Regulation is the name of the game for pallet rack, and depending on what state you live in, you may already be familiar with the legalities surrounding seismic pallet rack for earthquake-prone zones. California and Tennessee are leading the way in seismic pallet rack safety, which includes stricter rules on pallet rack design and installation. As material handling experts, we at Speedrack Midwest make it a point to know your seismic requirements and will work with your local laws to make sure your warehouse is up to code before the first load is delivered.

Your seismic zone depends on the Seismic Design Map provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which lays out the probability for seismic activity in your area. Local building codes will likely have an effect on your pallet rack project, too. Your city may require a permit to install pallet rack in your building, with height playing the most important part. Things become even stricter if customers come straight through your doors. If members of the public are roaming areas where you have pallet rack, you're liability increases.

Pallet rack in seismic zones is subject to forces beyond what it ordinarily is in normal situations, so yours needs to stand up to much higher scrutiny and testing. All of this is to say that it's mighty important that you involve a material handling expert who can help you navigate the legal implications and design requirements of installing pallet rack in your warehouse, particularly in seismic zones.

The actual design of the pallet rack is something we don't want you to be concerned about as much as doing things by the book. Reinforced base plates, longer anchor bolts, thicker gauge steel, and special cross-bracing are all things that a material handling expert will know about your pallet rack, and those details will come into consideration when your facility is laid out and tested for seismic resistance.

The lesson from this all: hire a trusted provider of material handling solutions to perform the hard work and due diligence. You can contact the Speedrack Midwest office in Sparta, Michigan to get your project off the ground and approved for installation by the local authorities before you know it. Don't hesitate to call us at 616-887-8886.