Safe Pallet Racking - Is Your Pallet Racking Certified?

The two most important questions you need to ask a yourself before you purchase your Warehouse Racking systems:

1. Does your pallet racking meet the Australian Standards?
2. Has your pallet racking been certified?

These are very good questions, because there is more to pallet racking than meets the eye.

Australian Standards
Australian Standards are established to protect consumers against cheap inferior products being made locally or imported and pallet racking is no exception. The Australian Standard defines the minimum requirements for the design, fabrication, and erection tolerances, test methods, operation, and maintenance of pallet racking. In regards to Pallet Racking you must ensure the product has been tested and rated in accordance with Australian Standard AS4084-1993. A lot of importers fall into the trap of claiming that their pallet racking is certified by their supplier when in fact they need to hold the certificate themselves. The danger is that quite often the testing has been done by the supplier overseas and not done by a certified Australian testing facility. The danger therefore is that they may have tested only tested part of their range and subsequently the Racking you but will not meet those standards.

Certified
On the other hand ensuring the racking has been locally certified will give you and your employees a complete level of security as not only is every component tested but given a load rating as well. The largest testing facility in Australia is the Monash University and they will give the product what's called

EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF PALLET RACKING COMPONENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS 4084-1993

Some of the Certification tests that are performed by the Monash University include...

Stub column tests
To determine the form factor (Q) of the perforated rack columns in accordance with AS 4084-1993, Clause 8.2 for the 90x70x1.8mm upright columns.

Pallet beam tests
To determine the bending pallet beam properties in accordance with AS4084-1993, Clause 8.3.1 for the 100x45x1.5 pallet beam section.

Pallet beam to column connection tests
To determine the connection moment, in accordance with AS4084-1993, Clause 8.4.1. "Cantilever test", for the 90x70 column in combination of 100x45 beams.

Portal connection tests
This test shall be used to obtain a joint spring constant needed for semi rigid frame analysis, in accordance with AS4084-1993, Clause 8.4.2, "Portal test", for the same combination as in Section 1.4.

Coupon tensile tests
To determine the tensile yield strength of the material used in making the beam and column sections, the specimens were taken from the column and beam sections tested.

Acquiring a certificate protects everyone, from the importer, vendor and the customer who has an obligation to Supply a safe working environment. Today's Occupational Health and Safety laws are so stringent that you would be taking an enormous risk if you were to purchase new or second hand pallet racking for your business from a supplier unable to provide a certified product.

Therefore before selecting pallet racking for your business, you should ensure that you are getting a certified and therefore thoroughly tested product from your supplier.

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