Securing Pallet Rack the Right Way… with Safety Pins?

Pinning Down Safe Connections with Pallet Rack Safety Pins

The image of a safety pin is quite different for material handling experts vs. the general public, but the function is very similar; safety pins secure things in place. In a roll-formed system, your pallet rack safety pin (also known as a locking pin) is your connection to fastening beams and uprights and preventing them from dislodging if accidentally struck by a forklift or pallet load.

In keeping with the flexible design of roll-formed pallet rack, safety pins are also designed for quick beam changes. The pin acts as a positive pressure device that must be intentionally (albeit easily) disengaged or removed to separate the beam from the upright.

Beam-to-Column Connectors

The term “safety pin” refers to a category of devices used to make the secure connection of the beam to the upright. These devices include clips, snaps, bolts, or screws. Pallet rack manufacturers will recommend the proper safety pin device for your application, but here is an overview of the options available based on typical column punch and beam designs.

1. Safety Pins for Teardrop Pallet Rack

• Standard Teardrop Safety Clip (pictured right) – This easy-to-use clip is secured by pushing the center toggle on the bottom through the front beam/upright rack connection, slightly pushing the clip down into place, and then through the connector at the top.
• 

  Rifle Slide Lock

  Teardrop Pull Pin Lock (see J-Hook below)

• Rifle Slide Lock – This is a slide lock that you control from the face of the beam. The lock engages the upright through the side holes on the column. The lock is engaged/disengaged by sliding back and forth.

 

 

Several other connectors are available based on the type of rack style used, including:

2. Speedrack Connections

• Speedrack Teardrop Clip – Designed for the teardrop selective pallet rack system, this clip hooks on the top of the beam end connector and then engages the beam and the upright through a small hole in the beam.
• Horseshoe Clip with J-Hook – Speedrack original pallet rack uses two connectors in combination to secure the beam to the upright. The horseshoe clip is inserted from the backside of the frame column until the two pins appear from the front. Then a J-Hook is inserted from the front to complete the secure pinning.

 

3. Ridg-U-Rak Spring Clip

Also known as pinch pins, these are used in Ridg-U-Rak slotted and teardrop design pallet rack systems. The clip is designed to fit inside the upright. To install, simply pinch the sides together while inserting inside the upright from the back. Then release the pins in the aligning holes of the pallet rack cross beam and upright to lock them together.

4. Sturdi-Bilt Wedge Lock

A hook-like clip with a separate locking clip that secures the beam to the upright by wedging it into place.

 

5. Universal/Aftermarket Solutions

A few safety pin options can be used universally in many pallet rack systems. They include:

• J-Hook or bent nail – similar to driving in a nail, the long end is inserted in the front of the connector or through the side holes so that the nail “head” remains in place as the pin is locked in place.
• ⅜” hardware – can be used to bolt through the holes in the side of the column to secure the beam; however, this makes changing beam levels more labor-intensive than using a clip or hook safety pin device.

6. Bolted Pallet Rack

If it is a bolted pallet rack system, the bolt acts as the safety measure, so no separate pin is required. This applies to structural as well as a few roll-formed rack systems e.g., Unarco T-Bolt, Redirack, and Mecalux all offer bolted roll-formed pallet rack options.

If you are interested in conducting a pallet rack inspection to ensure the safety of your storage systems, including beams, uprights, anchoring, all connections, and safeguards, contact Apex PROs. We are the home of the Apex Rack Repair & Safety Program. Our professional inspection services are available in two options: 1. Do It Yourself – conduct your own pallet rack inspection using the Apex Rack Repair App, or 2. Leave it to the PROS – where our certified team comes to you. Both options deliver a comprehensive damage assessment, plus non-biased repair or replacement solutions.

The Apex Rack Repair App is free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Simply download the app onto a tablet or smartphone and you are ready for a guided inspection. Give it a try today! Or call to schedule your comprehensive warehouse safety inspection with the PROs.