There are many considerations to be taken into effect when it comes to investing in pallet racking for your warehouse. Some may slip under the radar of thought whilst others are more obvious such as why you may need industrial pallet racks.

However, for those undertaking this implementation into their warehouse, these are the questions that you need to know the answers to avoid jeopardising the safety and security of products, operations and workforce.

Are They Floor Bolted?

All pallet racking systems are required to be anchored or secured to the floor by the use of bolts. This relates to aisle columns, the exterior and interior of frames also.

They will require a base plate along with industry-standard bolts that meet the requirements for quality and durability. They are all required to make your racks sturdy and upright. The anchor bolts and base plate work to ensure your racks are fully safeguarded from base level threats ranging from a forklift collision to an earthquake should they occur, keeping your safety to a maximum.

Flooring

Naturally, when it comes to the type of flooring you have within your warehouse structure, it can play into the type of system being installed.

Generally, pallet racking would be anchored to concrete via the use of specialist tools such as wedge and strike anchors.  Before anchoring you will need to ensure that it can withstand the weight of the system as well as the pressure. To do this you need to consider the size of the hole in the baseplate, vibrations within the area, flooring material thickness and levelness, as well as mechanical features of the flooring material.

At all times a qualified engineer should be at hand to recommend the appropriate anchoring means, especially when it comes to anchoring in compromised areas.

Regular Inspection and Maintenance

Ideally, regular inspection should be done to all pallet racking systems by a qualified engineer, especially in regards to repairs or changes to the storage system.

Due to their everyday use, storage racks need to be checked and inspected periodically to highlight any damage or wear and tear of its structure. Whenever an incident happens in connection with any pallet racking, it needs to be flagged for an inspection to reduce any potential fatalities.

Business owners should set their inspection schedule around their use frequency, fully documenting all inspections and results from it.

By undertaking the correct protocols for pallet racking systems you are reinforcing your businesses speed, performance and efficiency, optimizing your warehouse operations and providing a safer environment for the workforce and product.

Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today for any questions related to industrial pallet racks and commercial shelving needs.