Every term you'll see on a pallet racking quote, SEMA inspection report, or load notice — explained in plain UK English by our 60+ year racking team.
The UK's default pallet racking layout with beam levels that can be reset as stock profiles change.
APR is the workhorse of UK warehousing. Beam levels clip into slotted uprights and can be repositioned to suit different pallet heights. Standard bay widths are 2,700mm (2 pallets) and 3,300mm (3 pallets). Typical beam UDLs range from 1,000kg to 3,000kg per pair.
The horizontal load-bearing member connecting two uprights.
Beams are horizontal steel sections (usually box or step-beam profile) that carry pallets between two uprights. Beam capacity is specified as UDL (Uniformly Distributed Load) per pair — the total weight the pair can carry when spread across their length.
The end-plate that locks a beam into an upright.
Every manufacturer uses a proprietary connector profile — Dexion Speedlock, Dexion P90, Link 51 XL, Redirack, Mecalux M3/M7, Stow S1/S2. Connectors are not interchangeable between brands, which is why matched used stock is essential.
Diagonal and horizontal steel members that stabilise an upright frame.
Bracing is welded between two upright columns to form a rigid frame. Damaged or missing bracing is one of the most common SEMA red-tag findings on used racking.
Green / amber / red grading of racking damage severity.
SEMA classifies racking damage as green (within tolerance, no action), amber (must be replaced within a set period, load usually removed), or red (immediate offload and repair). Every UM Storage Systems inspection issues a written classification report.
The load platform that sits on the beam pair.
Decks sit between the beam pair to support smaller items or non-palletised loads. Mesh decks are steel wire welded to a frame; timber decks are chipboard or plywood sheets. Both must be rated for the intended UDL and are supplied matched to the beam profile.
High-density block-storage racking entered by forklift.
Drive-in racking removes aisles between bays by supporting pallets on rails inside a lane. It suits low-SKU high-volume storage (e.g. beverage, seasonal) at the cost of last-in first-out access.
The vertical assembly of two uprights plus bracing.
A frame is the complete vertical assembly — two upright columns bolted or welded to bracing plus a base plate. Frame capacity is specified in kg per upright (total load the column can carry from top to base).
UK law requiring pallet racking to be inspected and maintained safely.
Under HSE guidance HSG76 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), warehouse operators must keep racking in safe condition. Best practice is a formal SEMA-standard external inspection at least annually and weekly visual checks by a trained PRRS person.
The compliance sign showing bay UDL, beam UDL, and total run capacity.
A load notice is the printed sign that must be displayed at the end of every rack run. It states beam UDL per pair, bay UDL, and total run capacity — the record HSE and insurers will ask for after any incident. UM Storage Systems supplies matched SEMA-compliant load notices as standard.
High-density racking with aisles as narrow as 1,600mm.
Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking uses specialist trucks (man-up or man-down) to reach pallets in aisles of 1,600–1,800mm. It increases pallet positions 40–50% versus wide-aisle layouts in the same footprint.
Person Responsible for Racking Safety — the trained internal inspector.
SEMA requires operators to appoint a PRRS (Person Responsible for Racking Safety) who conducts weekly visual inspections and reports damage. External SEMA-approved inspections should complement, not replace, PRRS checks.
High-density LIFO racking on inclined rails.
Push-back racking stores pallets on inclined rails or trolleys. Loading a new pallet pushes the previous one back; unloading lets the next pallet roll forward. Suits low-SKU medium-turnover storage.
Storage Equipment Installers Registration Scheme — the UK installer qualification.
SEIRS is the SEMA-run registration scheme for pallet racking installers. Every UM Storage Systems fitter is SEIRS-registered — the standard your insurer and HSE inspector will look for after any incident.
Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association — the UK trade body setting standards.
SEMA sets UK design, inspection, and installation standards for pallet racking. SEMA-approved inspectors and SEIRS-registered installers are the recognised compliance route for warehouse racking under HSE guidance.
The load rating for a beam pair, distributed evenly across the length.
UDL is the maximum weight a beam pair can carry when the load is spread evenly across the beam length. Point loading (concentrating the weight at one point) reduces the safe capacity and must be avoided or specifically engineered for.
The vertical steel column that carries the frame's total load.
An upright is a single vertical steel column with slotted connector holes running its length. Two uprights bolted together with bracing form a frame. Upright capacity depends on section size, bracing, and unbraced length between beam levels.
Send us your requirement — we'll match SEMA-inspected stock, deliver nationwide, and install with SEIRS-registered fitters.
