The forces to which pallets are exposed during use vary significantly. Pallets intended for handling goods in racking and stacking are tested. For the determination of bending stiffness, use the test for the forklifting test and use test for the stacking test as given in ISO 8611-1 using the payload.
ISO 8611 series discusses standards for flat pallets for materials handling. ISO 8611-3 describes tests for determining maximum working loads for known payloads. 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 the publication of performance or the commercial implementation of a new pallet design.
Note: ISO 8611-3 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.
ISO 8611-3 on materials handling pallets is useful for:
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.
ISO 8611-3 specifies the determination of maximum working load for new flat pallets with known payloads in different handling environments. To determine the maximum working load by testing in ISO 8611-3, the deflection under the known payload cannot exceed the limiting deflection established in ISO 8611-1 and ISO 8611-2. The maximum working load is the greatest payload that a pallet can be permitted to carry in a specific loading and support condition.
ISO 8611-3 helps to understand the safe working load of pallets for use in racking and stacking by implementing test guidelines.
EN ISO 8611-3:2012
ISO 8611-3