This list of pros and cons will help you determine the best solution for your warehouse.
You can find it advantageous to use some storage level rather than pallet storage for hand-picked goods in your warehouse. You might also want additional protection, similar to what safety bars can provide when storing your pallets to prevent products from falling. This is where decking can be useful since it allows for horizontal shelving and a broader surface between the beams to safely store pallets or hand-picked items.
There are several types of decking possibilities, but the commonly used ones are wood decking and wire mesh decking for pallet racking. Each one has its pros and cons. This article provides insight to help you choose the best option for your warehouse’s needs. Let’s start with wood!
WOOD DECKING
 Figure 1. Wood decking, closed style |
 Figure 2. Wood decking, open style |
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PROS |
CONS |
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Wood can offer an affordable solution for your decking requirements whether you are using wooden planks or plywood, . It provides a uniform surface that can easily be adapted to your specific rack type. Just make sure everything is properly held in place so the wood decking does not become a falling hazard. As always, ensure it is designed to withstand the loads placed on it. |
Because it is an organic material, wood’s properties can degrade over time: it can start rotting or it could crack due to an impact. These problems might not be immediately apparent and can give a false sense of security when loading goods. They can also cause additional hazards in the event of a fire. Why?
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If the goal of the wood decking is not to store smaller hand-picked items, you could use an open-style configuration. This option lets water, air, and light through, but makes it a bit harder to clean properly. |
Because it is a full surface, wood decking can block overhead lighting, which might compromise the visibility of items placed in the racking system. It is also more prone to accumulate and produce dirt and debris. |
WIRE MESH DECKING
 Figure 3. Outside waterfall wire mesh decking |
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PROS |
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Wire mesh decking is a reliable way to store hand-picked goods and protect certain sections of your warehouse from falling objects -in a tunnel, for example. |
The main disadvantage of using wire mesh decking is that it is more expensive than wood decking. |
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It is made of durable materials that offer a longer lifespan than wood. Most wire decking panel manufacturers provide products that respect ANSI MH26.2 2017 standards. |
Watch out for wire mesh decking on a pallet racking becoming detached from the beams (Figure 5), as it can become a falling hazard.  Figure 5. Deformed wire mesh decking |
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The openings on the pallet rack wire grid decks will allow water from the sprinklers to quickly pass through each beam level and reach products on the lower levels of your racking. This will make it easier to keep your warehouse free from fire damage. |
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It also offers better airflow and lets overhead light reach the bottom of the rack.
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Various types of wire decking panels can fit different beams, such as waterfall wire decking, flat flush wire decking, and inverted flare wire decking, just to name a few.
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Recommendations
Although the American rack design code MH16.1-2023 (RMI) does not make specific recommendations on the use of decking, Damotech recommends wire mesh decking over its wooden alternative because of the advantages listed above. In both cases, care should be taken when installing the decking so that it serves its intended use, which is preventing pallets or objects from falling.
To ensure your decking is installed correctly, always verify your rack dimensions before ordering decking: you do not want it too big or too small, as compatibility with the rack could become an issue. It is usually recommended to secure your decking to prevent it from being a falling hazard. The Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) provides the following recommendations in their website FAQ section:
“There should be a method provided to keep the decks from falling thru the beams. For decks not designed to capture the beam, an alternate securing method is recommended to prevent the deck from falling thru. Methods of securing decks include, but are not limited to, screwing, riveting or some other provision to prevent beams from spreading under load. The deck manufacturer in conjunction with the rack manufacturer can provide specific details.”
Finally, remember that your decking may be designed to support a different load than your racking system. Therefore, always make sure to properly place your pallets on both beams with a small overhang on each side. A decking’s load capacity is rated based on a uniformly distributed load, so if you were to place a large concentrated load in the middle of your decking, you could cause permanent damage to it, rendering it useless. For any questions about the conformity of your racks, contact an expert!
