If you are in the warehousing industry it is essential that you know the difference in your decks. As you will know, the beams on your racking system can hold a large amount of weight. However, you will often need the extra support to ensure the safety of your goods and operatives. This is where wire and wooden deck come into fruition.
The two most common types of decking are wire mesh and timber. But what is the difference between them, and which one is better suited to your warehouse?
Do you need wooden or wire decks on your racking system?
Decking is a vital part of a pallet racking system. It is designed to create an infill between the beams to prevent items or pallets falling. This also massively reduces the risk of broken pallets or in-correct loading of bays causing damage to products or operatives.
What are timber decks?
There are two types of styles that are available for the wooden decks:
Closed decks are solid panels of wood which means no small items will fall through. These are ideal for storing lightweight items but become problematic when storing heavier, palletised goods. They are commonly made from chip board which is cheap but will damage easily and require regular replacements.
Open decks are created from slats of wood that are formed into a deck and positioned over the beams to create a stable level for storing pallets. They do offer a strong solution, however, there are many downfalls to them which makes them a less effective method for storing your goods.
Why are wire mesh decks a better alternative?
Wire mesh decks are created from steel wire that is welded in a grid fashion that creates the mesh style. These are then supported using steel support bars that are pressed into a shape that offer a great amount of support. At QTS, our easySHELF™ stock decks are designed with 4mm steel wire with 3 support bars which can support up to 1,000kgs. We do have the ability to offer totally bespoke solutions that can hold much higher amounts of weight. This is done by increasing the steel parameters or adding support bars.
Historically timber decks were the cheap alternatives to wire mesh. Current macroenvironmental situations have dictated the price of both materials. However, recently timber price has increased exponentially making them more expensive than the steel alternatives.
The key benefits of wire mesh decks over the wooden alternative are:
- Steel is notorious for its strength, and this is for the right reasons. QTS are proud British manufacturers and only source our steel from reputable UK and EU sources. This means we are getting the highest quality materials possible and not using the weaker alloys that come from the far east.
- Wire decking is preferred by insurance companies as it allows smoke to rise easier. This means fire detection and prevention systems pick up the potential danger earlier which will minimise damage.
- Dust build-up is a major issue with timber decking. This means that there is a high level of maintenance required to ensure that the warehouse doesn’t become a hygiene issue.
- Wooden decking is not suited to log periods of outdoor exposure. Wooden decks become weak under damp conditions. Wire mesh can be hot-dipped galvanised to create an extremely durable deck in both cold and damp conditions.
If you have always used timber decks, I hope you can see the benefits that wire mesh decking can offer you. Our sales team are always on hand to give you a quote; get in touch here.