Pallet racking load notices: what they must show
Pallet racking load notices: what they must show
A pallet racking load notice must show the maximum safe load for each pair of beams and for each bay, together with the beam positions those figures depend on. SEMA guidance adds the height to the first beam level, the spacing between beams, the supplier's contact details, a contract reference and general safety instructions, and the notice should be in colour and securely fixed to the racking.
Load notices are where design data meets the people loading the racking every day. This guide covers what the notice must contain, where the requirement comes from, how to read the figures, and when a notice has to be replaced.
Key takeaways
- HSE guidance says racking should have a clear, unambiguous notice securely fixed to it stating the maximum load (HSG76, paragraph 634).
- SEMA expects beam-pair and bay loads, height to first beam, beam spacing, supplier details and a contract reference.
- If beams are moved beyond the positions shown, the permitted bay load falls and the supplier must provide new data.
- Notices must be in colour; a SEMA Approved Rack Inspector will grade a monochrome notice as amber risk.
- The end user must not change a notice; after any modification the supplier or a competent designer updates it.
What must a pallet racking load notice show?
The core is the safe working load, but a notice that only shows a number is not enough. SEMA describes three sections: general safety instructions that apply to all storage equipment, specific information about the installation, and administrative information such as the supplier's contact details (SEMA, load notices). Technical Bulletin 07 lists the specific data.
| Item on the notice | Why it is there |
|---|---|
| Maximum load per pair of beams, usually uniformly distributed | The limit for each beam level; pallets on that level must not exceed it |
| Maximum load per bay | The limit for the upright frames carrying all levels together |
| Height from floor to first beam level | Frame capacity depends on it; a higher first beam reduces the bay load |
| Spacing between beam levels | As above; larger gaps reduce frame capacity |
| Supplier contact details | Who to ask for revised data or replacement parts |
| Contract or installation reference | Ties the notice to the design for that installation |
| General safety instructions | For example no climbing, no alterations, report all damage |
Bulletin 12 confirms the safety messages beyond the load figures: do not alter the racking, do not climb it, report damage, and where to find more information (SEMA Technical Bulletin 12).
Where does the legal requirement come from?
HSE guidance is explicit. HSG76 paragraph 634 says racking should have a clear, unambiguous notice securely fixed to it, stating the maximum load (quoted in SEMA Technical Bulletin 12), together with any necessary specified load configurations (SEMA, load notices). SEMA describes the notice as helping employers meet their legal obligation to supply information about the safe operation of the racking.
Bulletin 07 links load notices to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and PUWER, which require equipment to be safe, maintained and inspected (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07). Because the notice is a safety sign, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 also apply to notices fitted after 1996 (SEMA technical FAQ). The HSE's L64 guidance covers how those regulations work, including clear signs and avoiding confusing overuse (HSE, L64). SEMA says its load notice must be in colour, and a SARI will grade a monochrome notice as amber risk (SEMA technical FAQ).
How do you read the load figures?
There are two numbers to respect, and both apply at once. The beam-pair figure limits what goes on any one level. The bay figure limits the total on all levels sharing the same frames. SEMA's worked example is a small rack with two 1 t pallets per beam level and three beam levels, giving 6 t at working load with the top beam at about 5.5 m (SEMA Technical Bulletin 12).
Do not assume the bay figure equals the beam-pair figure multiplied by the number of levels. On tall frames, or where the first beam is high, the frame can be the limiting element, so the bay load may be lower than the sum of the beam levels. Always check both.
Beam capacities are normally given as uniformly distributed loads (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07). A load concentrated at mid-span, or pallets not sitting across both beams, is not what the figure assumes. To see how the capacity itself is derived, read how to work out pallet racking beam capacity.
In daily use, the check is simple: the heaviest pair of pallets that will ever go on a level must not exceed the beam-pair figure. Weigh representative pallets rather than relying on product data, because wrap, timber and mixed loads add up. Pallet condition matters as well: the figures assume sound pallets sitting squarely across both beams. A broken bearer or a pallet placed off-centre puts the load where the design did not expect it.
Where should notices go, and how many?
Notices must be of sufficient number and position for the system to be used safely (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07). They usually go on the end frames at the aisle end of each run, where drivers see them. SEMA's technical FAQ says a sign on every other run, or even every third run, might be acceptable depending on the risk assessment, where the runs are identical.
Ask the supplier for the preferred fixing method and position. SEMA warns that drilling holes in uprights can affect structural integrity (SEMA technical FAQ), so use the fixings designed for the notice. Our racking inspection checklist includes checking that notices are present, legible and match the rack.
When does a load notice have to change?
Whenever the racking changes. After any modification, the effect must be verified by the original supplier or a competent designer, and the notice replaced or updated to show the new limits (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07). Common triggers are:
- Moving beam levels up or down, or removing a level.
- Adding bays or changing frame heights.
- Changing beam lengths or swapping in beams of a different section.
- Moving racking to another building or a different floor slab.
The end user must not alter the notice (SEMA Technical Bulletin 12). If a notice is missing, contact the supplier, because reliable data can only be given without a site visit in unusual cases (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07). Planning beam levels properly at the start avoids most of these changes; see how to plan a warehouse racking layout.
Who provides the load data?
The supplier. SEMA says the best source of safe working load data is the racking or shelving supplier, which normally sets capacity using structural theory, codes of practice and component testing (SEMA Technical Bulletin 12). If the manufacturer cannot help, a qualified, insured engineer or storage equipment consultant may be able to derive the data, which is likely to be time-consuming and costly. SEMA does not recommend full-scale load testing of installed racking because of the risks.
When we supply pallet racking beams and frames, each order comes with load tables for the components supplied, and test reports are available on request. Those tables give the beam-pair and bay figures your load notices need for the layout we quote. Our quality standards page explains what is included. Note that the SEMA logo may only appear on notices from SEMA members for products they manufactured (SEMA Technical Bulletin 07); what matters for safety is that the data on the notice is correct for the rack it is fixed to, which is also what a SEMA racking inspection checks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a load notice a legal requirement?
HSE guidance in HSG76 says racking should have a clear notice stating the maximum load, and SEMA links this to duties under the Workplace Regulations 1992 and PUWER. In practice an inspector will expect one on every run or group of identical runs.
Can we print our own load notice?
You can print one, but the data must come from the supplier or a competent designer, and the end user must not alter the figures. It should also be in colour and comply with safety sign rules.
What if we move a beam level?
Stop and ask the supplier first. If the height to the first beam or the spacing between beams increases, the permitted bay load reduces, and the notice must be updated.
Do shelving systems need load notices too?
Yes. SEMA's guidance on load data covers racking and shelving, and the supplier is the best source of shelf and bay loads. Longspan and industrial shelving should carry a notice showing the shelf load and the bay load.
Does every bay need a notice?
Not usually. SEMA's technical FAQ says one notice on every other run, or every third run of identical racking, may be acceptable depending on your risk assessment.
Send us your pallet weights and beam levels and we will quote racking with load tables for every beam and frame, ready for your load notices.
Sources
- SEMA: Load notices
- SEMA: Technical Bulletin 07, load notices
- SEMA: Technical Bulletin 12, load data on load notices
- SEMA: Technical FAQ
- HSE: Warehousing and storage, a guide to health and safety (HSG76)
- legislation.gov.uk: Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
- HSE: Safety signs and signals, guidance on regulations (L64)
- legislation.gov.uk: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 6
