Support bars are an essential part of any pallet rack system. They are designed to connect the beams of a pallet rack, providing increased structural integrity and support, keeping the bottom of the pallet (and its contents) secure, and keeping inventory up to code.
Support bars are often hidden beneath the surface of a wooden decking, but it’s important that warehouse managers keep an eye on their condition for a variety of reasons. For example, if you have an old pallet with holes in its bottom, you run the risk that one or both support beams could break through the decking from underneath it, causing damage to both your floor and your inventory.
In addition, while they’re designed to hold up the weight of a full pallet and all of its contents, support bars can also be damaged by overloading. In many modern warehouses, forklifts are not equipped with weight sensors that prevent them from lifting more than their maximum capacity, so operators must rely on their own experience and judgment when deciding whether or not a load is too much for a particular bar. If they err on the side of caution, you’ll end up with more empty space between your products than is necessary.
When it comes to pallet rack systems, there are three basic components that make up a pallet rack: the beams, the support bars, and the pallets. A pallet support beam is what most people think of when they envision a typical pallet rack. These beams run from one end of the rack to the other, allowing for two-way traffic of employees and merchandise on the shelves. The primary function of a support beam is to hold up the actual pallets that are being stored within the system.
The only other component in a typical pallet racking system that plays a similar role as a support beam is a beam connector. However, while they fulfill similar purposes, these two pieces of equipment are very different in how they operate with the rest of the system. A beam connector is essentially just an extension piece for connecting two beams together and helping them work together as one piece. They are most commonly used to expand already existing racks or to create unique configurations that would be impossible with just individual beams.
In contrast, a pallet support bar is used in conjunction with other types of equipment (such as forklifts) to help lift up and move pallets around within a storage facility (but it does not actually hold up the pallets themselves).
I’ve put together a few examples of how many supports you’ll need for your pallet rack.
The chart is based off the industry standard of 2.5 square feet per pallet support, which is recommended to prevent sagging and to handle light to moderate loads. This standard is used for most pallets that hold paper or plastic products.
So now, let’s say you want to build a 12ft wide rack with three pallets that are 4ft by 4ft each. How many pallet supports do you need?
-12ft x 3 pallets = 36 square feet (width)
-Since the size of each pallet support is 2.5 square feet, we would divide 36 by 2.5 to get 12 pallet supports.
-However, since we have three pallets, we would add three more supports for a total of 15 supports for our three pallets.
We can use this same formula for any width and number of pallets!
Pallet support bars. A seemingly simple product that could, in theory, keep workers from getting hurt on pallets—which are often used to ship heavier products. But do they really work to prevent injury?
Pallet supports are a relatively recent addition to the world of pallets. They’re typically made of metal and are placed on the sides of the pallet, and they can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of different companies. Some companies choose to put them on every side of a pallet; others only on some or just one side; and still others might use multiple supports on each side.
The reason for adding supports is safety—they’re supposed to provide extra support for the weight being carried by the pallet so that it doesn’t fall over, causing injury to anyone who’s standing around it. This is especially important because pallets are often used in warehouses where there are multiple stacks of them. Since they’re commonly used as a storage solution, there’s a good chance that someone could walk right up to one without realizing it’s there and get hurt if it falls.
You’ve invested in a wide range of goods and raw materials, which you need to safely store. You also want to keep them organized so you can easily find what you need—and to do that, you’ll need racking and shelving that can support the weight of your products. But are your current systems up to the task? At Abazar Shelving, we understand the problems that arise with industrial-capacity racking and shelving and how crucial it is to get the right system for your needs.
Abazar Shelving offers state-of-the-art Pallet Racking Support Bars that are built with a structural design and components meant to withstand heavy loads. We don’t just provide equipment—we provide solutions. Our pallet support bars have unique, sturdy design features that can be equipped with optional accessories such as forklift pockets or custom tie-down kits.
Our models are made from heavy duty steel or aluminum. They’re available in a variety of sizes, including 4x4s (for smaller loads), 6x6s (ideal for standard loads) or 8x8s (made for extremely heavy loads). The load capacities vary depending on the material used. Where necessary, they can be engineered to meet specific requirements such as international standards.
