The anatomy of a pallet rack covers the parts that make up a pallet racking bay: the vertical frames, the horizontal beams, the cells they define, the decking that closes off certain levels, and the foot protectors at the base of the frames. This entry brings together five technical terms, each too narrow to justify a page of its own.
Frame
The frame is the vertical element of the pallet rack, generally a lattice structure made of two uprights and diagonal braces, onto which the beams are attached. It is fixed to the floor with base plates and carries most of the bay's weight. Its height and cross-section vary depending on the number of storage levels planned and the total load to support; the uprights are punched at regular intervals to allow the beam height to be adjusted as needed.
Beam
The beam is the horizontal member fixed between two frames, generally using a system of hooks or lugs that clip into the punched holes in the uprights, with no bolting needed. Two parallel beams, one on each side of the bay, form a storage level on which pallets or decking rest directly. Beam height can be adjusted to match the height of the loads to be stored, which is what makes pallet racking a modular system.
Cell
The cell refers to the location bounded by two frames and a pair of beams, in which a pallet is stored. It is the basic capacity unit of a pallet rack: a bay generally has one cell per level and per position across its width. The term and its exact boundaries vary from one manufacturer to another; this definition remains a working definition built from common usage in the industry, to be cross-checked with a racking supplier if needed.
Decking
The decking is the flooring, metal mesh, sheet metal or wood panels, placed on the beams of a level to close off its surface. It allows non-palletized loads (cartons, bins, small parts) to be stored, which would not sit properly on bare beams, and secures the level by preventing objects from falling to the levels below or into the aisle. It is commonly used on manual picking or mezzanine levels, less systematically on full-pallet storage levels.
Foot protector
The foot protector (or frame-foot guard) is a metal sleeve fixed at the base of the frames, at the point where impacts from trucks or pallet trucks are most frequent. It absorbs the impact and protects the upright from deformation that could, over time, compromise the stability of the whole bay. Standard NF EN 15635, which governs the safety and maintenance of pallet racking, recommends this type of protection on exposed areas and also requires regular inspections (weekly visual checks, expert checks at least annually) with damage classified by severity.
FAQ
What is a pallet rack cell?
A cell is the location bounded by two frames and a pair of beams, in which a pallet is stored. It is the basic capacity unit of a pallet rack bay, repeated at every level and every position across the width of the structure.
What is a foot protector for on a pallet rack?
It protects the base of the frames, the area most exposed to impacts from trucks and pallet trucks, by absorbing the shock. This prevents deformation of the upright that could, over time, weaken the stability of the whole bay.
Is decking mandatory on a pallet rack?
Not systematically: it depends on the type of load stored. It becomes necessary for cartons, bins or non-palletized loads, and is recommended on levels exposed to a risk of objects falling to the levels below or into the aisle.
Related terms
Pallet racking · Drive-in racking · Cantilever racking · Mezzanine · Warehouse / logistics platform · Traffic aisle · Forklift truck.
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