Over many years of use, used pallet racking systems can show signs of wear and tear or even breakages from impacts or improper installation. Sometimes they can just not be fit for more of today’s storage requirements and pose a significant risk as a result.

Not only can these systems have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of your warehouse but they also could be posing a dangerous risk to your workforce and the premises it sits within. Pallet racking needs to be extremely durable, reliable and installed correctly and maintained at all times, but that does not mean it will last forever.

Several dangers can go unnoticed with pallet racking systems, so it is important to know exactly how to identify them and replace them before things take a turn for the worst.

An approved racking inspector will be able to give you a full safety report on your older system, but there are still steps you can take to identify a problem.

Corrosion and Rust

Areas with tarnished beams, flaking paint or corrosion are a high indication of the metal of the system becoming dangerously weakened. Once a system becomes rusty, it can only continue to weaken the structure, and adding more load will make the situation worse.

It is recommended to replace the full structure with a new and reinforced system before any unwanted injuries, destroyed stock and halt of warehouse operations are caused by a system collapse.

Beam Deflection

Under heavy loads, beams will naturally begin to deflect but will disappear once the load has been lightened. If they remain deflected, this is the clearest sign that your pallet racking system is damaged and poses a major threat.

If the heavy stock continues to be loaded on a system suffering this, the risk of structural collapse is heightened and the potential hazard towards staff is much more likely. In this case, it can be a case of replacing the beam or simply replacing the entire racking system with one that is suitable for the intended weight you are stocking on them.

Regular Repair

General maintenance is required to keep pallet racking systems operating healthy and smoothly, but constant fixes are a sign that longer-term solutions should be a priority. This involves replacing the entire system.

A warehouse does not need a system that constantly needs repair, with the threat of the job needing to be repeated in short order. Money is better spent on investing in fresh racking solutions that serve for the long-term and save a lot of time and expense as a result.

Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today for all industrial storage racks and commercial shelving solutions for your business.