Glossary
Block class
Also called: block-class pallet, block pallet
Reviewed
Definition
Block class is one of the two pallet classes in the Uniform Standard and PDS: pallets whose top deck is carried on blocks, usually nine in a 3 x 3 grid, tied together by stringerboards. Block-class pallets, such as the EPAL Euro pallet and North American 48x40 pooled pallets, allow four-way entry.
How a block-class pallet is built
- Top deck: deckboards over stringerboards, often pre-assembled as a deck mat
- Blocks: usually 9, solid wood, laminated, composite or plastic
- Bottom: perimeter, cruciform, unidirectional or overlap base
- Fasteners: separate specs for mat nails, top-deck-to-block and bottom-deck-to-block connections
A PDS classification example: "1200 x 1000, Block-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Full 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture".
Block class vs stringer class
| Block class | Stringer class | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | full four-way (perimeter, cruciform, unidirectional bases) | two-way or partial four-way |
| Part count | higher | lower |
| Typical use | pooled, export, automated handling | grocery, retail, captive loops |
Why it matters
Four-way access and square handling make block pallets the standard for pools and export. Retail programs may also require them; Costco, for example, requires pooled block pallets. See block pallet and stringer vs block pallets.
Questions
- Are Euro pallets block pallets?
- Yes. The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is a block-class pallet with 9 blocks and 3 stringerboards.
Sources
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets (NWPCA, now Woodpack Global), 2012 edition
- Guide to Understanding the PDS Specification and Analysis (block class, metric)