Pallet Rack Netting vs. Steel Mesh Containment Panels – Comparing Features & Applications

Wrap Up Your Knowledge of Pallet Rack Netting and Steel Mesh Containment Panels

The vertical design of pallet racking maximizes cube space and secures inventory up and away from busy floor-level activities. However, with the height of the rack comes the inherent safety risk of items falling. Pallet supports and decking products help prevent items from falling within the rack structure, but what about protecting falls from the back of the rack? That’s where pallet rack netting and steel containment panels can save the day.

Pallet Rack Safety Netting		Steel Mesh Containment Panels
Definition: pliable mesh netting attached to pallet rack that prevents        falling items.		Definition: rigid barrier panels that prevent accidental access to restricted areas     and equipment. Also, prevent falling items.
Features	Applications	Features	Applications
Easy to install	Back-of-rack fall protection	Easy to install – flush or offset mounting	Back-of-rack fall protection
Polypropylene or nylon – range of sizes & capacity options	Underneath storage bays to catch small items	Modular steel panels – size & steel gauge options	Floor-to-ceiling guarding sensitive infrastructure (plumbing, electrical, sprinklers)
Flexible material contains items but allows give	Flue space protection	Hard stop – may not be best for fragile items	Equipment protection – conveyors, automation, operational equipment
Vulnerable to sharp objects		Difficult to damage	Access control to sensitive spaces & theft prevention

Safety Netting

The choice to invest in pallet rack netting is an economical one compared to the potential risk of injuries, equipment replacement, business disruption, and downtime. It installs quickly by attaching to rack uprights and comes in long lengths and a range of heights to cover multiple bays and rack levels efficiently. 

Safety netting is manufactured from durable polypropylene or nylon. When pushed, these fabrics allow a certain amount of give to catch items and prevent them from dropping from the rack. However, items suspended by the netting should be promptly removed to prevent a potential fall from the pliable material.

Safety Net Applications

• Back of rack – Netting is used primarily above pedestrian work areas such as pick aisles, packing stations, and walkways. Back-of-rack netting is also valuable above aisles used for forklifts and warehouse vehicles. 
• Flue spaces – Netting accomplishes two jobs for the price of one here –preventing falls and keeping the flue space open to comply with fire safety regulations. 
• Above/below dynamic storage systems – Netting between rack levels, particularly under pallet flow and push-back storage lanes, delivers two-fold protection. 1- It protects against dropped or loose inventory falling, and 2- It puts a barrier between personnel and the moving components of the wheeled or roller systems.
• Around conveyors – Prevent damage to costly conveyor equipment and the loss of valuable inventory on the move. Apply netting where materials are vulnerable to falling or to safeguard access to moving equipment. 
  • Above
  • Below
  • To the side

Netting Above Pick Aisle

Netting Below Pallet Flow Rails

Steel Mesh Containment Panels

Containment panels offer the next level of warehouse safety. These modular panels are relatively easy to configure to cover broad areas or fully surround restricted spaces. The steel gauge options allow you to choose the best product for your application, from lightweight to heavy-duty. 

A notable difference between the steel panels and netting is that once secured in place, the steel does not give when pushed, making them highly effective at preventing falling items but potentially damaging to fragile inventory when hit with force. However, the steel is less likely to be compromised by sharp objects than netting.

Steel panels can be mounted flush or offset to the racking system. Offset allows the pallet to sit several inches past the pallet rack beam as is customary for shallow depth 42” racking. A specialty bracket accomplishes offset mounting… be sure to confirm with your supplier that you are getting the right bracket for your rack installation.

You may note in the photo above that the Apex team installed pallet stops on the beam as well as the containment panels. Pallet stops are an effective way to prevent pallets from being pushed too far back on the beam and to protect your steel panels from damage.

Beyond Rack Guarding

Because of the rigidity of the panels, they are highly effective for enclosing moving equipment to prevent accidental access by personnel, and they can create a locked enclosure to help with warehouse security. 

Complete Protection from the Full-Service Team

The Apex team is serious about warehouse safety. Contact a systems design specialist to ensure your system is configured optimally for your needs. We offer full-service support for design and engineering through installation and even rack inspections and repairs. It’s one call. We Got This!