Pallet racks are commonly used in warehouses to store items and optimize material stacking for safe and easy access. Despite this, not all warehouse owners take the procedures to guarantee that their facilities are safe to use. Pallet racking, as opposed to stacking pallets one on top of the other, is a terrific way to improve the organization and storage capacity of your warehouse by utilizing vertical space.

However, you must keep your racks in good shape and do frequent inspections to protect the safety of your personnel and merchandise. You could make an expensive error and jeopardize warehouse safety if you don't conduct sufficient due diligence.

Avoid these typical blunders to avoid unfavorable outcomes.

1. Ignoring routine inspections

Rack inspection is an essential aspect of warehouse upkeep. Competent warehouse personnel should perform at least monthly rack inspections, besides a yearly inspection by a third-party expert business, according to safety regulations. While some faults are apparent, such as bent bracing or a twisted column, others may require the help of a racking expert. Some problems may appear innocuous initially, but they can deteriorate with time and lead to unfavorable outcomes. Rack failure can have serious effects, ranging from equipment and inventory damage to human life loss. An inspector inspects your racks for damage, clearances, and potential fire dangers, as well as makes sure the load capacity placards or plaques are properly displayed. This last one makes it considerably easier for the warehouse's many operators to avoid overcrowding.

2. Allowing rack damage to build-up

Repeated impacts on a racking system can cause disastrous effects. Once a rack component has been damaged, it may no longer be capable of carrying the load it was designed to bear. While there are many types of rack damage, the frame does not have to be significantly damaged to make up for a safety hazard. If rapid repair is not possible and the damage poses a safety risk, the racking should be unloaded and appropriately labeled to prevent future use until the repairs are done. Proper personnel training and the installation of safety measures in crucial warehouse locations are two ways to avoid these damages.

3. Making "do-it-yourself" fixes

Repairing warehouse racking systems "at home" is not suggested unless a certified welder does it under the supervision of an engineer who has approved the procedure. When completing these repairs, several standards and risk concerns must be addressed and respected, making approval extremely difficult. When completing these repairs, there are many standards and risk concerns that must be examined and respected, making approval extremely difficult.

4. Do Not use an anchor for your racking systems.

Anchors are necessary for a rack structure's stability. At the base of the columns, they provide resistance to uplift and horizontal displacements. One must fasten every rack with at least one anchor per column or more, depending on the manufacturer's design, according to the ANSI/RMI MH16.1. When handling merchandise or accidentally damaging the system, a forklift can lift an unanchored pallet rack.

5. Not using the rack as it should be

While they may tempt you to use your storage racking to store a variety of items, most racks are built to handle pallet loads uniformly dispersed across two beams. Using upright braces to support the item, for example, may cause damage. It's also worth noting that the rack's load capacity is computed using a certain beam configuration. Attaching new objects to your systems (for example, tools, rack replacement parts, and merchandise) adds a load that was not considered in the initial calculation, thus increasing the chance of failure.

Conclusion-

We at 13SQFT.COM understand that selecting the correct racking system for your warehouse can be difficult, and we're here to assist you. Reach out to us and we'll be pleased to walk you through our collection of racking and shelving systems to discover the ideal solution for your storage needs.