For anyone who owns a warehouse, it is important to ensure you are aware of the differences between your longspan racking and your cantilever racking. Warehouse racking and warehouse shelving comes in many different shapes and sizes. In order to be sure you are running a safe and profitable warehouse, you need to be certain that you know about these different forms.

Warehouse Racking

The terms warehouse shelving and warehouse racking are often used synonymously. Warehouse shelving is quite commonly a reference to smaller storage systems, whereas warehouse racking is used to describe larger systems.

Regardless, HSE describes it better. According to HSG 76, warehouse racking is defined as “a skeletal framework, of fixed or adjustable design, to support loads generally without the use of shelves.” This suggests that a warehouse storage system which uses shelves is classes as warehouse shelving, whereas any other kind of warehouse storage system is classed as warehouse racking.

HSE does go on to say, however, that some racking systems may contain shelves as well, hence the generalisation of “without the use of shelves”. This can cause some confusion, which is probably why they are commonly referred to synonymously. This week we will be looking at the different kinds of warehouse shelving and warehouse racking to help make sense of it all.

Long span Shelving

Long span warehouse shelving is the most popular kind of warehouse shelving. This type of shelving is rather basic and versatile. It consists of a flat, long shelf of wood or metal with a metal skeleton to keep it held together.

Longspan warehouse shelving can be modified with extension bars for the purpose of adding more height to the system, or with galvanised shelves for refrigerated storage. However, any form of shelving or racking installation must be done by a certified professional or someone else who is qualified. It’s also important to ensure that any modification doesn’t breach the end user agreement or void the storage equipment manufacturer or producers guarantee.

Tyre Racking

Also known as tyre shelving, despite not having any shelves, this system is designed in a way which makes it inconvenient for most forms of storage, but extremely convenient for other kinds. If you store tyres in your warehouse then it’s best to invest in tyre racking systems. It’s the safest, easiest and most efficient way to store tyres in the warehouse.

Clothing System

Just as tyres require their own storage solution, so do clothes. It may be that your clothes are folded away in boxes, which means you will do just fine with longspan shelving or pallet racking. However, for hanging clothes, there are specific systems available.

Adjustable pallet racking

If long span racking is the most popular shelving system, then adjustable pallet racking is the most popular racking system. Adjustable pallet racking uses pallets that can be adjusted vertically, as opposed to using shelves. This allows for a wide variety of storage solutions.

Of course, sometimes you need more than a generic system. This is why cantilever racking and other types of storage systems exist. Regardless, for a business which holds a wide variety of items, pallet racking systems remain as popular as ever.

Mezzanine Racking System

A mezzanine racking system is a storage system designed for staff to be able to climb in a certain way with stairs and walkways. This is the only climbable racking system available, which is why it comes with such strict guidelines regarding the capacity of load-bearing.

Drive-Through Racking

For warehouses that rely on forklifts or any other kinds of vehicles, drive-through racking is a great option. It’s designed to allow for the safe passage of vehicles, but this doesn’t mean that drivers needn’t take extra care when operating a vehicle in a warehouse.

This means that rack protectors should be used correctly, as outlined in HSE HSG 76, by only using them as a last resort, meaning to also refer to the Lifting operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.

All racking systems are basically variations on a pallet racking system. The most distinctive exception to this is a cantilever system, which is designed with arms instead of pallets. The result is to store long, thin items in a much more efficient way than a pallet racking system could.

If you are looking to optimise your warehouse racking or warehouse shelving then contact Monarch today for more information.