Practical Methods Applied for Pallet Racking Safety and Maintenance
Typically speaking, pallet racking systems are designed to
withstand years of usage and applications, but they are not
indestructible so that incorrect operations, accidental collision
or even daily wear may cause damage to them, leading to collapse
eventually.
Therefore, in order to maximize the service life of your racking
systems, avoid costly system reconfiguration, and ensure the safety
of workers and cargoes in the warehouse, periodic inspection and
maintenance are important and necessary.
| Name | Warehouse rack | Material | Steel |
| Shelf levels | 2~15 tiers per shelving unit | Color | (RAL Code) Green, Orange, Blue, Yellow, Etc. |
| Upright Frame Height | 2500mm~15000mm | Weight Capacity | 500~3000kg per level |
| Beam Width | 1000mm~3900mm | Depth | 700mm~1500mm |
| Finish | Epoxy Powder Coated for corrosion prevention |
| Usage | Cargos Storage |
| Package | Plastic stretch film, corrugated paper, Cartons, wooden bars,
crates, and metal strips, etc. |
| Accessories | Bolts and nuts, Upright protectors, decks, etc. |
| Certification | RMI/AS4084-2012 /CE/ ISO9001 |
| Delivery time | 7~25 days as per order quantity |
| Assembly & installation | Detailed assembly instructions are available
|
Usually, routine pallet rack safety inspection and maintenance go
ahead from the following aspects:
- Employ A Professional Engineer
Besides day-to-day inspections conducted by workers, it is a
farseeing choice to involve a professional rack engineer into the
periodic inspection. As an expert in racking systems, he is able to
find some subtle problems which may be ignored by a non-engineer.
In addition, any reconfiguration or modification must be identified
by an experienced engineer before put into practice.
- Protect from Rust and Corrosion
Pallet racking systems can be placed either indoors or outdoors. In
this case, racks may be exposed in damp warehouse or in the sun.
Because of the influence of the environment or manual operation,
racks may get rusty and corrosive although they are powder coated
on the surface. If a rusty beam or upright is founded, it is better
to consult a professional engineer how to deal with it. Derust and
spay paint again at once, or change for a new one.
Safety accessories are cost-effective for maintaining pallet rack
systems. Compared with hitting racks directly, colliding with
safety accessories is more affordable. Upright protector and guard
rail are common accessories used in racking systems protecting
racks against collision efficiently. When it is time to review the
system, inspection for accessories is also indispensable. Damaged
accessories should be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.
- Check for Levelness and Verticality
It is an extremely critical rule for pallet rack systems that beams
should be horizontal and uprights should be vertical. Of course,
there can be a minor error. For beams, they shouldn't bow more than
1/180th of their total length. And for uprights, the maximum gap
between the upright and straight edge shouldn’t more than 1/1000th
of their height. Once deflection emerges, you should examine the
whole system carefully to find the reason and make repair or
replacement immediately.
Search for damages including scrapes, dents, twists and rusty parts
on racks. No matter how inconspicuous a flaw is, it should attract
enough attention. Damaged racks are supposed to be fixed or
substituted.
The load capacity of beams is regulated and limited. Carrying
overweight pallets will cause bend to beams, leaving safety risks
for the system. Thus, the weight of goods placed on racks must
within their load capacity. Besides, there is a principle for
storage: bottom layers for heavy goods, upper layers for light
goods.
There are some dos and don’ts for the storage and retrieval of
goods in different racking systems. They should be remembered and
followed by staffs working in warehouse so as to reduce damage to
racks and the possibility of accidents.
