• Procision-Engineered High-Bay Rack Supported Building

    Cost-effective Solution and Durable Material

  • Rack Supported Building— A Smart Storage Solution with full space utilization

    Introduction

    A rack-supported building is a warehouse or storage facility where the pallet racks themselves act as part of the building’s structure. Instead of relying primarily on separate steel columns and beams to support the roof and resist wind or seismic forces, the rack uprights and their bracing carry many of those loads. This approach combines storage and structure into one system, saving space, material, and often cost.

    How it works

    Rack elements: Standard pallet racking has vertical uprights, horizontal beams, cross braces, and connectors. In rack-supported buildings, uprights and bracing are strengthened and arranged so they can take roof and lateral loads in addition to holding pallets.

    Roof attachment: Roof purlins or cross members are fixed to the rack uprights, and roof panels are laid on top. The racks transfer roof weight, snow loads, and wind uplift down to foundations.

    Lateral stability: Racks are tied together with row spacers, cross bracing, or moment-resisting frames. These connections spread wind and seismic forces through the rack grid into the ground.

    Foundations: Loads concentrate at the foot of rack uprights, so foundations are designed for point loads—isolated footings, pads, or a reinforced slab with localized strengthening.

    Benefits

    Higher storage density: Because racks double as structure, fewer separate columns are needed. That gives longer, uninterrupted aisles and better use of vertical space.

    Cost and speed: Less structural steel and faster installation (racks plus roof vs. full building frame) often reduce project cost and build time.

    Flexibility: Modular rack systems can be reconfigured as storage needs change.

    Good for specialized environments: Cold-storage facilities benefit because the rack+roof system can minimize thermal breaks and improve insulation continuity.

  • Rack Supported Building— Desgin and Usage

    Design and safety considerations

    • Structural design must consider combined loads (roof, stored goods, wind, seismic). Connections, bracing, and anchorage require redundancy and robustness.
    • Fire safety: Sprinkler density, ceiling and in-rack sprinklers, detection systems, and compartmentation depend on commodity type and rack height.
    • Impact protection: Column guards, bollards, and operator training reduce collision risk.
    • Maintenance: Regular inspections for damage, corrosion, and loose connections are essential. Damaged rack members should be tagged and repaired immediately.

    Typical uses

    • Cold storage and freezers where thermal performance and high density matter.
    • High-density distribution centers and automated storage facilities needing long uninterrupted aisles.
    • Temporary or expandable warehouses where rapid installation is advantageous.

    Rack-supported buildings integrate storage racks into the structural system, delivering efficient use of space, potential cost savings, and faster construction. However, they demand rigorous engineering, diligent maintenance, and careful fire and safety planning. When designed and managed correctly, they offer a highly practical solution for modern warehousing, especially where maximizing storage per square foot is the priority.

  • Pre-embedment of foundation for rack supported building

    Pre-embedment of rack supported building involves installing embedded anchors, plates, sleeves, and conduits into concrete foundations or floors before pouring.

    For a self-supporting warehouse—where racks, mezzanines, or light structural frames transfer loads directly to foundations—pre-embedment ensures accurate anchor locations, correct embed depths, corrosion protection, and integrated utility routing.

    Early coordination of structural, racking, and MEP layouts minimizes costly field modifications, guarantees load-bearing capacity, and maintains fire and seismic compliance.

    Precise templates and quality-controlled installation reduce downtime during erection, improve long-term stability, and facilitate future expansions. Documentation and as-built records preserve alignment and inspection readiness for safety and regulatory verification.

    Self-supporting clad rack warehouse

    and Pre-embedment

    pre-embedment for self-supporting rack clad warehouse

    clad rack pre-embedment

    pre-embedment for self-supporting rack

    rack supported building pre-embedment

    Pre-embedment for rack clad warehouse

    pre-embedment for clad rack SILO

  • Surface Treatment for Self-Supporting Clad Rack

    Rack supported buildings are installed outdoor, consequently the surface treatment requires highly anti-corrosion against high humidity and hot temperature. Below are some typical surface treatment frequently applied for structural parts of clad rack self-supporting warehouse.

    • Best overall: Zn–Al–Mg (zinc–aluminium–magnesium) coatings provide the best long-term corrosion resistance, especially in edges, cut surfaces and industrial/atmospheric environments.
    • Good value: Al–Zn (zinc–aluminium, e.g., Galfan) is a good compromise of performance vs cost — better than plain GI in many scenarios.
    • Basic / lowest cost: GI (Galvanized Iron, hot-dip zinc) is the conventional, economical choice but offers the least corrosion resistance vs Zn–Al–Mg and Zn–Al for modern long-life warehouse structures.

    To ensure optimal performance, it is essential to evaluate the specific environmental conditions of your warehouse location. Factors such as exposure to chemicals, salinity, and varying temperatures can influence the choice of coating. Regular inspections and maintenance are recommended to identify any early signs of wear or corrosion, allowing for timely interventions to prolong the lifespan of the racking system.

    Zn-Al-Mg material for self-supporting warehouse

    Overall Comparision Between GI and ZAM Coating

    Property /Feature GI (Galvznized) Zn-Al-Mg

    Main Coating elements Zn (near-pure) Zn+Al+Mg (e.g., Zn-6% Al-3% Mg)

    Corrosion resistance Good (sacrificial) Better than both in most atmospheres,

    Sacrificial protection Strong Present (Zn) but improved due to Mg-enhanced passivation

    Barrier protection Limited Very good (Al + Mg contribute to stable passive layer)

    Appearance Matte to bright; zinc spangle Typically matte or satin; consistent appearance

    Formability Very good Very good to excellent (often improves over Aluzinc)

    Weldability Good (need precautions) Good, small spatter reduction sometimes noted

    Typical use cases Structural, roofing, construction Roofing, facades, coastal structures, high-durability needs

    Relative cost Lowest Higher than both (but lifecycle cost often lower)

  • Project Cases of Rack Supported Building

    Clad Rack Self-Supporting Warehouse

    Self-Supporting clad rack

    Rack Supported Building

    Rack Supported Building Project Case 1

    For e-Commerce in China

  • Rack supported building Case 2

    For AS/RS in China

    Self-supporting Warehouse

    Clad Rack Warehouse Project Case

    For e-Commerce

  • Pre-embedment for SILO

    Clad Rack SILO

    Self-Supporting Warehouse Project Case 3

    For Textile Industry in India

  • Self-supporting clad rack Case 4

    For Food Industry

    Rack supported Building

    Rack Clad Self-supporting Warehouse Project Case

    For Food Industry

  • Rack supported Building

    Self-Supporting AS/RS

    Rack Clad Warehouse Project Case 5

    In Chile

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