Committing to regularly performing rack inspections s is key to ensuring the safety and performance of a racking system within a facility. But how often should rack inspections be performed, and by whom?
The answer to those questions is highly situation dependent. Recognizing that every storage rack application and operation is different, RMI’s publication Considerations for the Planning and Use of Industrial Steel Storage Racks recommends only that the system owner establish and implement a program of regularly scheduled inspections, offering guidelines to determine frequency. Additionally, the guidelines call for an immediate inspection after any event that increases the likelihood of damage to the rack. These include a forklift collision or a seismic event.
Factors Affecting Frequency of Rack Inspections
At a minimum, perform rack inspections annually. A best practice rule of thumb, however, is that inspection frequency corresponds to the higher the velocity of inventory throughput, traffic, or activity in the racking. Additional factors contributing to the determination of inspection frequency include:
- Product Value. The less expensive the product stored in an area, the more likely the rack is to be damaged.
- Aisle Clearances. The narrower the aisles, the more likely material handling equipment is to impact the rack.
- Transfer Aisles. Rack rows with transfer aisles are more prone to damage.
- Previous Damage. Areas that have been damaged in the past are more likely to be damaged again.
Who Should Perform the Inspections?
Only a qualified team member who is familiar with the rack’s design and installation should perform rack inspections. The first step in the inspection is to ensure that the rack configuration and components match the original design documentation. After that confirmation, conduct damage assessments.
Additionally, it can be advantageous to engage an independent inspection professional. Team members who routinely work around a rack structure may overlook subtle signs of damage or unapproved changes to the configuration. Hiring an outside inspection service to perform an in-depth review and detailed measurements helps to ensure an unbiased evaluation.
Document Findings
Regardless of who performs the rack safety inspection, document and retain the schedule and results. Keeping them on file is helpful for future reference.
Ready to commit to a new year of regular rack inspections? More information about the inspection process can be found in RMI’s publication Considerations for the Planning and Use of Industrial Steel Storage Racks.
