Wire decking is one of the most common pallet rack accessories, and one of the most misunderstood. Some warehouse operators think it is always required. Others never use it and are out of compliance without knowing it.
The truth is that wire decking is sometimes required by fire code, sometimes required for safety, and sometimes just a practical convenience. Here is how to tell which situation you are in.
When Fire Code Requires Wire Decking
In Clark County, the fire code requires that sprinkler water be able to penetrate through rack storage levels to reach lower levels during a fire. Solid shelving blocks this. Wire decking allows it.
If your rack system is in a building with a fire sprinkler system (which is virtually every commercial warehouse in Las Vegas), you need open storage surfaces that allow water penetration. Wire decking is the standard solution. Solid steel shelves, plywood, or particleboard block sprinkler water and violate fire code in most high-pile storage configurations.
When Safety Makes Wire Decking Essential
Even when fire code does not strictly require it, wire decking is a safety improvement in several situations:
- Broken or non-standard pallets: If pallets in your operation are inconsistent in size or condition, wire decking provides a safety net that prevents product from falling through the beam opening if a pallet board breaks.
- Non-palletized loads: Boxes, cartons, or loose items stored on beams without a deck can fall through to the level below. Wire decking creates a shelf surface.
- Overhead storage above work areas: Any rack level above where people walk or work should have wire decking to prevent items from falling through.
- Mixed pallet sizes: If you store both 48x40 and 42x48 pallets on the same beams, the smaller pallets may not span the full beam opening. Wire decking prevents them from tipping or falling through.
Wire Deck Load Ratings Explained
Wire decks are rated by their uniform distributed load (UDL) capacity, which is the total weight the deck can support when the load is evenly distributed across the entire surface. Common ratings:
- Standard duty: 2,000 to 2,500 lbs UDL. Suitable for most palletized storage where the pallets themselves distribute the load.
- Heavy duty: 2,500 to 3,500 lbs UDL. For heavier products or situations where loads are concentrated in the center of the deck.
- Extra heavy duty: 3,500+ lbs UDL. For non-palletized heavy items or extremely dense products.
Waterfall vs. Flared Channel vs. Inside Waterfall
Wire decks come in three main styles based on how they sit on the beam:
- Waterfall: The most common style. The front and back edges of the deck bend down over the beam face, hooking the deck in place by gravity. Easy to install and remove.
- Flared channel: A steel channel welded to the underside of the deck rests on top of the beam. Provides a flatter top surface and more consistent seating.
- Inside waterfall: The edges drop down inside the beam pair instead of over the outside face. Used when you need the deck surface flush with the top of the beam.
How to Size Wire Decking
Wire decks are sized by the beam depth (front to back) and the clear opening between uprights (side to side). The two most common sizes in standard selective rack:
- 42 inches deep by 46 inches wide: Fits 8-foot bays (96-inch beams with standard 3-inch upright width).
- 42 inches deep by 52 inches wide: Fits 9-foot bays (108-inch beams).
- Non-standard sizes are available for deeper beams, narrower bays, or specialty configurations.
Wire Decking Is Not a Shelf
One thing to understand: wire decking is designed to support pallets, not to turn your pallet rack into shelving. If you need to store small, loose items directly on the deck surface without pallets, items will fall through the wire gaps. For that application, you want either a solid steel shelf panel, a corrugated steel deck, or at minimum a wire deck with a tighter mesh pattern.
Get Wire Decking with Your Rack Install
We include wire decking in our rack installation quotes when the fire code or your application requires it. If you are adding decking to an existing system, we carry standard sizes in stock and can source non-standard sizes with a short lead time.
Call us at (702) 734-8848 or fill out the form below to get pricing on wire decking for your system.