Floor-Level Beams? Why or Why Not — Pallet Rack Design Tips
Optimizing Pallet Rack Design: Floor-Level Beam or Beamless? Key Tips to Consider
When designing a pallet rack system, one crucial decision is whether to incorporate a floor-level beam or opt for a beamless design. Both approaches have advantages and considerations, and choosing the right one can significantly impact your warehouse or storage facility’s efficiency, safety, and functionality. Let’s explore key tips and factors when deciding whether or not to use a floor-level beam to help you make an informed decision for your pallet rack design.
When should you use a beam at floor level?
- Accommodate forklift outriggers
- Additional system stability
- Improve load distribution
- Increase system versatility
- Compliance (Food & Pharma)
- Hand-stacked items (non-palletized products)
Narrow Aisle Reach Truck Accommodation
Narrow aisle reach trucks with outriggers must be paired with rack systems containing a floor-level beam. The outriggers are a critical stability element of the lift truck, and they must fit under the beam as the vehicle is squared with the rack system to load or extract pallets. The floor-level beam elevates the pallet sufficiently vs. an obstruction by pallets or other items placed on the floor beneath the rack.
Pallet Racking System Stability
Floor-level beams add stability to the overall structure of the pallet rack system. By connecting the upright frames at the bottom, the beams provide lateral support and prevent any swaying or tipping of the racks, especially when subjected to heavy loads or external forces. See our Unsupported Span deep dive blog for more information on pallet rack stability.
Load Distribution
The floor-level beams help distribute the weight of the loads placed on the racks more evenly across the entire system. By transferring the load to the ground through these beams, the weight is dispersed over a larger area, reducing the pressure on the floor and preventing damage or deformation.
Pallet Rack Versatility
The inclusion of floor-level beams in a pallet rack system provides flexibility for customization. They can accommodate different configurations, such as adding wire mesh panels or shelves at the lower level for storing non-palletized items or smaller packages, increasing the versatility of the storage solution.
Item Storage Compliance
It’s important to note that specific storage requirements can vary depending on the nature of the items, industry regulations, and warehouse conditions. It’s advisable to consult industry guidelines, product specifications, and relevant safety regulations to determine the appropriate storage methods for specific items in a warehouse. For example, certain food-grade, personal care products, and medical supplies must be stored in clean and sanitary conditions.
To Have or Have Not a Floor-Level Pallet Rack Beam?
While there are obviously pluses to using a floor-level beam in your pallet rack system –are there also benefits of not having a floor-level beam?
Advantages of No Floor-Level Beam
- Increased accessibility
- Broader storage options
- More budget friendly
Increased Accessibility
Without a floor-level beam, the lower level of the pallet rack system is completely open, allowing for easy access with a forklift or pallet jack… which can be beneficial for operations that require frequent picking or replenishing of items at ground level.
Configuration Flexibility
The absence of a floor-level beam provides greater flexibility in configuring the pallet rack system. It allows for installing additional shelves, drawers, or hanging storage units at the lower level, enhancing the versatility of the system and accommodating non-palletized items, smaller packages, or specialized storage needs.
Potential Cost Savings
Excluding a floor-level beam can save costs during construction or installation. Eliminating additional structural components can reduce material and labor expenses, making it a more budget-friendly option.
The Big NO When It Comes to Floor-Level Beams
While the options outlined above give some pluses or minus depending on your warehouse storage needs, equipment, and inventory specs… there is one definitive when it comes to floor-level beams. If you have them in your system design, you cannot simply remove them to create more space. Before you ask the next question –you cannot remove some of them either. This is a more common question than you may realize, and while we completely understand that storage needs are tight and inventory specs are rapidly changing for many facilities, changing your pallet racking design without an expert reconfiguring your system for you voids your load capacity and severely endangers your operation and your team.
The good news is that if you need more from your warehouse space or pallet rack system, we can help! The Apex team is a full-service provider with expert engineers and designers who can customize your racking –using existing components where possible. We can also repair or replace damaged parts to restore your system to full capacity. Our expert installation teams will ensure that any new or reconfigured pallet racking is built according to plan and built to last.
Call today to speak with an Apex team member, and no worries, We Got This!
