A Few Well-Chosen Accessories Can Reinvent a Whole Lot of Pallet Rack

Shelving options and more open up a world of storage possibilities…

While basic pallet racking consists simply of columns and beams there are a lot of affordable, easy to install, standard accessories for both structural and roll-formed selective pallet racking as well as cantilever racking that can help you easily customize and tailor your system to perform more efficiently and with greater flexibility.  For example, the standard pallet racking “shelf” is made up of only a front and rear beam and while this is perfect for pallet storage it does little good for anything differently shaped… however a little accessorizing and that storage space can be used for just about anything.

 

Here are some “off-the-shelf” shelf and rack accessories to revitalize your storage operations:

Decking is an excellent opportunity to turn pallet racking into carton/tote and/or split and open case picking systems.  A multitude of decking options exist and each with its own unique features, but generally there are three categories of decking:  Wire, perforated and solid surface.

Most people are familiar with wire mesh decking.  This decking is manufactured with welded wire and while it comes in a variety of formats for both structural and roll-formed beam attachment, the basic design provides a flat surface on which to rest pallets, cartons, totes, boxes and even bulk items like carpet, furniture and bags.  The open mesh design provides visibility between the rack layers as it allows for lighting to filter through from ceiling to floor as well as water from overhead sprinkler systems.

Wire decking is spec’d using a uniform distribution load or UDL weight assessment.  This means that the deck is designed to take a certain load weight distributed evenly across.  Additionally, since the wire deck is supported by the beams it is designed to take that UDL and transfer the weight to the beams.  If designed correctly, a wire deck can be spec’d for a point load or a smaller pallet using additional channels to support it and to help transfer the load to the beams. A point load being a concentrated load (weight) located at a certain point on a supporting structure.

Pallet supports are single front to back supports that attach to the beams for an extra level of safety in positioning and support when storing pallets (especially handy for poor condition pallets) or pallet-sized containers. Like the wire decking, pallet supports are also rated as a UDL however the support is not designed to take point loads as the pallet should also rest on the beams in the front and back.  In the case of odd sized pallets, pallet supports can increase the capacity to support these point loads.

 

Perforated or open area hole-pattern decking is another accessory option that is great for point loads or odd-sized pallets that cannot span beam to beam.  The open design allows both light and water drainage through the rack layers much like wire mesh, but it is manufactured from steel sheets so it is quite strong and it can be galvanized or powder coated to avoid corrosion.

 

B-decking panels are a sort of hybrid… it’s a solid surface decking that sits flush with the rack beam but is designed with a corrugated pattern that can be punched with small holes for drainage.  It doesn’t allow the same level of light or drainage through the rack layers as wire mesh or perforated but it can be an excellent option for product that requires a smooth flat surface that might otherwise snag or fall through open decking surfaces.  It is another great option for point loads or odd-sized pallets that cannot span beam to beam however you will need in-rack sprinklers for fire safety.  Corrugated steel decking is stronger than wood and usually less expensive.

Solid surface options can be made from laminate, steel or particle board. These products will sit flush with the top surface of the pallet rack beam to create a smooth flat surface to slide product on and off. Sizes are available to fit any standard rack and it can be attached directly to the floor to create elevated bottom-level storage. Solid surface decking does not allow light or water through however it is sometimes used as a fire stop in lower levels.

Drum cradles fit into selective pallet rack and are designed to support light coils, drums, reels and spools allowing them to be stored horizontally for easy load/unloading.

 

Pallet load stops are installed on the back beam or rear of the pallet lane.  There are several designs available depending on the type of items you will be storing but they essentially stop the pallet, crate or tote from being loaded too far back in the system so that it could pitch out the back.

 

 

Pallet rack netting is another rear mounted product.  It is made of a nylon or plastic mesh and gets attached on the back of rack systems for increased fall protection ensuring safety for both products and activity behind the rack.

These are just a sampling of creative, affordable pallet rack accessories that can increase functionally of your rack and improve warehousing efficiency.  The design team at Apex Warehouse Systems is available to work with you to retrofit your pallet rack with useful accessories or to help you plan for future inventory goals.

Just contact us to learn more or to get started on revitalizing your warehousing operation.