Principle Parts of Wooden Pallets (1.1)

Pallet Designs

There are two designs of wooden pallets in general use.

• 2-Way Pallets (1.2)
Permit entry of pallet jack or forklift from two sides only and in opposite directions.

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1.1

1.2

• 4-Way Pallets

Permit entry of handling equipment from four sides. 4-way pallets may be designed in two different ways:

- Notched Stringer Design (2.1):

Allows 4-way entry only with forklifts and 2-way entry with pallet jacks.

- Block Design (2.2):

Allows 4-way entry of both forklifts and pallet jacks.

2.1

2.2

Pallet Styles

There are two styles of wooden pallets in general use.

• Single-Face Pallets (3.1):
They have only one deck which is the top surface.
• Double-Face Pallets (3.2):
They have two decks forming the top and bottom surfaces. The bottom deck helps distribute the load when tiered and adds strength to the pallet. Double-face pallets are usually manufactured in one of two forms:

Reversible Pallets (3.2)

They have identical top and bottom decks. Goods may be stacked on either deck.

Non-Reversible Pallets (3.3)

They have top deckboards more closely spaced than on the bottom.

3.1

3.2

3.3

Key Questions

What weight must the pallet carry?

Will it consist of a single load or will the pallets be stacked?

What are the optimum board dimensions on top and bottom decks to ensure integrity?

What wood type is required – hardwood or softwood?

Does the pallet require CFIA certification?