National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 6780:2003. It supersedes BS ISO 6780:1988 which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee PKW/0/-/11, Wood.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 November 2008

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.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

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.

ISO 6780 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 6780:1988), which has been technically revised, and incorporates ISO 6780:1988/Amd. 1:1994.

This corrected version of ISO 6780:2003 incorporates corrections to Figures 2 d), 2 e), 2 g), 2 h) and B.3.

Introduction

The purpose of this International Standard is to promote distribution efficiency through the use of a limited number of internationally recognized and approved pallet sizes that most countries can adopt. Promotion of these sizes will also help to discourage long-term regional differences within and between international and intercontinental trading nations.

This International Standard is intended to include compatibility between ISO-approved pallet sizes, unit load sizes, materials-handling equipment and transport containers and vehicles. It also provides a presentation of pallet features and includes Asia-Pacific preferred pallet sizes that had been omitted from previous editions.

Although every effort has been made to coordinate overall pallet dimensions specified in this International Standard with the unit load sizes defined in ISO 3676, it is recognized that these pallet sizes are unlikely to cover all requirements because of substantial differences in size, shape and density of products, variations in handling devices, as well as regional habits and practices.

1 Scope

This International Standard specifies the principal dimensions and tolerances for new single-deck and double-deck, reversible and non-reversible flat pallets, of all entry types and made of any material, related to their transportation and handling by pallet trucks, fork-lift trucks and other appropriate equipment.

The requirements for features such as openings, clearances, chamfers and wings that are required for efficient handling are also included.

The applicability of this International Standard to reversible pallets can be affected by their use in field conditions.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Dimensions

4.1 Plan dimensions and tolerances

4.2 Vertical entry clearances for lifting devices

4.3 Horizontal clearances for lifting devices

4.4 Dimensions of bottom deck chamfers

4.5 Dimensions of pallet deck projections

4.6 Bearing surface of bottom decks

4.7 Limits of diagonal distortion

4.8 Flatness

Bibliography

BS ISO 6780:2003

Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling. Principal dimensions and tolerances

Current, Under Review

Published:

30 Nov 2008