Glossary
Double-face
Also called: double-faced pallet, double-deck pallet
Reviewed
A double-face pallet has both a top deck and a bottom deck. It is either non-reversible, with a lighter bottom deck (a GMA-style 48x40 has 7 top and 5 bottom boards), or reversible, with identical decks that can each carry the load.
The two kinds of double-face pallet
| Deck style | Bottom deck | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Double-Face Non-Reversible | fewer or narrower boards, openings for jacks and notches | GMA-style 48x40: 7 top, 5 bottom |
| Double-Face Reversible | same as the top | heavy-duty or flip-use pallets |
Both appear as the deck style in the PDS classification string, e.g. "48.00 x 40.00, Stringer-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Partial 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture".
Why choose double-face
The bottom deck spreads load onto the floor or onto the unit load below, ties the stringers or blocks together, and gives a flat surface for conveyors. Most GMA, block and pooled pallets are double-face for these reasons. The cost is extra wood and nails compared with a single-face pallet or skid.
Questions
- Is a GMA pallet double-face?
- Yes. The GMA-style 48x40 is double-face non-reversible, with 7 top deckboards and 5 bottom deckboards.
- Can you flip a double-face pallet?
- Only if it is reversible. A non-reversible pallet has a lighter bottom deck and should be loaded top side up.
Sources
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets (NWPCA, now Woodpack Global), 2012 edition
- Guide to Understanding the PDS Specification and Analysis (stringer, inches)