It’s hard to imagine that a pallet in Dallas could be the source of controversy, but it seems like in today’s world, any ordinary object could be the start of a debate. First, it’s important to understand that most pallets are made of one of three materials. Those materials are wood, plastic and a wood-plastic composite. Each of these materials has advantages and disadvantages.
Wood
A wood pallet from a supplier such as Crate Master costs significantly less than the other versions. They are very strong and sturdy, and can easily be fixed if a piece of the wood breaks. These devices provide better traction than plastic. They are considered more environmentally friendly because they are made from a renewable resource. In contrast, plastic is made from oil.
Plastic
Plastic pallets are lighter than wood, which is advantageous in many situations. They also are thinner and take up less space. They are easier to keep clean than wood pallets are and can be washed with chlorine solutions. Plastic is not attractive to insects and is not as susceptible to mildew growth.
Composite Material
A pallet in Dallas made from a combination of wood fiber and plastic is lighter than a full-wood pallet but retains much of the strength of wood. They can support heavy loads that full plastic pallets cannot, as the plastic starts to bend. As with full-plastic pallets, these devices can be cleaned more easily and are resistant to unwanted bugs and other organisms.
The Controversy
The conflict over composite pallets has developed because regulating organizations have proposed that warehouses with these devices should have a fire prevention system in place that would be required with all-plastic pallets. It would cost businesses a considerable amount of extra money to upgrade fire prevention systems in this manner.
Although a large amount of wood in a building can certainly be considered a fire hazard, plastic resin actually can cause a more serious fire because of how it ignites and burns. Some types of plastic flow like lava. However, others break down like wood does when burning. This type of plastic is safer in regard to fire concerns.
