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REFERENCE

Pallet Rack Glossary

Plain-language definitions for the terms you'll hear from vendors, inspectors, and installers, no jargon left unexplained.

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Terms A–Z

Fifteen terms worth knowing before you buy or inspect rack

Labeled diagram of a pallet rack bay pointing out beam, upright, wire deck, and row spacer components

Glossary

A–Z
Bay
One storage unit of pallet rack, consisting of two upright frames and the beams between them.
Beam
The horizontal component that spans between upright frames and supports the load. Also called a crossbeam or step beam.
Beam deflection
The downward bow of a loaded beam under weight. Standard allowable deflection is L/180 of the beam span.
Clear height
The vertical distance from the finished floor to the lowest overhead obstruction. Determines maximum rack height.
Column protector
A guard installed at the base of upright columns in forklift traffic areas to absorb impact and protect the column.
Decommission
The full disassembly and removal of an installed racking system.
FM Global
A major commercial property insurer with prescriptive property loss prevention standards for storage rack systems.
Gauge
The thickness of the steel used in rack components. Lower gauge numbers indicate thicker, heavier steel.
Load rating
The maximum weight a rack configuration is designed to carry, expressed as a capacity per bay or per level.
Pallet position
A single storage location for one pallet. Used as a standard unit for measuring rack system capacity.
RMI
Rack Manufacturers Institute. Publishers of ANSI MH16.1, the American national standard for industrial steel storage racks.
Row spacer
A horizontal connector between two parallel rack rows that keeps them properly spaced and adds lateral stability.
Selective pallet rack
The most common rack type. Provides direct access to every pallet position without moving other pallets.
Upright
The vertical structural frame of a pallet rack system. Also called a column or frame. Consists of two columns connected by diagonal bracing.
Wire deck
A steel mesh surface laid on the beams to support pallets and allow sprinkler water to pass through.

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