Glossary
Strap slot
Also called: banding notch, strapping slot, strap notch, banding slot
Reviewed
A strap slot (banding notch) is a recess cut in the top of a stringer or under the top deck so that strapping or banding can pass beneath the deckboards and hold the load to the pallet. PDS has analyzed strap slots as part of the stringer since version 5.3.
How strap slots are specified
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Location | position along the stringer, often under the gap between two deckboards |
| Width | enough for the strap and its seal |
| Depth | enough for the strap to pass freely |
Strap slots are listed as a special manufacturing feature under the component that receives them, like notches and chamfers.
Why use strap slots
Strapping around the load and through the pallet ties the product to the deck, which matters for heavy items, crates, lumber and loads that ride on flatbeds. Without a slot, straps must go under the whole pallet or through deck gaps, where they can slip or be cut by forks.
Trade-offs
A slot removes wood from the top of the stringer, where bending stress is high when the pallet is racked. That is why PDS includes strap slots in its structural analysis. Keep slots away from the notches and midspan where possible. See stringer pallet.
Questions
- Do strap slots weaken a pallet?
- They remove some wood from the stringer, so they should be included in the strength check and kept away from the most stressed areas.
Sources
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets (NWPCA, now Woodpack Global), 2012 edition
- Pallet Design System (Woodpack Global)