DRUMS
Pallets for drums and IBC totes
Drums and IBC totes sit best on a square pallet with a stiff deck: 48 x 48 in a block build is the usual answer. A stretched 48 x 40 leaves the load overhanging one side and gapped on the other.
01 Why square
A round drum rests on its rim. If the rim sits over a gap between boards, the load transfers to the edges of the boards instead of the stringers. A square deck lets you arrange drums in a tight pattern that stays inside the pallet edges.
02 Checklist
- Square footprint.
- Block build, so the deck stays flat under weight.
- Solid or nearly solid deck coverage.
- Four-way entry.
- Rating stated for the full weight, not the average.
- Rack beam depth checked.
03 Totes
An IBC tote has a square base and a metal cage, and it sits on feet or a skirt that spread its weight along two or four lines. A block pallet with a stiff deck takes that weight across the blocks. A tote shifting on a springy deck rubs its base and loosens fittings.
04 In the region
The Ohio valley's chemical and resin plants and the coatings and gas operations around Cranberry and Leetsdale are where this load is most common. Read the chemicals and resin page for what is known about those areas.
05 What to put on the request
| Line | Example |
|---|---|
| Size | 48 x 48 |
| Build | Block, four-way |
| Load | Four drums, racked |
| Weight | Per pallet, loaded |
| Rack | Beam depth in inches |
06 What to measure
- Drum or tote diameter and footprint.
- Filled weight, not the empty weight.
- Number per pallet and number of layers.
- Whether a spill containment pallet is required.
07 Containment
Some sites need a pallet with a catch basin built in to hold a leak. These are usually plastic or steel, not wood, and are a separate purchase.
08 Drum pallets in the size rankings
PHS lists 48 x 48 inches third among North American sizes, with drums as the main use, and 44 x 44 inches eighth, used for drums and chemicals. Its heavy-duty IPPC pallet, about 44 x 48 inches, carries three 4 x 3 inch stringers under a 30 mm plywood deck and weighs about 135 lb. Spill pallets are a separate product.
09 Square footprints against tipping
PHS says square or nearly square pallets resist load tipping better. A 48 x 48 gives 2,304 square inches (16.0 square feet) of deck, against 1,920 for a 48 x 40. For round drums, the extra 384 square inches is the difference between a four-drum square and an overhanging row.
Q Questions
Do totes need a different pallet from drums?
Both prefer a square, stiff deck. A tote's feet or skirt sets how the load lands on the blocks.
Do drums need a closed deck?
Closed or near-closed decks keep a drum level.
Src Sources
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