What is the difference between level load and bay load?
Pallet racking has two capacities that must never be confused:
- Level load is the maximum weight one pair of beams may carry, for example two or three pallets on one level.
- Bay load is the maximum total weight of all levels in one bay, carried by the frames through the uprights to the floor.
A bay with four levels of 2,000 kg each does not automatically mean the frames can carry 8,000 kg. Bay load is checked separately, and it is often the limit rather than the beams.
What does level load depend on?
Beam profile and length
The longer the beam, the more it bends under the same load. A wider bay carrying the same weight therefore needs a deeper or heavier beam section. Beam deflection must stay within the limits set by the calculation.
Uniformly distributed load
Level capacity is calculated for a uniformly distributed load. A pallet loaded on one side only, or goods placed directly on the beams without a pallet, changes the conditions and must be checked separately.
Beam-to-upright connection
Each beam hooks into the upright through its end connector and a safety lock. The lock stops the beam from being lifted out if a forklift strikes it from below and must be fitted at every connection.
What does bay load depend on?
Upright profile and frame height
An upright behaves like a column in compression. The longer the unsupported length, the lower the force it can safely carry. Bay load therefore depends on both the upright profile and the bracing pattern of the frame.
Height of the first level and level spacing
Beams stiffen the frame along the run. If the first level is high above the floor or levels are far apart, the upright has a longer free length and bay capacity falls.
Floor and anchoring
Loads pass from the uprights to the floor through base plates. The floor must be able to take that load, and frames must be anchored as designed.
What happens when you move a beam level?
Moving a beam to a different height looks like a small change, but it alters the level spacing and therefore the bay capacity. Removing levels or increasing the spacing can reduce the permitted load. Every change of configuration should be checked by calculation beforehand and the load notices updated.
What must the load notice show?
Following good practice from EN 15635, every rack must display a notice showing the permitted load per level and per bay, together with the level arrangement those values apply to. The system itself is calculated according to rules such as those in EN 15512.
Why must capacity never be exceeded?
Overloading does not always cause visible damage straight away. Beams can bend permanently and uprights can lose stability, especially if they have already been struck. The result can be the collapse of a whole run. That is why load notices are respected without exception and every new type of goods is checked before it is stored.
How does EL-FAM determine capacity?
We calculate capacity for each project individually, based on your pallet, building height and level arrangement. We manufacture the components in our own plant, install them and fit the load notices. Send us your floor dimensions and pallet weights and we will propose a configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a heavier pallet on a level if it is the only one there?
Not if the total on the level or in the bay exceeds the value on the load notice. The notice applies to a uniformly distributed load, and a heavier single pallet must be checked by calculation.
Does a higher level load also mean a higher bay load?
No. Bay load depends on the frames, height and level spacing and is calculated separately, so it is often lower than the sum of all level loads.
What if the racking has no load notice?
Racking without a load notice should not be loaded until its capacity has been checked. An expert inspection and calculation establish the permitted load, after which notices are fitted.
Can I change the beam heights myself?
Any change in beam height alters the bay capacity, so it should be checked by calculation beforehand and the load notices updated afterwards.
