Industrial pallet racking isn’t just a matter of putting up some really big shelves. The racks have to be of the highest standards when it comes to strength and also very stable.
The longer a shelf is, the greater the torque on the attachments holding the shelf in place can be. The more likely it is that weak bolts and screws will fail, and because there may be a long stretch of unsupported shelf, it’s also more likely that this will buckle under the load. For these reasons it’s a good idea to build pallet shelves that are continuously supported by a network of struts rather than arranged like a giant bookshelf.
The materials used must also be of the highest quality. A structure that is strong but light in weight is ideal both for ease of construction. Anyone racking pallets must make sure they are aware of the load limits of the storage system and that these are not exceeded at any time. All pallets are heavy but there is a big difference between a pallet of socks and a pallet of bricks.
The taller a rack is (and some pallet racks in warehouses and factories need to be very tall) the less stable it will be. If the structure isn’t 100% rigid even a small wobble can bring the whole thing crashing down, with disastrous consequences. A well-designed support structure helps here as well. It’s also essential that any heavy duty shelving is properly secured. Pallet racks with more than one or two layers should be firmly fixed to the floor for safety reasons.
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