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www.palletcentral.com Guide to the Pallet Design System© (PDS) provides complete details on pallet design,
dimensions of all components, and specs for
Pallet Specification Sheet all materials used in construction.
Customer: identifies company for whom PDS design work PDS can use either U.S. Customary Units (inches, lbs)
or S.I. Units (mm, kg)
was performed.
Pallet ID: identification of this particular pallet design, chosen Prepared by: identifies company licensed to use PDS and
by Customer or Preparer. perform PDS design work. The Preparer understands the
importance of correct pallet specification and construction and
Drawing Number, Specification Date, and Revision Info: the effect on the pallet’s ability to protect and safely support
optional information to identify this particular specification. Customer’s product during transport and storage.
Customer: identifies company for whom PDS design work PDS can use either U.S. Customary Units (inches, lbs)
was performed. or S.I. Units (mm, kg)
Span is the distance between the supports in a rack system Maximum Load for Deflection Limit: If a Deflection Limit is
or a conveyor. specified, PDS will report the safe load to maintain this
deflection limit if less than the safe load limited by pallet
strength.
Racked Across Width indicates the pallet is supported only
at its edges, either in a rack system or conveyor.
User Specified Deflection Limit: If there is a known limit to
Shelf Support indicates the pallet is completely supported by how much pallet deflection can be tolerated in a handling
rigid shelving within a rack system. system, either because of a fragile product on a pallet or
deflection-sensitive handling equipment, this User-Specified
Deflection Limit can be input.
Forklift Support indicates the pallet is lifted and transported
while supported under the top deck by rigid forktines. Unlike
other storage support conditions, Forklift Support is assumed
to be a short-term loading. If Weight of Actual Load was specified, PDS will display any
Safe Maximum Load or Maximum Load for Deflection Limit
less than the Actual Load in red.
Stacked Support assumes the floor supports the bottom
pallet in a stack. A Stacked 1 High Analysis will always be
provided. PDS can analyze the pallet when 2 or more Unit
Loads are in a Stack, either in the warehouse or in shipping.
The lowermost pallet has the highest stressed top deck. The
second pallet up has the highest stressed bottom deck.
PDS indicates which deck limits the safe load capacity.
Lateral Collapse Resistance: Lateral Collapse is a failure mode in stringer pallets PDS estimates the H/V Ratio, the ratio of Horizontal to Vertical Force The Lateral Collapse Resistance is indicated on a graphical scale, with Low, Medium,
characterized by lateral movement of the top vs. bottom deck, rotational failure of all required to cause Lateral Collapse. The Vertical Force is equal to the Good, and Excellent ranges. The Low range includes H/V Ratios <= .6. The Medium
stringer-deck connections, and collapse of stringers onto their sides. Handling weight on the pallet. The handling environment supplies the Horizontal range includes H/V Ratios between .61 and .99. The Good range includes H/V Ratios
equipment can no longer enter the pallet and product damage is likely. Lateral Collapse Force, either due to motion of the load during transit or mishandling by between 1.0 and 2.5. The Excellent range includes H/V Ratios >= 2.51.
most frequently occurs during shipping when horizontal forces cause lateral movement forklift. The greater the H/V Ratio, the greater the Lateral Collapse
and/or shifting of the load perpendicular to the stringers. Forces during handling of the Resistance. Multiple-Use pallets should have Good or Excellent Lateral Collapse Resistance.
pallet can also cause Lateral Collapse. Limited-Use pallets may serve satisfactorily with Medium Lateral Collapse Resistance,
but should be handled carefully. Pallets with Low Lateral Collapse Resistance are likely
to have Lateral Collapse failures.
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association The PDS Pallet Durability Analysis
www.palletcentral.com Guide to the Pallet Design System© (PDS) uses a computer simulation coupled
with an engineering analysis to
Pallet Durability Analysis predict the Service Life, in terms of
Handling Cycles, for the pallet
described on the Pallet Specification
Sheet under the Service
Environment Conditions defined on
this Pallet Durability Analysis sheet.
The following assumptions regarding component repairs and replacements are used in the simulation and Pallet Service Life Analysis:
• Connections in boards can be repaired once without having to replace the board. A repaired connection is restored to 65% of its original damage resistance. In boards, only repairs to connections are allowed.
• A replaced board is restored to 100% of its original damage resistance, but its connections lose 10% with each replacement.
• The number of times a board can be replaced depends on the stringer width: boards can be replaced twice for stringer widths of 1.5 to 2 inches, once if stringer width is less than 1.5 inches, and three times
if stringer width is greater than 2 inches. The same rule applies to block widths for block pallets.
• Stringers can be repaired twice without having to be replaced. They are restored to 65% of their original damage resistance when repaired, 100% when replaced. Stringers can be replaced one time.
• In the Handling Cycle Simulation, forces and impacts are distributed equally among the number of specific components (e.g. the two Top Leadboards, or four Corner Blocks), and so the Damage Level for all
the components of that specific type will remain equal. Therefore, when a repair or replacement is required, all these specific components (eg. both the Top Leadboards or all four Corner Blocks) must be
repaired or replaced.
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association The PDS Pallet Physical Property Analysis
www.palletcentral.com Guide to the Pallet Design System© (PDS) estimates the average Pallet Weight and the
Dimensional Changes due to Wood Drying
Pallet Physical Property Analysis for the pallet described on the Pallet
Specification Sheet.
The cellular structure of wood shrinks differently in two The orientation of the cells across the width and thickness of
directions, based on the anatomy of the tree. Wood lumber components are usually a combination of the tangential and
shrinks about twice as much tangentially as radially. radial direction.
Pallet Size is listed as Length x Width. Lumber: Lumber ID plus Species, Grade, and
Moisture Content for each component group is listed.
Class: identifies
• Pallet-class (Stringer-class or Block-class)
• Deck-style (Single-Face, Double-Face Non-reversible,
or Double-Face Reversible)
• Entry-style (2-way, partial 4-way, or full 4-way) Cut List: a count for the total number of pieces of
each component size (and Lumber ID) is provided –
based on Number of Pallets to be Produced.
Pallet Treatments: identifies whether Heat Treating or
Fumigation is performed for ISPM-15 Compliance, and
whether Conditioning (Drying) of pallet is performed after
manufacture and assembly.