MENU
  • DOST-FPRDI_1.png
  • CoverPhotoFinal-02.jpg

Pallets and Related Structures Tests

  • Involve bending, compression, and impact tests on pallets and related structures to determine their load capacity and whether or not they can survive different impacts encountered during handling and transportation.
  • Based on the following standards:
    • ASTM D1185 (Standard Test Methods for Pallets and Related Structures Employed in Materials Handling and Shipping)
    • ASTM D642 (Standard Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit Loads)
    • ISO/DIS 8611-1 (Pallets for materials handling Flat pallets -- Part 1: Test methods)
    • ISO/DIS 8611-2 (Pallets for materials handling Flat pallets -- Part 2: Performance requirements and selection of tests)
    • ISO/FDIS 8611-3 (Pallets for materials handling -- Flat pallets -- Part 3: Maximum working loads)
    • PNS ISO 6780:2005 (Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling -- Principal dimensions and tolerances)

Timber / Wood Processing

Sawmilling and Kiln Drying

  • Sawmilling converts logs or flitches into lumber, boards, or dimensions using a headrig such as the FPRDI portable horizontal bandsaw mill or Wood- Mizer. It consists of four basic operations: headsawing, resawing, edging and trimming. With its versatility, the Wood-Mizer performs headsawing, resawing and edging – functions normally done by separate machines (headsaw, resaw and edger). Trimming, on the other hand, is performed using a chainsaw.
  • Lumber manufacture requires producing the highest volume of useful material of lumber from logs while satisfying the specifications and standards for grade, size and dimension.
  • Kiln drying is the artificial drying of wood and non-wood forest products using the 1,000-board foot capacity FPRDI furnace-type lumber dryer and applying the appropriate drying schedule. This process reduces the raw material’s or product’s moisture content to the desired level. Moisture loss is measured by subsequent weighing of sample boards/products. The final moisture content is determined by oven drying method.
  • Based on ASTM D143-09 (Standard Test Methods for Small Clear Specimens of Timber).

Wood Identification

Wood and Herbarium Identification

  • Involves the examination of the wood and non-wood specimens’ anatomical features using magnification devices such as microscope, stereoscope, and hand lens to establish their species.
  • Is especially useful to the construction, furniture and handicraft sectors to ensure the identity of raw materials used for their products.
  • Is made possible thru the Institute’s Wood and Herbarium Library, an internationally recognized facility housing 16,348 specimens of Philippine and foreign wood samples and 2,631 preserved plant specimens