As business needs change, factories and warehouses are reconfiguring their industrial pallet rack more often. By moving these storage structures, operations can support different processes, work cells, equipment, and machinery. Frequently these structures are single deep selective rack. Without steel mesh rack guarding panels installed on the back of the rack, however, stored items could fall through. That poses a risk of injury to workers. Additionally, rack without rack guarding has an increased risk of damage to inventory and facility structures.

“Rack guarding prevents pallets or products from falling off the sides or back of a pallet rack structure,” explained Ray Niemeyer, Vice President of Sales at SpaceGuard Products. The company is a member of the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA). “Using these panels allows an operation maximum flexibility when arranging their racks. It allows pallet rack placement in areas where the chances of injury are higher. This includes adjacent to workstations, or in traffic aisles, work cells, or machining areas.

Likewise, rack guarding — also called steel mesh containment panels, rack safety panels, or rack back — prevents inventory damage by capturing falling items before they can reach the floor, he added.

Rack Guarding Shields Facility Structures from Forklift Damage

Adding rack guarding to the back of pallet rack placed against a wall prevents damage caused by forklifts.

“Its presence also stops the forks of a forklift from punching a hole in a facility structure,” Niemeyer continued. “That could be drywall, masonry block, concrete, metal, or ceiling support columns such as I-beams.”

Whether a company owns or leases the facility, any damage caused to the structure will require repairs. Holes, particularly on exterior walls, can invite insects or rodents into the operation.

“If a company doesn’t want to install rack guarding on pallet rack located next to a wall, then they should instead position the rack farther from the wall. This reduces the risk of the forks spearing through the facility structure,” Niemeyer explained. “However, the downside is that doing so makes the building less space efficient.”

How Rack Guarding Aids in Fire Suppression

Another reason to install rack guarding is to support fire suppression efforts in racks installed back-to-back. Niemeyer noted that the guards keep flue spaces unobstructed. That ensures water from the sprinklers can reach the fire.

“Using rack guarding keeps an 8-inch or 12-inch flue space open because it prevents items from falling into that area,” he said. “With the guards in place, sprinkler systems can do their job. This helps the facility to comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.”

Likewise, rack guarding shields pipes and conduit from potential forklift damage. Using it prevents falling boxes from breaking sprinkler heads. It also stops loads before they contact and damage gas lines, electrical conduit, air lines, drainage pipes, and sprinkler lines.

Standard Helps with Selection of Panels

Rack guarding typically comes in standard heights of 4 or 5 feet, and widths in 1-foot increments up to 12 feet. Purchasers can specify the mesh opening size, material gauge, and mounting brackets.

To help owners, users, designers, purchasers, or specifiers determine the best way to use the panels, ProGMA offers a design standard. “ANSI MH31.1 – Steel Mesh Containment Panels Used In Vertical Storage System Applications: Performance and Testing Requirements” provides guidance and information about design, use, and testing of rack guarding. The document also includes performance criteria and operational requirements. Further, ANSI MH31.1 explains how to evaluate testing results in alignment with NFPA 13.

Discover More Ways to Protect Personnel

ProGMA offers a Protective Guarding Checklist to help identify areas where guarding will be beneficial. It also curates the Protective Guarding Search Tool, a comprehensive listing of nearly 40 different solutions to make an operation safer.