Logical storage solutions blog

How to prevent a pallet racking collapse

The ramifications that come with a pallet racking collapse can be drastic. A collapse can cause costly damage to stock and other company property. It can also bring business to a standstill and could cause serious injuries or even fatalities. Here is how to prevent a pallet racking collapse.

The majority of incidents where pallet racking has collapsed have occurred as a result of bad practice, poor quality racking, or improperly maintained racking. Meaning these collapses could have been prevented.

In this article, we are going to explore some of the reasons why pallet racking collapses and the associated risks. We will also be giving you advice on some of the measures you can take to try and prevent a racking collapse from happening and causing significant damage or injury.

What are the risks of a pallet racking collapse?

A collapse poses a great number of risks that can be very costly to a business. Whether it be in time or money or reputation.

Loss of stock due to damage caused by a collapse is one of the most common associated risks. Not only can it be costly to replace the stock, but it can also cause a delay in manufacturing products or processing orders which will inevitably harm business.

A racking collapse can also cause injury to nearby workers or visitors, and these can be severe. The worst-case scenario is that a pallet racking collapse causes fatalities, and sadly this has been the case in some instances.

Businesses may also be subject to fines if they are found to have failed to keep working equipment in safe and working order, and they could even be prosecuted.

These are just some of the reasons why you must do everything you can to prevent a pallet racking collapse. Read on to find out some of the most common causes of racking collapses, and what can be done to prevent them.

What causes a racking collapse and how can it be prevented?

Cause: forklift truck collision

Forklift trucks are likely to be operated around pallet racking, and so there is a chance that a collision may occur. When racking is struck by a forklift truck, it may immediately collapse or cause damage that later results in collapse.

Preventative measure: generous aisle space

Utilising space as best as possible is a key objective in warehouses, but safety should be of the utmost importance. By leaving generous aisle space, forklift trucks will have more room to manoeuvre around and will be less likely to hit the racking.

You must always follow minimum aisle space guidelines provided by the forklift truck manufacturers to ensure adequate room is left for the forklifts to move around with ease.

Preventative measure: install rack protection

A cost-effective and simple way of protecting your racks is to install rack protection. The most vulnerable areas of racking systems are typically the end frames and corner columns.
You can strengthen these areas by adding bolted steel, floor-anchored, button-on, or poly snap-on rack protection.

Cause: overloading

Overloading is one of the most common causes of pallet collapses. If you put more on the racking than it is specified to withstand, this can have a negative impact on its structural integrity. It can cause the racking to become unstable and collapse.

Preventative measure: do not overload

You must follow the guidelines and weight restrictions of your particular racking set-up.

It is also important to note that a beams capacity is per pair not per beam. Their capacity also depends on the load being evenly distributed. This changes depending on whether you use decking or place pallets directly on the beams.

Cause: poor design

Racks should be tailor-made to cater to suit individual requirements. Their design should be dependent on the load’s size, weight, and density. If racking is not designed properly, bearing these factors in mind, this can be the cause of a collapse.

Preventative measure: seek professional advice

Ensure the racking system you have in place is fit for purpose, by enlisting a professional to come out and take a look at it. If you do not yet have racking, make sure that you use a reliable company to design and build your racking.

With 10 years of experience in engineering tailored storage solutions, you can trust Logical Storage Solutions to deliver a bespoke racking solution that is safe and meets your requirements. We have worked with some of the nation’s largest and most trusted brands, including IKEA, Amazon, DHL, and Tesco.

If you would like to find out more about our range of tailor-made storage solutions, please call 0845 689 1300 to discuss your requirements with a member of our expert team.