Spacing/stickering requirement for timber

Standard

Free air space must also exist between dense commodity components such as timber to allow effective circulation of gas and its penetration into the commodity.

AQIS will only accept fumigation of timber and timber products if:

• Individual planks, rounds or articles have at least one physical dimension which is less than 200mm (8 inches) thick
• The commodity is separated by a minimum of 5mm in one dimension every 200mm (8 inches)
• There is adequate physical distance, at least 50mm (2 inches) between the timber and the base and sides of the fumigation enclosure.

Regularly shaped timber or timber related products or highly finished and planed timber products (e.g. doors, table tops) with smooth surfaces when wrapped and stacked on the top of each other prevent gas circulation. Therefore, such timber products must be spaced individually i.e. 5mm space for every single product during fumigation whether or not the commodity is plastic wrapped or perforated plastic wraps are being used.

Informative

Where possible no less than 200mm should exist as free air space above the commodity and 50mm below. The balance should be made up of airspace at the sides of or between the commodity

Methyl bromide will only penetrate 100mm (4 inches) from the surface into the timber within the fumigation exposure period. Because of this, it is important to use separators to ensure effective circulation of methyl bromide around and throughout the commodity.

There is no requirement for the separators to be a specific horizontal distance apart. However, they should maintain a continuous gap along the length of the timber Additional spacing is required when regularly shaped timber or timber related products such as doors and table tops with smooth surfaces are fumigated. This is because such products when stacked on the top of each other can form a cushion that prevents effective gas circulation regardless of whether or not plastic wraps including perforated plastic wraps are being used.