One More Item To Inspect On That Pallet Rack: Weight Limits

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One More Item To Inspect On That Pallet Rack: Weight Limits

9 November 2020
 Categories: , Blog


Every rack in your warehouse has a weight or load limit. And you know the importance of that weight limit. However, after a while, it becomes really easy for even the best workers to start loading items onto shelves that end up exceeding those shelves' weight limits. It's not really noticeable at first, but one day you realize that those packed shelves aren't full; they're overloaded. You have to inspect the shelves and racks in your facility periodically to ensure the amount you have on each rack isn't exceeding safe limits. Even teardrop pallet racks, known for being very stable, need to have load limits respected.

Pulling the Teardrop Out of Shape

One problem, if you end up placing way too much weight on a shelf, is that the weight can drag the shelf down just a tiny bit. That places pressure on the spot where the beam clips rest in the teardrop-shaped holes in the rack. You may not see anything, but over time that pressure can bend the edges of the teardrop hole out of shape, making the connection less stable. Teardrop pallet racks are made of metal, so you're not going to see the beam actively drooping toward the floor. This is an effect that happens slowly over time, but it's not one you can fix should damage occur. So, it's important to stop the beam from pulling down on the connection as soon as possible.

Destabilizing the Entire Rack in Shaking

If you place too much weight on a shelf in a rack, you destabilize the entire rack, especially if the excess weight is on a mid-height or higher shelf. If the higher shelves have more weight than the lower shelves, that distribution creates an imbalance. If you're in an area where shaking is a concern, either due to quakes or to mechanical issues like vibrating machinery, you don't want a top-heavy, imbalanced rack. Even bolting the rack to the wall isn't enough as the excess weight can yank the bolts out of the wall. 

Changing What You Can Store on Other Racks

On a less alarming note, overloading the top racks, even on a teardrop pallet rack, means you can't load much more onto other shelves without compromising the structural integrity of the rack. Teardrop pallet racks are built to be as stable as possible, but they can hold only so much before the metal starts to buckle.

When you order teardrop pallet racks, you may want to look for racks that are rated toward the stronger end of the scale and able to hold more weight. That makes it a lot easier to store what you need to without worrying about load limits. If the allowable load is large enough, you'll find it isn't as easy to accidentally overload the rack. Use this information to find teardrop pallet racks that work for your company.