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modern equipment reportwill resist tearing or bending to a muchgreater extent, and offer a larger area inwhich to place required floor anchors,”says Weiker Kline, senior product managerfor Penco Products.Another solution used to secure theframe to the floor is a housing called abase isolator that is anchored down usingbolts that meet the area’s requirements.The upright rack frame is mounted to aplate within the base isolator. During anearthquake, the plate allows the frameto slide back and forth to mitigate theenergy of the seismic wave. In this case,the bottom of the rack moves to preventthe top from swaying.The floor anchors, or bolts, used tosecure the footplates or the base isolatorcomponents to the floor are not specificallydesigned for high-risk seismicareas. The bolts are available in differentsizes and capacities.Proceed with cautionThe ability of any rack component towithstand the force and tremors ofan earthquake can only be discoveredthrough testing. Whether you’re buyingnew or used rack or transferring yourrack from one facility to another, a rigoroustesting process should be appliedto the rack structures to ensure it isperforming properly.Testing is also important when connectingcomponents manufactured bydifferent suppliers. “The beam-to-columnconnections on pallet rack systemsfrom manufacturer to manufacturer areusually proprietary,” says Courtwright.“That doesn’t mean they won’t fittogether, it means the only way to knowhow the beam-to-column connectionwill react to applied seismic forces isthrough testing.”Being able to mix and match rackcomponents manufactured by differentsuppliers creates rack options for endusers and adds to functionality and versatilitywithin the four walls, says KevinCurry, national accounts manager forSteel King Industries. It can work forrack shelving for storage, as a mezzanineto create a second floor, and tosupport picking operations.Versatility is especially beneficial ifyour operation has seasonal product.But you can’t move rack around andassume you will maintain the same seismicintegrity. “Be very careful that anyrack installation is compliant with currentcode,” says Don Derewecki, seniorbusiness consultant at TranSystems.“Many firms get into trouble with codecompliance when they try to relocate ormodify rack. They may violate the grandfatheringthey have with existing code.”Prevention and repairSurviving an earthquake with minimaldamage not only depends on the rackdesign and materials, it depends onregularly scheduled inspections andmaintenance. “Preventative measuresare always a good idea,” says InterlakeMecalux’s Novak. “Column protection,end of row protection, and guide railsare all good safety features. However,the customer should consult with aqualified supplier first to determinewhether or not additional equipmentwill infringe on the aisles and createissues with lift equipment, traffic orthroughput.”Even with the most diligent preventivemeasures, accidents and damagehappen. Any rack damage that is significantenough to create a crease shouldThere are a number of ways to repair and replacedamaged columns—doing so without having tounload the rack is key to maintaining productivity.be repaired or replaced. A weakenedsegment is susceptible to breakageand could snap during an earthquake.Damaged frames should always berepaired or replaced.Novak also suggests inspectingbeams regularly to confirm the originallocking mechanism is in place. Thisprevents accidental lift-out from theframe. If the lock is not in place, thebeam should be bolted in or replaced.RMI suggests that facilities withrack structures have a comprehensiveinspection plan in place. The detailsof that plan will vary from company tocompany depending on the needs ofthe environment, including the volumeof traffic and throughput, but safety isalways the bottom line concern. MCompanies mentionedin this articleInterlake Mecalux:interlakemecalux.comPenco Products: pencoproducts.comRack Manufacturers Institute (RMI):www.mhia.org/industrygroups/rmiRidg-U-Rak: ridgurak.comSeizmic Material <strong>Handling</strong>Engineering: seizmic.netSteel King: steelking.comTranSystems: transystems.com32 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 2 / <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>Materials</strong> <strong>Handling</strong> mmh.com
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