallets in various handling environments and the

performance requirements for tests with payloads. It is not intended to apply to pallets with a fixed

superstructure or a rigid, self-supporting container that can be mechanically attached to the pallet and

which contributes to the strength of the pallet.
2 Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content

constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For

undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 445, Pallets for materials handling — Vocabulary
ISO 8611-1, Pallets for materials handling — Flat pallets — Part 1: Test methods

ISO 8611-3, Pallets for materials handling — Flat pallets — Part 3: Maximum working loads

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 445 and the following apply.

3.1
breaking of one component

fracture of a structural element which significantly affects the strength, stiffness or functionality of

a pallet
3.2
concentrated load
load concentrated over an area of less than 50 % of the pallet top deck
[SOURCE: ISO 445:2008, definition 2.3]
3.3
maximum working load

greatest payload that a pallet is permitted to carry in a specific loading and support condition

Note 1 to entry: This varies according to the type, distribution, arrangement and means of stabilization of the

load and the system of support, and can be lower or higher than the nominal load (see, for example, Clauses 4 and

6 and see also ISO 8611-3).
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from ISO 445:2008, definition 2.7.
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ISO/DIS 8611-2:2021(E)
3.4
nominal load

lowest test load value for the specified support conditions, independent of the type of load (excluding

concentrated loads)

Note 1 to entry: “Specified support conditions” refers to the range of conditions of use in 7.1 of this part of

ISO 8611.

Note 2 to entry: Nominal load does not represent an actual payload on a pallet in use. The nominal load is used for

comparing the performance of different pallets.
Note 3 to entry: Adapted from ISO 445:2008, definition 2.2.
3.5
payload
load carried by the pallet in use
[SOURCE: ISO 445:2008, definition 2.8]
Note 1 to entry: This can be above, identical to or below the nominal load.
3.6
platen

solid, rigid surface on a test machine used for applying a load to test a sample pallet

3.7
racking
storage of unit loads in drive-in or beam racks with free, unsupported spans
[SOURCE: ISO 445:2008, definition A.3.1]
3.8
safety factor
ratio of the ultimate load to the nominal load
Note 1 to entry: In ISO 8611 (all parts), this ratio is at least 2,0.
3.9
solid load

single, compact, rigid, homogeneous load, supported by all the blocks and/or stringers (bearers) of

the pallet
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO 445:2008, definition 2.6.
3.10
stacking

placing of pallets with unit loads one upon the other without recourse to intermediate shelves or racking

Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO 445:2008, definition A.2.1.
3.11
stiffness
relative deformation of a pallet or component under load

Note 1 to entry: High stiffness means small displacement, deflection or deformati

...