Industries
Pallets for the chemical industry
Reviewed
Chemical pallets are sized to drums, bags and IBCs: 48 x 48 in (1219 x 1219 mm) carries four 55-gallon drums, and 48 x 42 and 44 x 44 in are also common in North America. In Europe the chemical and plastics industry uses the CP1 to CP9 block pallets, such as CP1 at 1000 x 1200 mm and CP3 at 1140 x 1140 mm.
Common pallet sizes
| Size | Metric | Typical chemical use |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 48 in | 1219 x 1219 mm | Four 55-gallon drums, the standard drum pallet |
| 48 x 42 in | 1219 x 1067 mm | Chemical cases, pails and bags |
| 44 x 44 in | 1118 x 1118 mm | Drums and chemical loads |
| 42 x 42 in | 1067 x 1067 mm | Paint and coatings (see paint pallets) |
| 1200 x 1000 mm | 47.24 x 39.37 in | CP1 and CP6 footprints, European and Asian industrial loads |
| 1165 x 1165 mm | 45.9 x 45.9 in | Close to the 1140 x 1140 mm CP3, CP8 and CP9 footprint (not the same) |
CP pallets
The CP pallets are nine standardized block designs developed for the European chemical and plastics industry. They are fixed designs, so a buyer names the type rather than drawing the pallet.
| Type | Size (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CP1 | 1000 x 1200 | Runner (skid-style) bottom |
| CP2 | 800 x 1200 | Runner bottom |
| CP3 | 1140 x 1140 | Runner bottom, square |
| CP4 | 1100 x 1300 | Runner bottom |
| CP5 | 760 x 1140 | Runner bottom (some sources give 780) |
| CP6 | 1200 x 1000 | Perimeter or frame bottom |
| CP7 | 1300 x 1100 | Perimeter or frame bottom |
| CP8 | 1140 x 1140 | Frame bottom, opening in the top deck |
| CP9 | 1140 x 1140 | Flush overlap bottom |
CP1 to CP5 have runner-type bottoms; CP6 to CP9 have perimeter or frame bottoms. Confirm current dimensions and tolerances with the CP specification your customer references.
Construction and spec notes
Drums
Four 55-gallon drums sit two by two on a 48 x 48 in pallet. Drums are the hardest common load for a wood pallet because each drum bears on a ring (the chime), not a flat base, so the weight comes down as concentrated loads rather than a uniform one.
- Keep top-deck gaps tight so chimes cannot drop between boards. palletdesign.ai warns when a drum pallet has top gaps over 2.5 in; some suppliers specify much tighter gaps, and a solid deck removes the issue.
- Add stringers. Four stringers put support closer to each drum. A typical starting point is 9 top boards at 3/4 in on 4 stringers of 1-1/2 in stock.
- Check the rack case. Drums racked on two beams load the pallet hard; state the beam span and orientation.
Bags, pails and IBCs
Bagged resins and powders are flexible loads, so wide gaps let bag corners sag between boards and deck coverage matters. Wing pallets, where the top deck overhangs the stringers, are a classic choice for bagged loads and for lifting with bar slings. Pails load the deck in small rings, like small drums. An IBC or bulk box without its own integrated base needs a pallet matched to its footprint.
Entry, racking and stacking
Chemical warehouses often rack drums and bags and floor-stack them 2 or 3 high. Specify the entry you need (two-way, partial four-way or full four-way), the rack span and the stacking height. Treat any capacity as indicative until confirmed with a PDS analysis or test to ASTM D1185 or ISO 8611.
Lumber, moisture and treatment
Specify the service environment. Wet service (moisture content over 19%) lowers design strength. Pallets that cross borders need ISPM 15 heat treatment, and repaired pallets must be re-treated and re-marked. For spill risk, spill-containment pallets with a sump are a separate product category, usually plastic or steel.
What to put in the RFQ
- Load type: drums (count, size, weight each), bags, pails, IBCs or cases
- For drums: layout (for example 2 x 2), maximum top-deck gap or solid deck
- Footprint, or CP type if the customer names one
- Maximum load, racking (orientation and span), stacking height
- Entry requirement and handling equipment
- Lumber species, moisture content, ISPM 15 treatment
- Any customer pallet specification or drawing number
See how to write a pallet RFQ for the full field list.
Questions
- What size pallet holds four 55-gallon drums?
- 48 x 48 in (1219 x 1219 mm). The drums sit in a 2 x 2 pattern, and the pallet should have tight top-deck gaps or a solid deck so the drum chimes cannot drop between boards.
- What are CP pallets?
- CP1 to CP9 are standardized block pallets used by the European chemical and plastics industry. CP1 is 1000 x 1200 mm and CP3, CP8 and CP9 are 1140 x 1140 mm.
- How many stringers does a drum pallet need?
- Four stringers are a common starting point for a 48 x 48 in drum pallet, because they put support closer under each drum. Confirm the design for your drum weight and rack span.
- Do chemical pallets need heat treatment?
- Wood pallets that ship internationally need ISPM 15 treatment and marking, usually heat treatment (HT). Domestic shipments only need it if the customer asks.