Protection rackit.

As is often pointed out putting large static storage systems in an area populated by fast moving forklift trucks is going to result in collisions between the trucks, their loads and your racks. Anticipating that even the most careful driver working in a properly configured system will eventually have an incident means employing protective measures to reduce costs and operational interruptions.

At Redirack we have a large range of protection devices and clever fixes for the inevitable rack damage. This technical topics column is going to look specifically at rack barriers. Previous columns have dealt with our unique sacrificial leg (RackIt 27) and maintaining your racking once damage has occurred (RackIt 24).

Rack end barriers are devices specifically installed to protect the vulnerable end frames of the racking system. It is easy to appreciate that these frames, which are at the front and back of the scheme and at the entry of each aisle, are the most vulnerable to forklift truck impact.

The SEMA Code of Practice for the use of static pallet racking states: "Where necessary steps should be taken to protect corner uprights from being struck by forklift trucks and other vehicles. A first line of defence should be incorporated, such as renewable column guards or guide rails, which prevent the truck getting too close to the main racking structure."

As with all safety related issues Redirack take this very seriously. Our philosophy is to make it as easy as possible for our product users to comply with the codes of practice and health and safety requirements. Consequently we offer a number of solutions that meet with these requirements:

Ground level rail - Impact damage is most likely to occur at the base of any frame, even more so in the case of the end frames. Our experience shows that a simple continuous rail similar to guide rail (100mm x 75mm x 10mm RSA) with welded end caps can be more than adequate in many situations. This solution is the most cost effective and offers a good degree of protection for very little cost.

Rack end barrier (square) - A simple yet strong and effective fabricated barrier made from 100mm x 100mm x 40mm thick rolled hollow section (RHS). Only 600mm high it features two horizontal rails, one at floor level. The floor rail guards the end frame against protruding forks and pallets, the top rail is purposely low to avoid providing too much of a lever when hit. This reduces the likelihood of them getting torn out of the floor in the case of heavy impact. Base plates are 200mm x 200mm and we recommend painting the complete structure in a conspicuous colour - say orange or yellow.

Rack end barrier (round) Another simple yet strong design this barrier is fabricated from 89mm diameter CHS tubular section. Dimensionally similar to the square section barrier this device offers an elegant yet strong alternative in applications where appearance is important.

Column Protectors - As a minimum the end frame uprights should be guarded by column protectors. Our standard protector is 380mm high and made from 5mm thick steel. The front face of the protector is usually placed 40mm in front of the frame upright. There are a number of designs to cater for the various combinations of upright and bottom beam configurations. All offer a good degree of protection for the bottom 400mm of the upright.

The type of rack end protection you decide upon will prove how effective it is over time. From our experience, this is something that is almost impossible to predict. The specifics of your application will, of course, have a significant bearing on the success of the device you choose.

Suffice to say, protection of one type or another is strongly recommended and will reduce your costs in the long run. We believe that by offering a wide range of barriers we are enabling our users to find a solution that will fit their pockets as well as their warehouses.