The EUR-pallet—also Euro-pallet or EPAL-pallet—is the standard European pallet as specified by the European Pallet Association (EPAL). Pallets conforming to the standardization are eligible for the European Pallet Pool (EPP) -the system allows for an exchange as “pallet for pallet”.

The EUR/EPAL-pallet is 1,200 mm × 800 mm × 144 mm (47.2 in × 31.5 in × 5.7 in); it is a four-way pallet made of wood that is nailed with 78 special nails in a prescribed pattern. The weight of an EUR/EPAL-pallet (EPAL 1) is approx. 25 kg. [1]

The Safe working load of an EUR/EPAL-pallet is 1,500 kg. The Maximum additional load can be up to 4,000 kg when stacking.[1]

The EUR/EPAL-pallet may weigh up to 1,500 kg (ca. 3,307 lb). (1.5 metric tonnes) when equally loaded, otherwise the limit is 1,000 kg (ca. 2,205 lb).

Specification

EUR-pallet specification

A stack of counterfeit EUR-pallets

The EUR-pallet's dimensions are defined in the following standards:

• UIC 435-2 Standard of quality for EUR flat pallets made of wood measuring 800 mm x 1200 mm (EUR-1)
• ISO 445 Pallets for materials handling—Vocabulary (ISO 445:2008)
• ISO 3676 Packaging–Unit Load Sizes–Dimensions
• ISO 3394 Dimensions of Rigid Rectangular Packages, Transport Packages.
• ISO 8611-1 Pallets for materials handling
• ISO 8611-1 Pallets for materials handling—Flat pallets—Part 1: Test methods
• ISO 8611-2 Pallets for materials handling—Flat pallets—Part 2: Performance requirements and selection of tests
• ISO 12776 Pallets—Slip sheets
• ISO 12777-1 Methods to test for pallet joints
• ISO 12777-1 Methods of test for pallet joints – Part 1: Determination of bending resistance of pallet nails, other dowel-type fasteners and staples
• ISO 12777-2 Methods to test for pallet joints – Part 2: Determination of withdrawal and head pull-through resistance of pallet nails and staples
• ISO 12777-3 Methods of test for pallet joints – Part 3: Determination of strength of pallet joints
• ISO 15629 Pallets for materials handling—Quality of fasteners for assembly of new and repair of used, flat, wooden pallets
• ISO 18334 Pallets for materials handling—Quality of assembly of new wooden pallets
• ISO 18613 Repair of flat wooden pallets
• EN 13626 Packaging – Box pallets – General requirements and test methods
• EN 13382 Flat pallets for materials handling – Principal dimensions
• EN 13698-1 Pallet production specification
• EN 13698-1 Pallet production specification – Part 1: Construction specification for 800 mm × 1,200 mm (31 in × 47 in) flat wooden pallets
• EN 13698-2 Pallet production specification – Part 2: Construction specification for 1,000 mm × 1,200 mm (39 in × 47 in) flat wooden pallets
• EN 15512 Steel static storage systems – Adjustable pallet racking systems – Principles for structural design
• EN 15620 Steel static storage systems – Adjustable pallet racking – Tolerances, deformations, and clearances

Materials and identification

The EUR-pallet must use at least 78 nails of a specific type that are subject to a prescribed nailing pattern. The final pallet weighs 20 to 25 kg (ca. 44.09 to 55.12 lb). Only dry wood may be used, to reduce the risk of mold.

Each EUR-pallet bears a number of quality marks:

• On the left corner leg, the EPAL logo is shown. Originally, this was used for the railway company designation that was eligible to control the Euro-pallet production. Since the control was moved to the EPAL, many framework agreements require the EPAL logo.
• On the central leg, the code of the producer company is shown, along with the signature of the verifier and the name of the railway company that installed the verifier. If the EUR-pallet has been repaired already, then a round verification nail is put in the central chunk. The last numbers designate the production year and possibly the type of wood.
• On the right corner leg, the EUR logo is shown. The EPAL and EUR logos are encircled in an oval that resembles the nationality sticker on cars.

Common Types

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EUR-pallet