Pallet Supports Reinforce Warehouse Safety for Colorado
We Support You, Colorado –Here’s the 411 on Pallet Supports & Rack Safety
Hey Colorado, could your warehouse team use a little support? Why not add pallet supports to your selective rack systems? Hmm, you say…what are pallet supports, and how can they help my warehouse operation? We’re glad that you asked.
What are pallet supports? Pallet supports are steel bars that mount from the front to rear pallet rack beams.
Why do I need them? Pallet Supports offer a layer of protection against pallet misalignment, help support damaged or poor-quality pallets, and help forklift operators properly position pallets between the rack beams.
While these pallet rack accessories are commonplace, some misconceptions about pallet support are essential to understand. Additionally, there are values to these supports that may be unrecognized. Here are 7 key facts to help you decide if they are the right accessory for your storage racking and warehouse safety.
7 Key Advantages/Facts about Pallet Supports
- Additional support doesn’t necessarily add capacity – In a roll-formed system, pallet supports don’t increase load capacity. In a structural system, they do increase the beam capacity as they prevent beam twisting which increases the beam load rating. They are also not meant to support the full weight of the pallet. Still, they add structural support to the rack system and a measure of rack safety.
- Increase safety first and decrease inventory damage. They help prevent misaligned pallets from falling, giving forklift operators time to resecure them before they can fall. This results in greater employee and facility safety and fewer damage costs.
- Rack system specific – All pallet supports are not created equal. They are specific to the beam type based on design, step depth, and slot punching.
- How many supports are required? The rule of thumb is two pallet supports per pallet position, but more could be used if it is an engineered pallet support designed for odd-size pallets that do not carry the load thru the beams.
- Easy forklift operator placement – Pallet supports help forklift operators load pallets on sections of pallet racking that are high and/or deep and thus hard to see. Most importantly, they provide the opportunity to reposition a misaligned pallet.
- Extended pallet life – By taking some downward pressure off a pallet that is otherwise only supported under the front and rear beams. The supports minimize pallet stress and increase its useful life.
- Not designed for point loads – Traditional pallet supports are not designed for point loads. They can be designed for this, but a structural engineer must review and design them to carry the point load.
Finding the Best Support for Structural & Roll-Formed Pallet Rack
Roll-Formed Supports
There are two pallet support types for roll-formed pallet racking: flush and flange.
Flush supports – set in the beam step vs. overhanging the beam face. You can choose a snap-in or top-hat style.
- Snap-in supports fit on the beam step and snap into the slotted holes
- Top-hat supports have a pre-drilled hole on the tab of the support that allows easy installation with a tek screw into the step of the beam
Double flange supports – Fit over the face of the front and rear step beams. Some are pre-drilled for tek screws that will secure them into place and prevent shifting.
Structural Supports
Structural supports, also known as bolt-in supports or safety angles, are heavy-duty supports designed for structural box beams. Structural supports have a large soldered flange on both ends that straddle the top of the beams. Some are pre-drilled to fasten into place and prevent shifting. This is typically done through the web of the beam.
Why not add an inexpensive support layer to your pallet racking system? Safety and costs are two of your main concerns, and pallet supports help to solve both. Contact the Apex Colorado experts for pallet rack system design and ensure you get the features and accessories to maximize rack effectiveness. We also offer new and quality used pallet supports through our Quick Ship shop. Give us a call today to discuss your pallet racking storage needs.
