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Rack inspections

Warranty and post-warranty inspection of racking structures

Service description

Expert rack inspections should be carried out at least once a year by highly trained professionals. According to EU Regulations this frequency improves safety of employees and loads in a warehouse.

Why is it important to carry out annual rack inspections?

  1. Complying with EU Regulations
  2. Providing staff and assets security
  3. Keeping producer’s warranty
  4. Preparing rack service and repairs
  5. Maximizing storage capacity

What are warehouse racking inspections?

There is no result of human action that is perfect or everlasting. It also refers to racking systems which often have to face adverse conditions or destructive forces of forklift trucks, stacker cranes and heavy loads.

Lifespan of a racking system can be increased only by proper maintainance of warehouse equipment. Regular inspections can significantly improve the condition of the system. They have to be carried out in compliance with EU requirements. There are 3 types of inspections performed: prompt notifications, internal weekly inspections and expert inspections.

The scope of the service includes conducting an expert inspection at the Client’s warehouse. Such an inspection is carried out by a certified inspector.

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Advantages of performing an annual expert inspection of racks

Complying with EU Regulations

EN 15635 Regulation indicates 3 types of rack inspections:

  • Prompt notification (of a current problem) – every warehouse employee is obliged to inform a Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety (PRSES) about any damage or defect.
  • Internal weekly inspections – a PRSES should carry out a check once a week to make sure that there is no damage. Potential safety issues should be included in a written report.
  • Expert inspections (at least once a year) – these inspections should be made by highly qualified specialists (authorised by racking system manufacturer). An inspection should be summerised in a written report with specification of damages and issues and suggested solutions.

Providing staff and assets security

Regular expert inspections provide prompt damage identification. They enable to solve effectively those problems that may result in security threat or load damage.

During warehouse visits rack inspector checks every construction element and decides which one should be replaced. Minor defects (e.g. lack of protective components, loose screws) are fixed on the spot by service technicians.

Warehouse employee has the right to obtain financial compensation if his employer failed to prevent him from injury. In extreme cases big amount of a compensation can be received as the employer is obliged to pay for medical treatment. In case of permanent invalidity, compensation includes as well invalidity pension or costs of professional retraining.

Employer is ordered to pay a compensation if he is proven guilty of neglecting care duties which lead to an accident or injury. Written reports of expert inspections and technical problems solving can prove that the employer ensured safety of the personnel and the accident was not his fault.

Insurance companies can withhold compensation for damaged goods if the regular expert inspections on racks were not carried out.

Keeping producer’s warranty

If expert rack inspections are not made, producer can void the warranty or reduce its period.

Regular inspections are less expensive than the repairs done after the expiry date of the warranty period.

Preparing rack service and repairs

During expert rack inspection in a warehouse all components of a rack system are examined closely. Defects or damages found during this process are clasified, labeled on the spot and specified in a written report.

Bearing in mind EN 15635 EU Regulation we implemented three-step clasification of damages requiring supervision or service and repair:

  • Green tag – minor damage, supervision is needed. Construction elements can still be used but they have to be marked and closely examined during following inspections.
  • Yellow tag – dangerous damage that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. In order to eliminate damage, defective component should be replaced within 4 weeks. During this period the component can be used but the load weight has to be reduced by 50%.
  • Red tag – very serious damage that requires urgent action. Damaged rack section cannot be used anymore. Affected area has to be immediately unloaded. Report summerizing expert inspection involves an overview of damaged or missing components. All issues discovered during the inspection can be easily identified and located in a warehouse thanks to detailed specifications.

Maximizing storage capacity

As mentioned before, yellow and red tags exclude damaged rack sections from use. Replacement of the components listed in the report makes the whole storage space safe and approved for use again.

Scope of expert rack inspection

The aim of the expert inspection is to present to our Client technical problems and recommendations to improve racking system safety and efficiency of use, in compliance with EU Regulations.

Scope of inspection covers verification of project documentation and local conditions in a warehouse in order to:

  • Verify the accuracy of practices and procedures introduced by Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety.
  • Verify the completeness of construction documentation.
  • Verify if storage equipment is consistent with construction documentation.
  • Check if the Client proceeded with the necessary repair works recommended during previous inspections.
  • Inspect technical condition and completeness of basic construction components.
  • Inspect technical condition and completeness of rack accessories and additional equipment.
  • Measure damages and deviations from project documentation provided by racking manufacturer.
  • Check if loads are positioned correctly on the racks.
  • Verify immediate surroundings and intralogistic processes.
  • Check if workplace safety rules are respected.

Rack inspection report

Every rack inspection is summarized in a written report which provides following information:

  • Identification of discrepancies between contruction documentation and actual rack configuration.
  • Identification of mechanical faults including photo documentation, precise location in a warehouse and solutions.
  • List of contruction components that need replacing.
  • List of recommendations for preventing future damages, improving warehouse safety and making racking system fully efficient again.