What is the difference between racking and shelving?

Picking the right racking or shelving solutions for your specific operations can be a lengthy process and one that should be carried out with a credentialed racking or shelving manufacturing partner.

Having a good understanding of what systems and options are available is a smart starting place. While both products, by definition, are material handling structures with similar purposes, racking and shelving differ in characteristics. One An important concept to understand when choosing between racking and shelving is knowing the difference between these two storage solution types.

Both types of storage fall under the category of material handling structures or systems made from approved steels, consisting principally of vertical upright frames and horizontal beams or shelves used to support product, either for in-plant use or as inventory. That’s the definition, but to differentiate, you need to drill down into their characteristics.

Beginning with racking, there are several racking types:  selective or pallet, push-back, pallet- and carton-flow racks, drive-in and drive-through, cantilever, pick modules, rack-supported platforms, rack-supported buildings, shuttle racks, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). The racking system can be either free-standing within an existing warehouse or industrial/commercial facility or be a rack-supported system where the racking supports the exterior framework and cladding of the building. Most operations will load racking with a machine such as a forklift, crane, or shuttle cart. Even in the case of hand-load racking involve a man-aboard lift or crane.

The typical loads that go into racks are palletized products that can weigh 1,000 pounds or more—but this is not a hard and fast rule. Selective racking and similar racks fall under the ANSI MH16.1 standard, while cantilever racking falls under the ANSI MH 16.3 standard. To better understand the varieties and differences, visiting the RMI website at www.MHIa.org/RMI or reaching out to an RMI member organization for explanations, brochures and other educational materials is a good place to start.

Shelving, by contrast, is available in two basic models: boltless and bin. Shelving is typically free-standing but can be used for both pick modules and shelving-supported platforms. Boltless shelving is more akin to racking with vertical upright frames and shelf beams; however, the shelf beams typically require a decking surface for hand-loading with each shelf load usually weighing less than 1,000 pounds.

Bin shelving features uprights, but these tend to run from only12 inches to 24 inches deep, along with solid sheet-metal decks that range from 12 inches to 60 inches in width. Again, the shelves are typically hand-loaded with loads weighing around 50 pounds per square foot or less.

Boltless shelving and bin shelving each have their own distinct ANSI design standards. Boltless is covered under ANSI MH28.2 and bin shelving is covered under the ANSI MH28.1 standard. Under the Material Handling Industry (MHI) umbrella, you’ll find shelving covered by the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SMA), www.MHIA.org/SMA.

As with racking and the RMI, the SMA has a wide variety of educational materials to help educate users. This is a good place to start and understand the various shelving types and their principle uses or targeted products.

Posted By Gordon Thelwell Hello Chris, I'm sure i can help: SUMMARY: To distinguish Racking from Shelving is to identify whether you need Mechanical Handling Equipment to load/off load goods and generally speaking Racking is of at leats 1.5mm gauge steel vertical uprights with diagonal bracing there-in. Shelving is traditionally no higher than 2.3m high, 600mm deep and mainly accomodates manually handled goods. RACKING: Pallet racking offers the ability to store items using ever increasing capacities of vertical space up to the height and depth of the racks own dimensions. Adjustable Pallet Racking (APR) and is the most common type of pallet racking systems in use throughout the world. APR is a skeletal system of vertical , Diagonal (and horizontal interconnecting members. APR installations are usually constructed with a one pallet deep run of racking on each side of the operating aisle. If the racks can only be accessed from one side only by Mechanical Handling Equipment (MHE) then this is called a single entry run If the racks can be accessed from both sides then this is called a double entry run Racking consists usually of two major components upright frames and beams. Upright frames are assembled using pairs of continuously perforated uprights. connected by bracing members with bolted, riveted or welded joints. Upright frames are interconnected by beams in pairs to form a row of bays. Pairs of beams are spaced vertically in each bay at a number of levels to provide locations for the pallet or unit loads. Each pair of beams at each level can carry one, two or more unit loads depending upon length and strength. The strength, stiffness and stability of racking is provided by the upright frames and their connections to the concrete floor slab both of which must be maintained within the manufacturers operating parameters in order to be safe. SHELVING: STYLES BOLTLESS COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL WIRE Common Uses Light industrial CONSTRUCTION Shelf Particle Board 22 ga. steel 20 and 18 ga. steel Open wire grid with bar joist edge frame. Upright 16 ga. steel frame 16 ga. steel posts 14 ga. formed steel posts/ 12 ga. angle steel posts. 1" round steel posts with spacing grooves. Shelf Capacity 250-400 lbs. 300-400 lbs. 350-1100 lbs. 600-800 lbs Finish GALVANIZED PAINTED PAINTED PLATED/EPOXY Assembly Steel edged shelves clip into slots on upright frames. Back bracing may be required. Shelves clip into upright posts. Back braces and side braces are bolted into place. Shelves clip or bolt to posts. Back braces and side braces are bolted in place. Plastic clips snap onto upright posts. Shelves slide on over posts and wedge onto plastic clips. NOTES: 1. These are general specifications from a variety of manufacturers. There may be differences between these descriptions and some specific brands. Please call us with any specific questions. 2. Gauge or ga. (a measure of steel thickness) goes backward. 18 gauge is heavy duty; 22 gauge is light duty. 3. Back braces can be eliminated by using corner angle sways. This allows clear access to the front and back. Also, the Racking Safety Forum that Martin mentioned is here: http://www.therackgroup.com/forum/toast.asp