Glossary
Stringer class
Also called: stringer-class pallet, stringer pallet
Reviewed
Stringer class is one of the two pallet classes in the Uniform Standard and PDS: pallets whose decks are supported by continuous stringers running the full length. The GMA-style 48x40 is the best-known stringer-class pallet. The other class is block class.
On this page
Where class fits in the classification
The standard classification string reads: size, class, deck style, entry, use, manufacture. For example: "48.00 x 40.00, Stringer-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Partial 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture".
Panel decks, wings and skids are variations within a class, not classes of their own.
Stringer class vs block class
| Stringer class | Block class | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck support | continuous stringers | blocks with stringerboards |
| Entry | two-way, or partial four-way if notched | full or partial four-way |
| Parts per pallet (48x40) | about 15 wood parts | more (blocks, stringerboards, mats) |
| Rack across length | stringers act as beams | stringerboards over blocks |
| Typical use | US grocery and retail, one-way and captive loops | pooled, export, automated DCs |
Why the class matters
Class changes almost every part of the spec, from nail schedules to the analysis model. Choosing between the two is usually the first design decision. See stringer vs block pallets and stringer pallet.
Questions
- Is a skid a stringer-class pallet?
- Yes. A skid is a single-face stringer-class pallet: its runners are stringers with no bottom deck.
Sources
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets (NWPCA, now Woodpack Global), 2012 edition
- Guide to Understanding the PDS Specification and Analysis (stringer, inches)