If you are building a new warehouse or expanding an existing space, one of the biggest questions is what size pallet shelving to install. You want to be sure you can fit both the size and quantity of pallets you will frequently be handling while still providing enough room for your forklifts, hand trucks, and other materials handling equipment to maneuver safely and productively.
Step 1 — Determine Pallet Configurations
The first thing you need to do is to determine the size of your pallet. To figure this out, use the load depth, load height, and load weight of the largest load you handle. When calculating the height, don’t forget to include both the height of the load and the height of the pallet.
To determine your front-to-back depth of the uprights you will need, subtract 6″ from the pallet depth. To determine the beam width — assuming you are going to fit two pallets per beam — multiply the load width by two and add 12″.
Finally, make sure you use beams with a weight capacity greater than the planned load.
Step 2 — Determining the Upright Height
To determine the upright height of your pallet racking system, multiply the number of heights high — minus one pallet — and multiply that by 10″. For example, if you plan to store four pallets high, then multiply three pallets by 10″, or 30″.
Then multiply the number of pallets stored minus one pallet by the overall load height, making sure to include the pallet height in the overall load height. For example, if you overall load height is 50″, four pallets high, minus one pallet, or 3 X 50″ = 150″.
Step 3 — Other Factors
You want to make sure you leave 10″ between pallets to allow for beam depth and to give your equipment operators enough room to lift and remove pallets.
It’s also important that there is enough space left between the load height of the top pallet and obstacles like sprinkler heads lighting fixtures, and other potential dangers.
You also want to make sure that the height of your pallet racks do not exceed the maximum reach of your forklift truck. If you are building a new warehouse or expanding an existing facility so that it includes taller pallet racks, you may have to figure in the cost of new forklifts as part of your capital budget.
Calculating the proper sized pallet racks prior to beginning construction will save you time, money and problems down the line. You can find the pallet racks and other equipment you need at Bahrns.com.