Shrink Wrap Used to Secure or Unitize Loads

Shrink wrap is being used to secure or unitize loads, such as cement blocks, bricks, batteries, bags of cement, boxes, etc. I am looking for guidance to determine: 1. Is shrink wrap alone acceptable to unitizes or secure a load? 2. If so, how much shrink wrap is necessary to secure 7 forty pound bags of cement to a pallet? 3. Can the shrink wrap be damaged at all? 4. Is there a specific way shrink wrap must be used (ex. not twisted, number of layers. etc)? 5. Must the shrink wrap cover the entire load across the top and sides? 6. Is there a difference between shrink wrap and stretch wrap? 7 Does shrink wrap have a "strength" assigned to it or are there standards as to what constitutes shrink wrap (ex. thickness)? 8. Must shrink wrap always be used with additional strapping?

We have inspectors disagreeing when items are "secure" on a flat bed or box trailer. For example: 7 bags of cement shrink wrapped to a pallet with one strap across the top not touching all cement bags. Is this secure? Even if there is no sign of shifting at the time of the stop, can shrink wrap alone secure the 40 pound bags? 75 pound boxes? Wet filled Batteries?

I am looking for a clarification as to what, if any, is the limitation for which shrink wrap can be used as a securing device? How can we define shrink wrap? When shrink wrap is being utilized, must additional securement devices be used also? If shrink wrap is acceptable, can it have any damage? How is the end supposed to be secured, in a knot?