Ensure Warehouse Safety with the Ultimate Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist

Pallet racking is a strong and easily accessible storage system, which makes it a great option for warehouses, large shop floors, and other storage facilities with lots of supplies to stockpile. Just like any other shelving system, it’s important to perform regular inspections to check that everything is in good enough condition to use.

By conducting thorough inspections at least once a year, you can identify and address potential problems before they result in an accident that damages stock or causes personal injury. In this blog, B&R Storage systems discusses the key checklist points you should consider when assessing the state of your pallet racking. If you find any potential safety hazards, schedule repairs and/or obtain replacement parts as quickly as possible from qualified personnel.

1. General issues

These issues are usually easy to spot and are often a result of regular wear and tear. This could include uneven racks, corroded or rusted hardware, scraped paint (indicative of high foot or vehicle traffic in that area), and faded or otherwise illegible safety signage (such as maximum rack loads).

2. Uprights

Check the whole area as well as the column protectors for general signs of damage, such as splits, twists, cracks, and dents that can compromise structural integrity. You should also ensure floor fixtures such as anchor bolts are tightened securely and not coming loose. Adjust as needed.

3. Beams and bracings

In addition to general damage to your beams, you should also be on the lookout for beams that have become dislodged on one end, which could result in a dangerous falling beam and damage to inventory or nearby people. If a beam has deflected into a V-shape or has otherwise bent away from its original position, this could be due to overloading.

4. Connectors and clips

Inspect your connections to see if there are any missing, damaged or broken connectors. Connectors for beams connecting at an upright should be parallel, and if they are deformed into a V-shape, this may indicate overloading. If your clips are frequently dislodging, contact your pallet racking’s manufacturer or installer to determine why this is happening and take the necessary actions to remedy it.

For a professional pallet racking inspection, call the experts at B&R Storage Systems. We offer specialist services in heavy duty shelving, raised flooring systems, and more. Call (03) 9791 3666 or contact us online for all your storage needs.

Top 3 Considerations for Optimal Warehouse Layout Efficiency

The layout of a warehouse can affect the productivity and efficiency of its workers, so it’s important to ensure that it’s designed to be as streamlined as possible. From making the best use of your space’s storage potential to minimising floor traffic, proper organisation can help you maximise the output of your warehouse. B&R Storage Systems discusses 3 key elements to keep in mind when deciding how to structure your warehouse’s floor plan.

1. Safety

Safety should always come first in a warehouse. Partition the areas that are designated for staff to move freely on foot and those that are for operating heavy machinery, and make sure that all your storage equipment meets Australian safety standards and regulations. You could also consider installing corner mirrors to improve visibility around sharp turns, and guardrails to keep people away from areas that are primarily full of vehicles.

2. Ease of access

Your staff need to be able to quickly find and retrieve stock in order to maximise their productivity, so be logical when planning out where you place frequently used items. For example, if you notice that several items are often required at the same time, place them close together where possible.

Whether they’re freestanding individual goods or pallets full of products way down the back of the warehouse, you should try not to store anything in a way that requires a worker to move something else to get it. This can help streamline the retrieval process when orders are pouring in and reduce the overall stress and pressure amongst your employees.

3. Getting the most out of your space

The average warehouse needs to be able to contain a lot of materials, equipment, stock, vehicles, and so on. Think about what sort of storage solutions would best suit your area and allow you to effectively stow as much as possible within safe parameters. This will help to reduce overcrowding and traffic flow disruption due to clutter. For instance, drive-in racking uses minimal floor space and is ideal for high densities of the same product, while raised floor areas are great for utilising unused vertical space in buildings that have a high clearance.

If you’re after excellent new and used storage solutions for your warehouse build, the team at B&R Storage Systems can help. Call (03) 9791 3666 or contact us online and let us take care of all your storage needs.

Maximize Storage Efficiency with Cantilever Racking

Space in warehouses comes at a premium – with so much stock moving in and out every day, it’s important to have the right racking solutions to ensure items are safely and conveniently stored. This can be a challenge when it comes to items that are long, irregularly shaped, or simply awkward. This kind of stock is not easily stored in traditional racking, which is why many businesses are seeking storage systems that offer more flexible arrangements – especially one that can utilise high wall or floor space that other racking systems cannot access. At B&R Storage Systems, we always recommend Cantilever racking for warehouses that require a system that can be easily adapted to suit a range of products.

What is Cantilever racking?

If you’re seeking a flexible storage solution, Cantilever racking is perfect for you. Designed to be an independent structure, warehouses can select either a light duty or medium duty option (depending on what types of items you’ll be storing). Both utilise adjustable arms on one or both sides, which are perfect for the storage of items such as:

• Pipes
• Carpets
• Lengths of timber
• Plasterboard
• Steel
• and more…

What are the benefits?

There’s a reason why Cantilever racks are so popular; they come with a myriad of benefits:

• Easy to assemble and convenient to configure
• Available in single- and double-sided versions
• The only way to store long lengths of timber & steel
• Cost-effective
• Durable, with great weight capabilities
• As your storage needs grow, new racks can be easily installed

Which industries can use it?

This style of racking can be implemented by a wide variety of industries; suppliers of plumbing pipes, construction materials, and carpet warehouses are regular customers at B&R Storage Systems. If you’re unsure if this system is for you, please reach out to our team to discuss your needs.

Work with B&R Storage Systems

B&R Storage Systems installs Cantilever racking in both powder coated and galvanised finishes. Speak to us about our second-hand and used storage options for Cantilever racking, or any of our other storage solutions such as A-Frames, drive-in racking, and CLS racking. With many years of experience in the storage system industry, we’ve helped businesses across Melbourne create better shelving and storage space in their warehouses. Our consultants here to help you find the ideal storage system for your warehouse. You can call us on (03) 9791 3666 or submit an enquiry form.

Benefits of A-Frame Racking for Efficient Storage

When it comes to racking options, the market is flooded. That’s why it’s so important to find the right storage solution for the items your workplace deals with, or is likely to encounter. At B&R Storage Systems, we find that when it comes to items that require vertical storage, there’s no system better for the job than A-Frame racking. In this blog, we discuss the benefits of this racking style and which industries should utilise it.

How does A-Frame racking work?

This type of racking is named for its resemblance to the letter ‘A’, similar to sandwich boards. A-Frame racking systems are used to store items vertically. The bottom of the product rests on the base of the rack with the length of the item leaning along the sloped frame.

When you opt for A-Frames, you’re able to customise it to suit your needs; they are available in both double and single-sided options. This means that your floor space – which often comes a premium – can be fully utilised. Our A-Frame units have specially designed protruding arms, particularly important if you stock a variety of products. It allows you to divide them into categories such as length, profiles, and colours.

What items is it best suited for?

A-Frame racking is suitable for:

• Aluminium, steel, and plastic extrusions
• PVC piping
• Timber products (beams, trim, decking, dowels)
• Guttering
• Mouldings
• and most other long, vertical items

If you’re wondering whether A-Frame racking is the right choice for your workplace, speak to one of our experienced sales team members. Having worked in this industry for many years, we understand the different types of racking solutions and how they can best be implemented into warehouses and other storage spaces.

Which industries would benefit from it?

A-Frames are best used in warehouses to maximise on the available vertical space. A workplace that values every inch of storage space, A-Frames are a clever way to store long items that would take up too much space if laid horizontally. They could also be used in showrooms to display lengthy items.

Speak to B&R Storage Systems

If you think your business can benefit from A-Frame racking, get in touch with the team at B&R Storage Systems. We’ve installed this type of racking, as well as many other storage solutions, into workplaces and warehouses across Melbourne. You can contact us on (03) 9791 3666 or submit an enquiry form.

If you’re setting up a new warehouse or searching for options to replace the existing shelving, you should consider your options. There are several types of racking systems on the market, and each of them can serve a different function, or can be adjusted to suit awkward products and items. In this blog, B&R Storage Systems explains the different types of racking we offer and what products they are best for.

Pallet Racking & Drive-In Racking

Pallet racking allows for direct access to stored items and is the most economical solution. We have a wide range of sizes available – this includes height, length, and carrying capacity. If you’re purchasing new racking for an existing space, we can help you match the new racking to the established one, creating a seamless and universal style.

Like pallet racking, the drive-in racking solution is ideal for high-density storage. Minimising the need for large amounts of floor space, this style is best applied to businesses that have low stock rotation. Options include pallets that are 2-8 deep, and heights up to 10m, and are easily customised.

Carpet Racking

Carpets can be challenging to store, as they must stay rolled and often need to be laid horizontally. When the only solution is installing long racks to store these carpets, the options B&R Storage Systems offer are flexible and easily adjusted. We can design carpet racking to suit unique lengths, even as long as 3600mm carpets that are typically difficult to store. Particle boards are inserted to separate each level; boards that are capable of withstanding evenly distributed weights.

A-Frame Racking

For long, awkwardly proportioned stock, A-Frame racking is the go-to storage solution. Positioned in an ‘A’ shape, the base of the long item is rested on the base whilst the length leans against the frame. This is perfect for timber, PVC piping, and aluminum extrusion.

Cantilever Racking

A popular choice in Australian warehouses, cantilever racking is ideal for long materials like timber, pipes, and steel. This style is easily modified to suit a myriad of products simply by adjusting the positions of the versatile arms. With various weight and length capacities, there’s a reason why many warehouses are stacked with cantilever racking.

Speak to the racking experts

Still not sure which racking system is right for you? Then speak to the experts at B&R Storage Systems. Having worked in the racking and shelving industry for many years, we know which storage solutions will suit your business best. Tell us more about your requirements by getting in contact today.