Use the drawing and measurement for different purposes
A model drawing describes the intended product and its applicable specifications. Measuring a used pallet describes observations of the unit in front of you. Keep both records rather than treating one as a replacement for the other. A dimension close to a known footprint can support an identification enquiry, but it does not conclusively establish the model, authenticity, exchange status or application capacity. The source and purpose of every field should remain visible.
Photograph model, ownership and repair markings, record the supplier or transfer evidence and inspect the actual construction and condition. Measure empty height and footprint in a clearly described condition. Do not derive them from the material name or a Grade A label. Damage, repairs, fittings, moisture and different designs can change the relevant observations. A matching footprint alone does not determine underside support, fork openings or tare.
Compare a reference base with a supplied unit explicitly
EPAL 1 publishes a 144 mm reference height and approximate 25 kg tare. Suppose an identified unit is observed at 148 mm height and 28 kg empty mass. Those are assumed measurements for this example, not asserted manufacturing tolerances or an accepted EPAL deviation. Record the discrepancy and obtain the applicable condition and receiving assessment. Do not change the official model reference to make the observation look compliant, or declare the unit accepted solely because it remains close in size.
For an illustrative accepted total-height limit of 1395 mm and cases 250 mm tall, a 144 mm base permits five complete layers standing 1394 mm. A 148 mm base permits only four complete layers because five would stand 1398 mm. Four stand 1148 mm. This calculation shows how an observed base difference can change a threshold. It supplies no permission to load a unit whose actual condition or product identity remains unresolved.
| Item | Model reference or source | Assumed observation | Next decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base height | 144 mm EPAL 1 reference | 148 mm | Clarify applicable condition and measure consistently |
| Tare | Approximately 25 kg reference | 28 kg | Use actual mass for the stated cargo record |
| Footprint | 1200 × 800 mm reference | Record actual measurement | Identify model and finished envelope separately |
| Working condition | Applicable product information | Not measured from height or tare | Obtain application evidence |
Calculate mass without transferring a rating
Forty shipping cases at 12 kg contribute 480 kg. Adding a 25 kg reference tare gives 505 kg before other materials, while the assumed 28 kg measurement gives 508 kg. The three-kilogram difference is a mass-input change. It does not prove that the heavier pallet can carry more, that a repair is adequate or that a rack is suitable. The weight tool totals inputs and checks a separately entered condition; it cannot derive structural performance from tare.
If a complete loaded unit is weighed at 508 kg and that reading includes cases and pallet, do not add another 28 kg tare to it. Keep the direct gross observation and the component calculation as separate evidence with their measurement boundaries. If additional wrap or fittings were excluded from the empty tare and case mass, include them once. Unknown components remain unknown until documented rather than being assumed absent.
Check the actual interface and condition
A replacement bottom board, altered runner or fitting can affect how a used pallet meets a conveyor, fork or support even when outside length and width stay familiar. Obtain the actual interface requirements and compare the complete unit with its product or receiving documentation. Do not assign a universal height tolerance, fastener arrangement or working load from the footprint. A dimensional worksheet helps identify changes but does not certify repairs or support strength.
For an authentic exchange product, use its current marking, condition and repair requirements. For another product, use its own model evidence. An official phytosanitary mark addresses its program’s treatment scope; it does not replace ownership, contamination history or the structural application record. Preserve those questions separately so a pass in one is not silently interpreted as acceptance in every other category.
Create a used-pallet comparison record
Write unit or group identifier, model evidence, drawing revision, nominal dimensions, observed footprint and empty height, tare source, condition and repair observations, photographs and receiving decision. Explain any discrepancy. For the height example retain the 1395 mm accepted limit and both base inputs. An unresolved model or application must stay unresolved even when the measurement can be entered into the calculator.
Use measured values with an explicit scope
Enter the appropriate base and cargo inputs in the TI-HI calculator and compare the stated height scenarios. Use the weight calculator to retain the mass effect of actual tare. In the input record, identify whether values describe a nominal scenario or an observed unit. Do not name an assumed 148 mm custom input as the official EPAL reference.
If the actual pallet is held or rejected by the responsible receiving process, a successful numeric calculation does not reverse that decision. Replace or resolve the unit as appropriate, then update the cargo record. When sharing a plan, include model identity and observation date so another planner does not apply measurements from one used unit to an entire future purchase. Retain known variation rather than claiming a material or grade guarantees every height and tare.
Reference and example scope
EPAL 1 product specification supports the reference height and approximate tare; the example 148 mm and 28 kg observations are not official tolerances. The examples use explicitly stated measurements or assumptions; they are not instrument standards, tolerance rules or approval of your load.