While one of the benefits to storing product on pallet rack is the increased inventory density achieved by using the overhead space of a facility, what goes up must come down. Although gravity may be an unstoppable force, it is possible to significantly minimize the risk of products or pallets falling from rack. Implementing one or more rack accessories also maximizes the safety of personnel and equipment operating in the area maximized.
Available Rack Accessories
RMI’s publication, “Considerations for the Planning and Use of Industrial Steel Storage Racks,” covers three different types of rack accessories. Adding these devices to a new or existing rack structure reduces the risk of falling pallets or merchandise. They include:
Load Supports Under the Pallet
To help keep pallet loads from falling through or between load beams upon which they rest, a variety of shelf-style containment accessories are available. They include drop-in, roll-in or snap-in crossbars (also called pallet support bars or safety bars); welded-wire rack decking; spaced wood boards; spaced metal channels, angles or plates; solid wood or perforated metal decking.
Placement Guides
To prevent pallet loads from falling off the back or sides of the rack during placement of the load into the storage system, side entry guides and load stops with set-back distances—including horizontal load stop beams, vertical column load stops and load position stops—physically block the load from advancing beyond a certain distance within the racking.
Barriers or Netting
To prevent loose products from sliding, overturning or toppling off a rack—particularly where rack is adjacent to walking aisles, loads are stored over work areas, or aisles or in warehouse stores open to the public—frame accessories such as flexible woven netting or rigid steel mesh barriers are attached to the rack system to prevent loads from falling and injuring people.
Load Containment Is Essential
Further, utilize proper load containment techniques to secure cartons or items on pallets. These techniques include applying stretch-wrap, shrink-wrap, banding, or integral-box pallets. Load containment is particularly critical for loads in storage racking. In high seismic areas especially, wrap loads in a manner that permits tilting the pallet 20 degrees without product falling off.
Get more information and details about the different types of rack accessories in RMI’s publication, “Considerations for the Planning and Use of Industrial Steel Storage Racks.”
