Although both wooden and plastic pallets burn, the latter are considered to be a greater fire threat to warehouses. As a result, the National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) requires facilities that use plastic pallets to meet a more stringent fire safety code than warehouses that only handle wooden pallets. Now, however, the NFPA is considering proposals that would require facilities using plastic pallets to meet two-class upgrade to the safety standard instead of the current one-class upgrade.

Not waiting for the NFPA to make their decision in May, manufacturers are moving to improve the fire resistance of plastic pallets. Last year, for example, Cookson Plastic Molding, now a division of ORBIS Corp. (www.orbispallets.com), introduced plastic pallets that meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) guidelines for increased fire resistance.

The newest plastic pallets that meet UL guidelines were introduced in January by Rehrig Pacific (www.rehrigpacific.com). Fire ratings for the new products, which have been issued in five separate footprints ranging from 37 x 37 inches to 48 x 40 inches, are similar to ratings for wooden pallets.

To determine their burn factors, 144-inch high stacks of the new pallets were set ablaze. That test was a success, according to Trent Overholt, senior manager for new product development at Rehrig Pacific. "Viewed in the eyes of inspectors, these are seen as equivalent or better than wooden pallets," he says.

Overholt says that although these new pallets are more expensive than the average plastic pallet, they cost less than other UL-listed pallet products on the market. And they are less expensive than the alternative replacing the sprinkler system."