Common Terms

Upright frame – Also known as a frame or an upright. The vertical component made up of 2 columns with diagonal and horizontal bracing welded between them.

Beam – The horizontal component that attaches to the upright frame. Pallets loads  or other commodities sit directly on beams.

Foot plates – Steel plates welded to the bottom of the columns in an upright. These usually have holes punched in them to allow for anchoring into concrete slabs.

Bracing panel – Terms used to describe two horizontal braces and the diagonal brace between them with in an upright frame.

Bay – Term used to refer to two uprights with beams between them.  As uprights and beams are added to a row the number of bays increases in that row. There is always one more upright than there are bays in any one row.

Starter section – Term used to refer to two uprights with beams between them to create one bay of rack.

Add-on section – Term used to refer to one upright  with beams to create an additional  section to an existing bay of rack.

Row – A series of inter-connected frames and beams consisting of starter and and-on units.

Row spacer – The steel component used to tie uprights together back to back. This forms a double row. There can be triple and quadruple rows.  (Reach system)

Step beam– A beam with a ledge created  by a roll former that drops down  (like a step) and are used to hold front to back safety support, such as cross bars, lumber or wire decks. These front to back members offer a two fold purpose. They serve to prevent a misplaced pallet from falling through the beams and they also serve as a frame work for a self to be placed on top of them.

Pallet – Portable platform on which  goods can be moved, stacked,  and stored, especially with the aid of a forklift.

Gauge – The thickness of the steel used to make an upright beam.

Capacity – Is the amount of weight which can be safely placed onto an upright or a pair of beams in any given situation.

Selective Pallet Rack – is a material handling storage solution designed to store materials on pallets (or “skids”) and when designed properly will aid in maximizing your storage capabilities.