In warehouse setup, the first question usually asked is “How much weight can the rack hold?”. This is a valid question but not sufficient on its own. Because a warehouse rack system doesn’t just hold the load; it also withstands impacts, vibrations, accelerations, and incorrect placements during loading-unloading. It's crucial to understand the distinction between static and dynamic loads correctly for the rack to work efficiently and safely over time.
In this document, we will discuss what static and dynamic loads are, the differences between them, the risks that are prominent in different warehouse types, and what to pay attention to when evaluating proposals, in a clear flow.
What is Static Load?
Static load is the weight of the load (pallet, box, product, equipment) standing on the rack. It expresses the force that the rack carries when the load is not moving. The values often seen in manufacturers’ catalogs, such as “kg/eye” or “kg/level”, mostly refer to static carrying capacity.
When evaluating static load, three points are especially important:
Unit of capacity: It can be given in different forms like kg/eye, kg/level, kg/column, or kg/module. Incorrect reading means directly wrong choice.
Load distribution: “Evenly distributed load” does not appear the same as a load piled on one side.
Scenario of fullness: The scenario with the bottom level full and the top level empty differs in the force carried by the rack compared to the scenario where all levels are full.
Example: If it says “2,000 kg/eye,” this usually holds true under the assumption that the load is evenly distributed across the beam. Even if the weight of the pallet remains the same, if the load gathers at one point, the beam will deflect (bend) and the connections will get strained more.
What is Dynamic Load?
Dynamic load is the additional impact on the rack system arising from movement. Even if the load is
