ISPM 15 for Dummies: Meeting wood packaging material standards for crating and shipping artwork

[Wayne Kawamoto <waynek@hawaii.edu>]

Hello,

Does anyone have information about preparing wooden crates for  
shipment that conforms to the ISPM 15? We will be sending a traveling  
exhibition to various states within the U.S. before it goes to  
Taiwan. I know that solid wood parts need to be heat treated or  
methyl bromide fumigated. We have been reusing crates that contain  
foam inserts for cushioning individual works in separate compartments  
within the crate.

Some of the questions that I am initially concerned with:

Is there some place that heat treats completed crates?

Do ethafoam and other cushioning material need to be removed prior to  
heat treatment?

What happens to a crate that is painted and certificate marks are  
covered?

What other materials are available to replace the 1" pine battens and  
fir 2x4s typically used in construction?

Thank you for any help,

Wayne Kawamoto
Exhibit Designer
University of Hawaii Art Gallery