While pallet racking is the most common form of industrial shelving utilized in warehouse operations today, the construction of the storage system remains a complex job. That’s why it’s always best to leave the duties to trained and qualified installers to ensure that your storage system is put together safely and securely. That doesn’t mean, though, that it isn’t a good idea to have a solid understanding of what goes into constructing the storage system, even if you are going to leave the job in the hands of third-party professionals.

Know the Available Space in Your Facility

Making the most efficient use of the available space in your facility is absolutely key for a great pallet rack system design, making it essential to take accurate measurements of your entire facility before beginning the phase. Having accurate measurements of not only the length and width of your warehouse floor space, but also height measurements, will enable you to have a clear understanding of how many rows of pallet racking you will be able to construct within your facility.

Install on a Level Surface

It is imperative to construct a pallet rack system on a level surface, but, believe it or not, that can take some tweaking to make happen. Oftentimes, concrete floor in a warehouse can be uneven in places. The structural integrity of the overall pallet racking system can be severely compromised if it is constructed on an uneven surface. It is important to use a carpenter’s level across the floor in order to make sure that the surface is level. Shims can be used in spots where the surface is uneven in order to make the area flat.

Fasten All Columns to the Floor

Making sure that all components of the racking system are firmly fastened together during construction goes without saying. However, you also need to make sure to securely fasten all columns of a pallet rack system to the facility floor. This helps to enhance the overall structural stability of the system and keep it in place.

Maintain Adequate Spacing and Clearances

Most material handling equipment used for loading and unloading pallets on a racking system, such as industrial forklifts, need ample room to maneuver. Serious damage can occur to the pallet rack system in a collision with an industrial vehicle, even if common accessories such as rack guards and post protectors are used. So, it’s important to leave adequate space between rows and pallet racking. And, don’t forget to leave adequate clearances as well. You should never have an impediment crossing between rows of pallet racking that is lower than the highest storage bay.

Don’t Mix Parts

While many pallet racking components may look similar, they do vary in design, even those from the same company. Manufacturers regularly modify designs in order to improve performance. These minor differences can affect safety, which is why it’s smart to never mix new and existing parts, or mix parts between manufacturers. Also, you should never cut, weld, or modify parts in an effort to avoid making a purchase of the parts that are required. Trying to save a few bucks that way could compromise the structural integrity of the entire pallet racking system, and that could cost a whole lot more in the future.

Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving, and his work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites.

Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving, and his work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites. http://www.aceshelf.com/

Author Bio: Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving, and his work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites.

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