Pallet Rack Strut Safety 101

Your warehouse pallet rack is durable, tough, and packs the strength you need in order to store and protect your inventory. It should also safeguard your workers and stock – which is why it’s important to understand how system components, materials, and design works together to keep everything safe and functional. A key safety and design feature is the pallet rack strut….

So, What is a Pallet Rack Strut, Anyway?

By the simplest definition of the term, a pallet rack strut is a brace that fits between two columns–though these features are anything but simple. 

A group of columns, baseplates, and struts are the three things that make up a pallet rack upright – which consists of two columns that are typically held together by a vertical and a horizontal strut, which is then anchored on the floor by a baseplate. Horizontal struts create horizontal bracing between columns, and diagal struts–you guessed it–form diagonal bracing between columns

Multiple struts aligned together make up what is called a brace panel. These brace panel designs are repeated through the height of the upright. There are several factors that go into the design of the brace panels, which can be found in this blog. Struts could be bolted or welded to the columns depending on the system design. 

Shaping The Struts

There are several available shapes for pallet rack struts depending on rack design.

• Angle
• Flat
• Open “C” Section – struts connect with bolted connectors via the open column back
• Horizontal = Square Tube
• Diagonal = Round Tube

Warehouse Safety Includes Strut Safety! 

Struts are especially vulnerable to damage from warehouse equipment. Impact can cause bolts to loosen or even break welds away from the upright frame. Routine pallet rack inspections are essential to maintaining the structural safety of your system. If you find damaged struts, the general guideline is that any torn or broken horizontal or diagonal braces showing deflection greater than approximately ½” in any direction must be repaired.

To determine whether damage poses an immediate threat, use these common criteria to identify rack that should be unloaded right away:

• • Pallet rack that lacks anchoring
  • Severely damaged beams with creasing or buckling
    
  • Uprights that are significantly creased or out of plumb
    
  • Major strut damage, or several compromised struts within the same row
    
  • Multiple damaged components along the same frame or system

The Apex Rack Repair App is a valuable tool for assessing and documenting pallet rack damage. The app helps you gather accurate measurements and photos for every component, including uprights, beams, connectors, struts, baseplates, end row guards, post protectors, and wire decking.

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Spotting Pallet Rack Damage with the Apex Rack Repair App

The Apex safety team has developed a reliable tool to help you quickly evaluate pallet rack damage and gather all the critical details needed to order a repair kit without delay.

The Apex Rack Repair App is free to download from the App Store and walks users through a step-by-step inspection process. Designed for a Do-It-Yourself approach, the app prompts you to take photos and record the exact specifications needed to determine whether repairs are necessary and ensure your rack meets safety standards.

Prefer to leave it to the professionals? No problem—the Apex PROs are trained and certified to conduct complete pallet rack inspections and warehouse safety audits using the same Rack Repair App.

Our Commitment – Whether you use the app yourself or bring in the Apex PROs, you’ll receive a thorough, unbiased inspection and a repair or replacement plan tailored to your system.

Download the app today,  call the Apex team at (833) 402-9547, or visit our website to learn more.