ANSI Updates Steel Pallet Racking Standards – Apex Answers Your Questions

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Hot Off the Presses… ANSI 2023 Steel Pallet Racking Revisions & More

Steel pallet racking systems are the backbone of warehousing and distribution centers, but what gives that backbone its strength? It might very well be a group of dedicated professionals determined to make things safer and more productive. They are known as ANSI, and the standards they set are critical to pallet racking system design, manufacturing, installation, inspections, and repairs. Due to a recent standards update, it’s a good time to review ANSI’s role and its impact on your warehouse racking systems and your responsibility as the rack owner. 

What is ANSI –and How Do They Differ from RMI?

ANSI Guideline Process - Apex Companies

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, U.S.-based non-profit organization that brings together stakeholders across industries to create a voluntary consensus and adherence to standards and conformity. The group focuses on enhancing global competitiveness, improving workplace safety, increasing efficiency, and minimizing risk. 

Within the 10,000 different ANSI standards are guidelines for warehouse racking design, manufacturing, installation, and repair. Interestingly, those guidelines come from a group our industry knows well —the Rack Manufacturer’s Institute RMI. 

RMI’s responsibility regarding ANSI pertains specifically to industrial storage racking and welded wire decking. The most current version of those guidelines issued by ANSI are identified as ANSI MH16.1-2023 & ANSI MH16.3-2023 — and these are where the recent updates reside.

To learn more about the interconnectivity between RMI & ANSI, check out our deep dive blog.

What’s New in the 2023 ANSI Racking Guidelines?

2023 Revisions to ANSI MH16.1 & ANSI MH16.3

  1. In ANSI MH16.1-2023 – Seismic provisions were revised to align with ASCE/SEI 7-2022, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers & the Structural Engineering Institute. The ASCE/SEI 7-2022 establishes minimum design loads, hazard levels, associated criteria, and intended performance goals for buildings and structures subject to building code requirements.

Changes include:

  1. Use of software to obtain seismic data
  2. New methods to obtain the seismic response coefficients
  1. In ANSI MH16.3-2023 – Revisions apply to the cantilever testing provisions and the cyclic beam-to-column testing provisions in this section. With the update, either test can be used to determine beam design spring constants.

As you can see, there are two separate provisions cited above. ANSI MH16.1-2023 standards provide the minimum structural design, testing, and utilization requirements for the following:

ANSI MH16.1-2023 does not apply to the following racking systems and components. Cantilever racks, for example, have specific design and testing guidelines. Visit RMI for a more in-depth review of the following system guidelines.

Important Details to Note

As a storage racking system owner, you should also be aware of the following:

ANSI Enforcement

While adherence to ANSI guidelines is voluntary, government bodies such as OSHA cite ANSI codes in their regulations. This can lead to some confusion regarding the legal authority of ANSI –in short, they have none. Still, OSHA does, so it’s best to follow the guidelines for your overall warehouse safety and legal protections. 

ANSI Guideline Review & Updates

Standards are reviewed and updated roughly every five years based on industry evolution, court outcomes, and new input from stakeholders and research. However, in 2021, many updates were amended to ANSI MH16.1 that relate primarily to system stability and seismic considerations. Those updates are listed below and can be found on the RMI FAQ page under Design Standards and Requirements.

Where to Find All the Support You Need

Racking with Multi-Level Pick Module Installation

Racking with Multi-Level Pick Module Installation

Clearly, many experts are working behind the scenes to benefit the material handling industry. They are united in a common purpose, making their results so effective. You too, have a team that will work not only behind the scenes but right alongside you to ensure your warehouse solutions meet your needs and expectations. Whether it’s a storage racking system or a complex multi-level pick module –That team is Apex Companies. 

Apex provides full-service warehousing solutions relying on hundreds of combined years of expertise. We engineer and design, install, train, inspect, and repair… wherever you are in the process; there’s an Apex team for that.

Contact Apex today to speak with our experts and know that whatever it is, We’ve Got This!