Pallet Rack Beam & Wire Deck Capacity Ratings

Pallet Rack Beam Capacities

If you are getting a quote for pallet rack beams, or you have already ordered online, the vendor will usually tell you what the capacity rating is for the beams if they are brand-new. If your buying used pallet racks, the vendor probably won&#;t give you a guaranteed capacity rating. The capacity rating represents the weight that a pair of pallet rack beams can hold safely &#; not the strength of one beam. Even if you receive a quote for a singular beam, the capacity rating will only apply to a pair.

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Pallet rack beam capacity ratings are determined by using a UDL, or a uniformly-distributed load. UDLs are loads that are spread evenly over the supported surface, which is the surface of both beams. In contrast, point loads are where the weight is concentrated in a much smaller surface area. Wire deck and pallet rack beam capacities are always rated for uniformly-distributed loads because capacity is affected by weight distribution.

Beam Deflection

When beams become stressed due to heavy loads, they can start to bow down towards the ground. This tends to happen in the center of the beam, and it is called a beam deflection. Beam deflection may seem scary, but a small amount of deflection is normal. According to the Rack Manufacturers&#; Institute, a general rule for most situations calls for a maximum allowable deflection to be Length of Beam/180. For example, a 96&#; beam would accommodate for .53&#; (96/180=.53) of allowable deflection. The beam&#;s distance can be measured in the middle of the beam, and at the tail end of the beam from the floor, to determine whether your current deflection falls inside of the acceptable range. If the difference between those two measurements is more than .53&#;, your beams are overloaded. There are some occasions where the above rule will not apply.

There may be some specialized applications where no tolerance is acceptable. Additionally, shorter beams with a tall face will likely not deflect beyond the allowable amount prior to reaching their stated capacity. You should never load any more than the stated capacity, irrelevant of the deflection of the beam. If you have any questions about capacities or beam deflection in your application, contact us and we can walk you through it.

Wire Decks and Pallet Support Bars

There are other factors that can affect the load able to be placed on a shelf. The load should be placed on both beams so that it overhangs the beams by 3&#;. In the event a load is slightly smaller than the depth of the shelf, or if it is not loaded correctly, a wire deck or pallet support bar can prevent the load from falling or create a safety issue.

Wire Decks

Wire decks offer additional support for items that are stored on pallet racks. There are a variety of styles other than wire decks, including structural lumber, bar grating, and perforated decking, but wire decks are most often used.  The decks span the space between the beams, and have supports that run perpendicular to the direction of the beams.

To get an interchangeable, affordable system, you will want the wire deck capacity rating to be consistent with your beam capacities. For instance, you will need two decks with a 2,500-pound rating to cover a beam pair rated for 5,000 pounds. This will allow you to change your warehouse without worrying about being limited by the wire decks. While it is easy to place a capacity sticker on the beams, it is harder to affix it to a wire deck. Buying right up front will make it easier to ensure your capacities are not an issue in the future.

The deck strength should never be less than the maximum load you are planning on storing in the rack system. The load capacity of wire decking is described as the &#;maximum uniformly distributed static load, which is entirely independent of the support system,&#; according to ANSI MH26.2-. This ensures that the load will be safe from falling even if it is not loaded correctly or is not deep enough to rest on the beams. Most manufacturers specify that the UDL must be within one or two inches of the beam though. Make sure to check the specifications of the product you are purchasing.

Pallet Support Bars

Pallet support bars are the second most common style of cross supports that you will see in a warehouse. These are support bars that connect the front beam to the back beam. To ensure that they don&#;t move, they should be screwed into the beams. You typically see two pallet support bars for each pallet. These have many of the same benefits as wire decking, they just lack the wire mesh that helps stop small items and packages from falling through the rack system.

Storage rack decking and pallet support bars should only be used for uniformly distributed load storage to ensure the safety of your operations. It should not be used for anything else because it is not constructed or engineered for point loads, to walk across, or be stood upon.

Contact us if you need assistance with Warehouse Design, which includes assistance with load capacity.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Wire Mesh Container. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Description

Pallet Rack Wire Decking, or Wire Mesh Deck, provides a safe surface to support pallets for pallet racking. Pallet rack wire decking increases the safety and versatility of your pallet rack system by allowing you to store more than just standard pallets. Bins, boxes, and other products are commonly stored on wire decking.

• Waterfall style rests on top of the beams
• 2&#; x 4&#; grid pattern
• Powder coated gray for highly durable finish
• 3 U-channel supports designed for standard 1 5/8&#; step beams
• Wire thickness: 6 ga.
• Capacity: lbs. (uniform distributed load, and only lb. capacity for 60&#; deep style)

What Size of Pallet Rack Wire Decking Do I Need?

Depth: The depth of the wire decking must match the depth of the pallet rack frames. Common depths are 36&#;, 42&#;, 44&#; and 48&#; (and now offering 60&#; deep).

Width: The width of the wire decking depends on the length of the beams.

• 46&#; Width: Used with 4 ft, 8 ft, and 12 ft beams (most common)
• 52&#; Width: Used with 9 ft beams
• 58&#; Width: Used with 10ft beams

If you are looking to purchase a new pallet racking system, use our handy pallet rack builder on our pallet racks and racking systems page.

Types of Wire Mesh Decking

We offer two types of wire mesh decking: standard and flanged. You can see the difference in the SKU numbers WMD-(F)-GRYI and WMD-(SM)-GRYI.

How Many Wire Decks Decks Do I Need?

The number of wire decks needed depends on the length of your beams.

• 8ft, 9ft or 10ft beams: 2 decks per beam level
• 12ft beams: 3 decks per beam level

Here&#;s one quick way to think of this: For 8-10ft beams, you need the same number of decks as you have beams. For 12ft beams, you need 1.5 times as many decks as you have beams.

Pallet Rack Wire Decking Quantities

96&#;   beams = order (2) 46&#; wide decks per level
108&#; beams = order (2) 52&#; wide decks per level
120&#; beams = order (2) 58&#; wide decks per level
144&#; beams = order (3) 46&#; wide decks per level

Pallet Rack Wire Decking vs Wood Decking

Wire decking is much better than wood decking. In an effort to save money, some people consider using wood like 2×4&#;s or plywood instead of wire decking for their pallet rack. There are several reasons why you should consider wire decking instead of a wood decking alternative.

• Safety &#; Wire decks use a 2&#; x 4&#; grid, which prevents most products from falling through. Using wood 2×4&#;s leaves large gaps for products to fall through the racking.
• Cost Savings &#; The primary reason people consider wood is that they think it will save them money. But when you really do the math on the cost of the wood, plus the labor and hassle to go get it and cut it to size, most people find that the minimal cost savings are not worth the effort.
• Fire Safety &#; Wood burns, and if you&#;re using your pallet racking in a business, your fire marshal would much prefer (and may even require) that you use wire decking instead of wood. The wire grids also allow water to flow through, which is better for putting out a fire.
• Capacity Ratings &#; Wire decking comes with manufacturer rated capacity ratings. Wood has no such rating, so can&#;t you really be sure that what you are loading on your wood decking is safe.
• Accidental Shifting &#; Wood decking often shifts when loading or unloading a pallet, and can easily fall through the decking, which has obvious safety issues (imagine a 2×4 falling from 15ft high), in addition to the time and effort required to reinstall the wood. Wire decking waterfalls over the front and back edge of the pallet rack beam to mitigate shifting for increased safety.

Looking for Used Wire Decking for Pallet Rack?

We may have just what you need! Give us a call at 503-640- for current inventory and pricing on used wire decks.