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Frequently asked questions
58 questions buyers ask about warehouse racking, mezzanines, permits and installation, answered in plain words.
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Prices and quotes
How much does pallet racking cost?
It depends on the parts list: frame height and depth, beam length and capacity, decking, the number of bays, and freight and installation if you want them. New and used are priced side by side. Send your pallet size and weight and how many positions you need, and we price the exact list for free.
How much does used pallet racking cost?
Less than new for the same parts, by how much depends on the style, size and condition in stock. Every quote shows used next to new for the same list, so you see the difference on your own project.
How much does pallet rack installation cost?
It depends on how many bays and levels you have, the height, the anchors your floor and seismic zone need, and how easy the site is to work in. Send your rack list or drawing and you get one free quote covering the whole job.
How much does a warehouse mezzanine cost?
It is priced by area, deck load, column spacing, decking, stairs and gates, plus engineering, permits, freight and installation. Send the area, the height and what the deck will carry, and we price the design.
How much does a racking inspection cost?
It depends on how many bays you have, how tall the racking is and where the warehouse is. Tell us the address and roughly how many bays, and we send a free quote for a pallet rack inspection before anything is booked.
Is a warehouse layout drawing free?
Yes. We draw your layout and prepare the quote at no charge.
What do you need from me for a quote?
Whatever you have: pallet size and weight, how many positions you need, your clear height, the forklifts you use, and a floor plan or a few photos. A rough sketch is enough to start.
How fast do you reply?
Within one business day, usually much sooner. Call 971-337-6608, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Pacific, to talk to the team straight away.
Choosing racking
What is pallet racking?
Steel storage built from upright frames and horizontal beams, with pallets set on the beams by forklift. It stacks pallets high and safely, so the same floor holds far more than floor stacking.
What are the different types of pallet racking?
Selective (every pallet in reach), double-deep, drive-in, pushback, pallet flow, shuttle and mobile racking, plus cantilever for long loads. They trade access for density: the more pallets per lane, the fewer aisles, but the fewer pallets you can reach directly.
Which racking system is right for my warehouse?
It comes down to how many products you store, how many pallets of each, how fast they move, your clear height and your forklifts. Many products with few pallets each suit selective racking; few products with many pallets each suit drive-in, pushback or pallet flow. We lay out the options on your floor plan and show the pallet count for each.
What is selective pallet racking?
The most common racking: one pallet deep on each side of an aisle, so every pallet can be picked without moving another. It suits warehouses with many different products. See selective pallet racking.
How does drive-in racking work?
Forklifts drive into the lanes and set pallets on rails on both sides, so aisles are replaced by storage. Each lane holds one product, last in, first out, which suits large quantities of the same item and cold storage. See drive-in racking.
How does pushback racking work?
Pallets sit on nested carts on sloped rails. Loading a new pallet pushes the others back, and taking the front one lets the next roll forward. Lanes run 2 to 6 pallets deep, last in, first out. See pushback racking.
What is pallet flow racking?
Lanes of rollers on a slight slope: pallets load at the back and roll to the front by gravity, so the oldest pallet is always picked first. It suits dated and fast-moving stock. See pallet flow racking.
What is double-deep racking?
Two selective rows back to back on each side of the aisle, which removes about every other aisle. The rear pallet comes out only after the front one, and you need a deep-reach truck. See double-deep racking.
What is cantilever racking used for?
Long and awkward loads: lumber, pipe, steel bar, sheet goods and furniture. Arms stick out from a central column with no front uprights in the way. See cantilever racking.
Do I need wire decking on my racking?
Not always, but most warehouses use it: it supports pallets and cases that do not sit squarely on both beams, and its open mesh lets sprinkler water through. See wire decking.
Should I buy new or used racking?
Used racking in good condition carries the same load as new for less money. New makes sense for a specific size, color or a system that must match exactly. We quote both side by side so you can choose.
Sizes and capacity
How much weight can pallet racking hold?
It depends on the beam length and face height and on the frame. As a guide, a 96″ × 4″ teardrop beam pair is rated at about 4,000–5,000 lb, load spread evenly, and a 42″ 14-gauge frame at about 23,000 lb with beams 48″ apart. Your quote states the rating for your load.
How deep is pallet racking?
Most racking uses 42″ deep frames for the standard 48″ × 40″ pallet, so the pallet overhangs the beams by about 3″ front and back. Deeper and shallower frames are made for other pallets.
How long are pallet rack beams?
96″ is the most common length and holds two 40″-wide pallets; 144″ holds three. Beam length is the clear distance between the two uprights. See pallet rack beams.
How tall can pallet racking be?
As tall as your building, forklift and fire protection allow. The top load has to stay clear of the sprinklers, usually 18″ below the sprinkler heads, and taller racking brings permit and fire-code rules with it.
How wide should warehouse aisles be?
It depends on the forklift: counterbalance trucks need the widest aisles, reach trucks less, and very-narrow-aisle trucks the least. We size aisles from your trucks’ specs so no floor space is given away.
Are pallet rack beams universal?
No, but most teardrop racking shares the same slot pattern, so teardrop beams fit most teardrop uprights. Other styles need their own connector. A photo of the upright face is usually enough for us to match it.
How long does pallet racking last?
Steel racking has no set expiry. Kept within its rating, anchored and free of damage, it lasts for decades; forklift damage and overloading are what end its life, which is why regular inspections matter.
Permits, codes and safety
Do I need a permit for pallet racking?
Often, yes. Many West Coast cities require a building permit for storage racks over 5′9″, and the fire code adds a high-piled storage permit when combustible goods are stored over 12 feet. The rules are local, so we start by checking what your city asks for. See racking permits.
What is high-piled storage?
Combustible goods stored more than 12 feet high (6 feet for high-hazard goods) over an area larger than 500 square feet. It needs a fire department permit that checks the storage height, aisles, sprinklers and fire access.
Does pallet racking need to be anchored to the floor?
Yes. The US rack standard, ANSI MH16.1 (RMI), expects every base plate to be anchored, and in Oregon, Washington and California anchoring is part of designing racks for earthquakes. See rack anchoring.
What does OSHA require for warehouse racking?
OSHA has no rule written only for racking, but it requires storage to be stable and secure (29 CFR 1910.176(b)) and hazards to be fixed, and damaged racking can be cited under its general rules. Anchored racking, posted load signs and a recent inspection are the clear way to show it.
How often should racking be inspected?
A quick visual check by your own staff every week, a full inspection by a trained inspector at least once a year, and an extra inspection after any forklift impact or earthquake. Busy warehouses often inspect more often.
Is a racking inspection a legal requirement?
There is no US law that sets a fixed schedule, but OSHA expects safe storage, insurers often ask for a report, and the rack standard calls for regular inspections. A written inspection report is the clearest proof your racking is looked after.
Can damaged racking be repaired?
Yes, depending on the damage. A dent within the maker’s limits can stay and be watched; a bend or tear beyond them means the upright or frame is replaced, or repaired with an engineered repair kit. Unload the bay first and have it checked. See pallet rack repair.
Can you walk or climb on pallet racking?
No. Racking is designed for pallets, not people: climbing it or standing on beams risks falls and damage. Use a lift, or a work platform or mezzanine built for people.
Can you cut, drill or weld pallet racking?
Not without the maker’s or an engineer’s approval. Cutting, drilling or welding changes the steel the load rating was calculated on, so the rating no longer applies.
Do I need rack guards?
Where forklifts work, yes: column guards protect the uprights trucks pass, and end-of-aisle guards protect the row ends where they turn. Most rack damage happens at these points. See rack guards.
Installation, layout and moving
How long does pallet racking installation take?
It depends on the size of the job; a typical warehouse is days, not weeks. One of our North Portland projects was racked in three working days. We agree the dates when you approve the quote and install aisle by aisle, so finished aisles can be loaded while the crew moves on.
Can you install racking while we keep working?
Yes. We work aisle by aisle and agree the order with you, so the rest of the warehouse keeps running. One freezer project was installed over four weekends with no production days lost.
Can I install pallet racking myself?
You can, but racking only holds its rated load when it is built to the drawing, plumb, anchored and locked, and most permits and insurers expect that. A trained crew does it faster, and we handle the permit too.
How do I plan a warehouse layout?
Start from your building’s dimensions, clear height and dock doors, then your pallet sizes, weights and forklifts, and how goods move from receiving to shipping. We walk the building and draw the layout for free, usually within a few days of your first call.
Can you move our racking to a new warehouse?
Yes. We take it down, check every part, and put it up in the new building, a few rows at a time so part of your operation is always running. The new building needs its own permit, which we file as part of the move.
Do you take down racking?
Yes, as part of a move or on its own. If you no longer need the racking, we can buy it instead of you paying to have it scrapped.
Do you do complete projects, from design to sign-off?
Yes. One team handles the layout, the racking, the permit and the installation under one contract, so the drawing, the parts and the crew match from day one.
Mezzanines
Do I need a permit for a mezzanine?
In most places, yes: a mezzanine is a structure and adds floor area. We prepare the stamped drawings and calculations and help through the permit.
How much weight can a mezzanine hold?
Light storage decks start at 125 pounds per square foot, the building code minimum for light storage, and heavy storage at 250. Every deck is designed for what it will really carry. See industrial mezzanines.
How big can a mezzanine be?
The building code limits a mezzanine to a share of the room it is in, usually one-third of the floor area, with exceptions. We check the limit for your building in the design.
How long does it take to build a mezzanine?
The drawings and permit usually take the longest. Once approved, a bolted steel mezzanine goes up in days, not months, depending on its size.
Can a mezzanine be moved later?
Yes. A bolted mezzanine can be taken down and rebuilt elsewhere, after a new design check and permit for the new building.
Used racking
Do you sell used pallet racking?
Yes. New and used racking are in stock, and every quote shows used next to new so you can compare. We tell you which parts are which.
Is used pallet racking safe?
Yes, when it is straight, undamaged and installed like new: built to the drawing, plumb, anchored and with load signs posted. Used racking we install goes up to the same standard as new.
Do you buy used pallet racking?
Yes. Send the type, a rough quantity, the condition, your ZIP code and a few photos through our we buy used racking page, and we make an offer. You do not need to know the brand.
How much is used pallet racking worth?
It depends on the style, the sizes, the quantity, the condition and whether it is standing or already taken down. Clear photos and a rough count are enough for an offer.
Delivery, areas and contact
What areas do you serve?
We are on site within 24–48 hours anywhere in Oregon, Washington and California, and we ship racking and take on projects anywhere in the US. See areas we serve.
Do you ship racking outside the West Coast?
Yes, anywhere in the US. Freight is priced in your quote.
Can I pick up racking myself?
Yes. Local pickup is available at our base, 7807 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on what you order and whether it is in stock. Your quote states the lead time before you commit.
Where is Lenokers located?
Our headquarters is at 7807 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, Oregon 97266, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Pacific.
How do I contact you?
Call 971-337-6608 or send a message. We reply within one business day.
Didn’t find your question?
Ask us directly: send the form or call 971-337-6608. We reply within one business day.
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New & used racking in stock
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