Important Factors to Consider When Building a Pallet Racking System
Setting up a pallet racking system is the most efficient way to use the interior space of your warehouse. Due to the risks involved in this type of construction, however, certain government regulations, particularly the Australian Standard AS 4084-2012, have to be observed. These regulations summarise the most critical choices the contractor and owner should make during the whole pallet racking system installation process. Here are some of the aspects covered by the code and must be taken into account to ensure the success of the project.
Site
Before even starting to draft a floor plan for the pallet racking system, make sure that you’ve gathered as much information about the warehouse’s location as possible. The site’s condition may influence the decisions you will have to make as you move forward with the project. Find out to which seismic classification the location of your warehouse belongs. This data is crucial to the final design of the system. You also have to determine the capability of the existing floor to carry a fully loaded pallet racking system, as accidents can occur when the concrete suddenly sinks or cracks due to the weight.
Product
The size, capacity, and structural design of your pallet racking system depends mainly on the size, weight, and type of products you are going to load it with. Often this information is provided by the building code, itself, specifying the maximum capacity of each system classification. Your contractor will know this—they have to—but to be safe, make sure to understand it, too. This way, in the absence of building professionals, you can easily make the call to lighten up the rack’s load when necessary.
Pallet Rack
After ensuring that all regulations are followed, the concrete base is stable, and only enough amount of products will be placed on each rack, it’s time to decide what materials to use for building the pallet racking system. Again, the material specifications for pallet racking systems can be found in the AS 4084-2012. It won’t hurt, though, to not go by the book and choose an even tougher set of materials so that you can be 100 percent sure that your pallet racking system will be reliable.
Vehicles
If you are dealing with heavy load and tall racks, it is best to use forklifts to transport products inside and outside the warehouse. Forklifts are quite hardy vehicles and can easily damage the racks when they accidentally bump into them. Make sure that their drivers are licensed and have been continuing to train to be able to learn the latest vehicle design updates. Also, in creating a floor plan, you have to set aside pathways that are wide enough for the forklifts to move around conveniently.
By taking all of these factors into consideration, you build a pallet racking system that can actually last for many years. With a body made using the best materials available, you’ll have a better chance at improving the space efficiency of your warehouse, not to mention your profit and workplace safety. You can never go wrong with a company like AGAME Universal.
Sources:
PALLET RACKING FACT SHEET, safework.nsw.gov.au
