Rack Load Signage: Small Plate, Serious Information
Direct answer: Every bay needs a load sign stating the maximum load per beam pair, the maximum total bay load and the load pattern assumed. A sign that does not match the actual stored load is worse than no sign, because it documents a compliant-looking bay that is overloaded.
What the notice must communicate
A load notice states the maximum bay load and per-beam-level load under the current configuration, plus the configuration itself — beam levels, spacing, pallet type. Without the configuration, a bare number can be misapplied after anyone adjusts beam heights.
Include the configuration date or revision so inspectors can tell whether signage still matches the steel in front of them.
Placement and upkeep
Signs go on every bay, typically on an upright at eye level, not only at aisle ends. After any reconfiguration — even moving one beam level — the affected notices must be reissued, not just the ones that 'look different'.
Photograph each bay during the annual inspection and compare it against the notice. Drift between the picture and the plate is one of the most common audit findings.
FAQ
One sign per warehouse or per bay?
Per bay. Configurations differ between bays, and a shared number is either too conservative for some or unsafe for others.
Who issues the load values?
The racking supplier or a qualified engineer, based on the installed configuration — not guesses from floor staff.
Beam moved 10 cm — new sign needed?
Yes. Level spacing changes the load case; the notice must reflect the as-built configuration.
All figures above refer to standard product data sheets; final confirmation is subject to written quotation.