Standards — AS 4068
AS 4068: Australian Timber Pallet Standard
The Standard Australia specification governing timber pallet design, construction and testing requirements.
What is AS 4068?
AS 4068 (Timber Pallets — General Requirements) is the Australian Standard published by Standards Australia that defines the minimum requirements for timber pallets manufactured and used in Australia. The standard covers:
- Pallet dimensions and tolerances
- Timber species and moisture content requirements
- Fastener (nail) specifications and placement
- Deck board arrangement and spacing
- Block and stringer construction requirements
- Load capacity and testing methodologies
- Marking and identification requirements
Key AS 4068 Requirements
Dimensions: The standard references the 1165 × 1165 mm Australian standard pallet but allows for other dimensions provided they are clearly specified. Tolerances are ±5 mm on length and width.
Timber: Hardwood must have a density of at least 700 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content. Moisture content at time of manufacture must be 20% or less to minimise warping and reduce pest risk.
Fasteners: Nails must be ring-shank or spirally-threaded (not smooth) to prevent withdrawal. Nail dimensions, penetration depths and placement patterns are specified.
Is AS 4068 Compliance Mandatory?
AS 4068 is a voluntary standard in Australia — there is no legislation that mandates compliance in all circumstances. However, major retailers (Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Bunnings) and logistics companies reference AS 4068 in their supplier requirements. Effectively, if you supply to major supermarkets or distributors, your pallets must comply.
CHEP's Australian fleet is manufactured to AS 4068 requirements. Any pallet entering the CHEP pool must meet these specifications.
Accessing AS 4068
The full text of AS 4068 is available for purchase from Standards Australia. The document is not freely available. SAI Global also distributes Australian Standards.