In industrial facilities such as warehouses, the stability of pallets and cantilevered racks is essential to ensure worker safety and improve operational efficiency. Shaky or unstable storage units can easily topple under the slightest impact or contact from a piece of material handling equipment or a minor seismic event. Increasing the vertical storage capacity of pallet racking and cantilever racking systems is a common technique in the logistics industry, but proper precautions and measures must first be taken.
To safely increase the vertical storage capacity of a unit and prevent it from tipping over, measure the aspect ratios and make sure they complement each other perfectly.
What is the height to width ratio of pallet and cantilever racking systems?
In industrial storage solutions, the aspect ratio (also known as the height-to-depth ratio) is the difference between the height and width of the unit itself. To prevent the entire pallet racking system from collapsing or tipping over, the aspect ratio measurement needs to be accurate.
Ideally, the height of the unit should be greater than the width of the base to create a stable foundation and should not exceed a 6:1 ratio.
Why are these dimensions important?
Total digital accuracy is the name of the game when it comes to assembling and installing state-of-the-art storage units in your facility. As a warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing facility manager, it is your responsibility to ensure safe working conditions for all employees.
It is important to understand and implement the bylaws and building codes outlined by the Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCHOS) in your facility. Failure to do so can have many impacts on your facility, including
● Worker injury or death (in this case a criminal offense)
● Fines for violations
● Employees who are injured on the job due to negligence can file a lawsuit against you
● In some cases, imprisonment or jail time may be involved
All of these consequences can result in serious financial losses and a diminished reputation for your business. Responsible industrial facility management teams should do everything in their power to establish safe work environments and protocols that are fully compliant with CCOS regulations and building codes.
Calculating the height to width ratio of a pallet racking system
Although the formula for calculating the aspect ratio of a pallet racking system is simple, it requires the most accurate measurement. Even the slightest error or misinterpretation can have adverse consequences.
Use a tape measure to measure the height of the equipment from the floor to the highest beam. This will give you an accurate height. Be sure to check your measurements several times to make sure they are completely accurate.
Next, you must measure the width of the base. Measure from the outside of the front pillar to the outside of the rear pillar and double check your measurements. After you have finished measuring and obtained the height and width values, divide the value of the height by the value of the width. The resulting value should not exceed 6. Otherwise, a weak structural foundation will result and durable reinforcements such as anchors, large base plates or cross aisles and overhead sleepers will be required to stabilize the unit.
For example, assume a standard pallet rack has a height of approximately 240 inches and a width of approximately 40 inches. 240 divided by 40 equals exactly 6. This is the ideal height to width ratio for a standard industrial pallet racking system.
Calculating the height to width ratio of a cantilever racking system
Cantilever racking systems have a different configuration than standard pallet racking. Therefore, the formula for calculating the height to width ratio of a cantilever racking system is also different.
Cantilever racking has extended horizontal beams and is designed to store large, bulky and awkwardly shaped items. These include steel beams, lumber, pipes, doors, etc.
Calculating the exact height to width ratio of a cantilever racking system involves several steps. Before you begin, you need to determine if you have a structural or roll-formed cantilever racking system.
Structural cantilever racking features structural steel I-beams that are attached to steel columns in the center or rear of the racking system. These are used to store medium to heavy loads.
Roll formed cantilever racking uses roll formed steel beams for easy inventory access. They include the following components to ensure structural stability and ease of use.
●Base
●Brackets
●Arms
●Columns
●Stop pins
Cantilever racking systems are versatile and can be adjusted to fit the requirements of almost any warehouse storage solution. To calculate the height to width ratio of a cantilever racking system, first measure the length of the columns from the floor to the highest beam. Make sure that all columns are the same height.
Next, you must measure the distance or height between each beam. Since the beam heights can be adjusted for each load, it is important to make sure they are all even based on the type and weight of the load. Finally, measure the length of each arm to make sure they are equal to the height between the beams. This will allow for a more accurate and uniform weight distribution.
Professionally designed pallet and cantilever racking systems from Aceally.
Aceally provides high quality, state-of-the-art cantilever and pallet racking to the world from China. As a leading distributor of customizable storage solutions, we also conduct in-depth health and safety pre-reviews for all types of facilities to maximize storage capacity and operational efficiency as well as safety standards. Contact us today to learn more.
Further Reading:
Nine frequently asked questions about pallet racking systems
Is a double-deep pallet rack suited for me?
Cold storage and freezer pallet racking system solutions
Settle down your storage problems with boltless racks
Cost analysis of pallet rack system
Post time: Mar-24-2022