Pallet Rack Installation: Squaring the Rack
Squaring pallet rack is often misunderstood. The whole process begins with measuring the placement of the rack. You might measure off the walls or other fixtures to find both the end line and the aisle line. In theory both lines should be square with each other, but in reality they are most likely not square. The reason is that when the building was built the construction process is moving at a steady pace and squaring walls are attempted but not to perfection. We have all seen wavy walls or out of square walls in our homes. Now magnify that in a building that is 300 feet by 300 feet. So reality hits and our lines are not necessarily square with each other.
Once you have built your starter bay, place the pallet rack bay on both the aisle line and the end line. Anchor both of the columns on the aisle line. Now square the rack by picking the same reference point on both front columns. Measure diagonal to another identical reference points on the back columns. If you had two tape measures, the tapes would cross each other and form a “X”. If both measurements match the rack is square. If they are not, they need to be adjusted by pushing the back pallet rack columns parallel with the aisle line. Re-measure for square. Once you have repeated the process and the rack is square, anchor the back columns.
Note that your back column may or may not be on the end line when square. This should not be a big concern since the building is not perfectly square.
Note also that when aligning the pallet rack on the aisle line you should line up the face of the column not the foot plate because the foot plates are not always exactly attached in the same place.
More pallet rack installation tips will follow in a future post.