We derive a decoupling formula for the Brownian sheet which has the following ready consequence: An $N$-parameter Brownian sheet in $\mathbf{R}^d$ has double points if and only if $d<4N$. In particular, in the critical case where $d=4N$, the Brownian sheet does not have double points. This answers an old problem in the folklore of the subject. We also discuss some of the geometric consequences of the mentioned decoupling, and establish a partial result concerning $k$-multiple points in the critical case $k(d-2N)=d$.