Building your racking

Most shelving and racking systems are made up of basic and add-on units to make them flexible to individual requirements. Below is our simple guide explaining how to construct a run of storage shelving using basic and add-on units.

What’s the difference between a basic and an add-an unit?

Basic unit = 2 end frames (OR 4 uprights) + X no. of shelves (or X no. of beams for pallet racking) + cross bracing if necessary

Add-on unit = 1 end frame (OR 2 uprights) + X no. of shelves (or X no. of beams for pallet racking) + cross bracing if necessary

How do I build and extend my racking?

In order to create a run of storage bays, you should start with one basic unit, which can then be extended using add-on units.

The basic unit is a complete stand-alone shelving bay. The add-on unit is designed to join onto the end frame of the previous bay (whether the basic unit or a previous add-on unit) and is not suitable for use without at least one basic unit within the run of bays.

There are numerous benefits to this. As add-on units are supplied with only one end frame instead of two, it is more cost efficient to extend your shelving system using add-on units. This system also allows you to easily add to and extend the run of shelving in the future as your business develops and your needs change.

Further information

Click here to see Questions to ask yourself when choosing a shelving system and our Guide to the different types of shelving and racking.

If you need any help with space planning, our customer service team is here to help. We can advise you on the most suitable racking or shelving, put together a floor plan and even arrange a site visit if required.