Rack deck provides several benefits and is now required by many cities for safety purposes.  Rack decks are used to prevent product from falling through racks and injuring employees and damaging product.  City and County Fire Departments also require a decking alternative in lieu of wood boards which restrict the flow of water from sprinkler systems.  City and County Fire Departments mandate that support materials used on storage racks allow for sufficient water flow.  There are specialized deck options which meet NFPA 13 standards and can be treated as "open rack" which can significantly decrease sprinkler requirements and lower insurance premiums.  Rack decks can help increase productivity by creating smooth surfaces for easy sliding, loading and unloading of product.