[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":65},["ShallowReactive",2],{"c:\u002Fglossary\u002Fresidual-moisture":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"answer":6,"body":7,"description":48,"extension":49,"meta":50,"navigation":51,"noindex":52,"path":53,"related":54,"reviewed":59,"seo":60,"sources":61,"stem":63,"term":5,"__hash__":64},"glossary\u002Fglossary\u002Fresidual-moisture.md","Residual moisture","Residual moisture is the water left in pallet timber after drying, expressed as a percentage. EPAL's 2023 classification poster says new Euro pallets are chamber-dried to a maximum of 22% residual moisture. Used pallets may carry surface moisture from use or the weather.",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":40},"minimark",[10,15,19,23,26,30,33,37],[11,12,14],"h2",{"id":13},"the-figure","The figure",[16,17,18],"p",{},"22% is the ceiling EPAL's poster gives for new pallets. It is a characteristic of the class, not a promise that a given pallet is dry when it reaches you; a new pallet stored outdoors can take on water again.",[11,20,22],{"id":21},"moisture-against-contamination","Moisture against contamination",[16,24,25],{},"Surface moisture alone does not drop a used pallet out of classes A, B or C. Damp stains, mould and odour are different: EPAL lists them as contamination, which makes a pallet not fit for use.",[11,27,29],{"id":28},"why-it-matters-on-long-voyages","Why it matters on long voyages",[16,31,32],{},"Damp timber in a closed container gives off water as temperatures swing, which can wet cartons and grow mould. Exporters shipping moisture-sensitive goods often specify new pallets or set a moisture limit in the purchase order and ask for a reading.",[11,34,36],{"id":35},"how-it-is-measured","How it is measured",[16,38,39],{},"Usually with a handheld pin or pinless moisture meter. Readings vary by species and calibration, so agree the method with the buyer.",{"title":41,"searchDepth":42,"depth":42,"links":43},"",2,[44,45,46,47],{"id":13,"depth":42,"text":14},{"id":21,"depth":42,"text":22},{"id":28,"depth":42,"text":29},{"id":35,"depth":42,"text":36},"What residual moisture means for pallet timber and the limit EPAL gives for new Euro pallets.","md",{},true,false,"\u002Fglossary\u002Fresidual-moisture",[55,56,57,58],"\u002Fglossary\u002Fkiln-drying","\u002Fgrades\u002Fnew","\u002Fgrades\u002Fclass-a","\u002Fdefects\u002Fpayload-contamination","2026-10-27",{"title":5,"description":48},[62],"epal-classification","glossary\u002Fresidual-moisture","MuAj7y1rweAuuQTRMl0vC5ud3COg9sqjc8gbQanIhsU",1793132283602]