Definition
A type of engineered wood panel made from compressed layers of wood strands bonded with resin. OSB is used in pallet construction as a deck material, providing a smooth, solid load-bearing surface at lower cost than solid hardwood. OSB deck panels offer consistent thickness and are free of knots and voids. Since OSB is a processed wood product, pallets made entirely from OSB may be exempt from ISPM-15 requirements depending on the adhesive and manufacturing process.
Related Terms
Engineered Wood
Manufactured wood products created by binding strands, fibers, or veneers of wood together with adhesives to form composite materials. Examples relevant to the pallet industry include oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Engineered wood products can offer consistent properties, efficient use of raw materials, and in some cases exemption from ISPM-15 if sufficiently processed. They are increasingly used in specialty pallet applications.
Panel Deck
A pallet deck constructed from a single sheet of plywood, OSB, or other panel material rather than individual deck boards. Panel decks provide a smooth, continuous load-bearing surface with no gaps between boards, making them ideal for small items, bags, and products with irregular bottoms that could fall through spaced deck boards. Panel-deck pallets are common in export and display applications.
Solid Deck
A pallet deck constructed with no gaps between the deck boards or using a single sheet of panel material, providing a continuous flat surface. Solid-deck pallets are required for handling small items that could fall through gaps, for powdered or granular products in bags, and for clean-room and food-processing environments. They offer maximum load-bearing surface area but are heavier, more expensive, and may trap moisture compared to spaced-board decks.
Substrate
The base material from which a pallet or pallet component is manufactured. Common pallet substrates include solid wood, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), plastic, metal, and corrugated fiberboard. The substrate selection affects a pallet's weight, strength, cost, durability, environmental profile, and regulatory requirements. Each substrate offers a distinct set of advantages and limitations for different supply chain applications.
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