Cantilever Racking Systems UK FAQs
We’ve asked some of the top questions about cantilever racking below.
For anything else, or to get a free quote for cantilever racking installation, please call us on 0845 689 1300.
What Is Cantilever Racking And How Does It Work?
Cantilever racking is a storage system designed specifically for long, bulky or irregularly shaped items that do not fit on standard pallet racking.
It consists of a central vertical column, called the upright or tower, with horizontal arms projecting outwards from it. These arms support the load without any front columns obstructing access, making it straightforward to load and unload items of varying lengths using a forklift or manually.
The open-fronted design is what sets cantilever racking apart from conventional shelving and pallet racking solutions.
What Types Of Products Are Best Suited To Cantilever Racking?
Cantilever racking is ideal for storing long or awkward loads in your warehouse. Examples can vary, but they often include timber, steel bars, pipes, tubes, sheet materials and furniture.
Industries including timber merchants, steel stockholders, builders' merchants, manufacturing facilities and furniture warehouses commonly use cantilever systems.
If your operation handles products that overhang or cannot be palletised, cantilever racking is generally the most practical and space-efficient solution.
What Is The Difference Between Single-Sided And Double-Sided Cantilever Racking?
Single-sided cantilever racking has arms projecting from one side of the upright only, making it suitable for positioning against a wall to maximise floor space.
Double-sided cantilever racking has arms projecting from both sides of the central column, allowing access from either aisle and increasing storage capacity per bay. Double-sided configurations are typically used in freestanding installations where space permits access on both sides.
The choice between the two depends on your building layout, aisle width requirements and the volume of stock to be stored.
What Are Heavy Duty Cantilever Racking Systems And When Do You Need Them?
Heavy duty cantilever racking systems are purpose-engineered for applications where standard cantilever configurations cannot safely handle the loads involved. They use thicker gauge steel, deeper arms and reinforced uprights to achieve significantly higher load capacities per arm and per bay, making them suitable for storing dense materials such as steel bars, structural sections, heavy timber, concrete products and other industrial stock.
Your warehouse may need a heavy duty cantilever racking system if individual items exceed the capacity of a standard arm, or if you are storing particularly long spans that create greater bending forces on the arm. Also, if the overall bay load is expected to be substantial.
Heavy duty cantilever racking systems are commonly found in steel stockholding, heavy manufacturing, construction supply and engineering environments.
Logical Storage Solutions can specify and install heavy duty cantilever racking systems to match the precise load and dimensional requirements of your site, ensuring the installation is both structurally sound and fully compliant with current safety standards.
How Much Weight Can Cantilever Racking Hold?
Load capacity varies depending on the specification of the system, including arm length, arm pitch, column height and the gauge of steel used.
Arm capacities typically range from around 200 kg to over 1,000 kg per arm, with total bay capacities reaching several tonnes in heavy-duty configurations.
However, it is essential that cantilever racking is specified correctly for the intended loads.
Logical Storage Solutions can carry out a detailed assessment to ensure the system is engineered to match your specific weight and dimensional requirements.
Can Cantilever Racking Be Used Outdoors?
Yes, cantilever racking can be manufactured or treated for outdoor use. Outdoor or external cantilever racking is typically hot-dip galvanised or powder-coated with a weather-resistant finish to protect against corrosion. This makes cantilever racking suitable for timber yards, construction sites, garden centres and other applications where stock is held outside. Structural specifications for external systems also need to account for wind loading and ground anchoring requirements.
Can Existing Cantilever Racking Be Reconfigured Or Extended?
Absolutely! In most cases, cantilever racking systems can be reconfigured by adjusting arm positions or adding additional columns and bays to extend the run. This flexibility makes cantilever racking a cost-effective long-term investment, as it can adapt to changing stock profiles or increased storage demands without requiring a complete replacement.
However, any modifications or extensions should be assessed to ensure the existing components remain within their rated load capacity.
As part of our pallet racking inspection services, we can review your current installation and advise on the safest and most practical options for reconfiguration or expansion.
What Should I Look For When Choosing Warehouse Cantilever Racking Systems?
When choosing a warehouse cantilever racking system, the most important starting points are the dimensions and weights of the products you need to store, the clear height and floor space available within your warehouse and the type of handling equipment your team uses.
You should also think about whether single-sided or double-sided bays are more appropriate for your aisle layout, and whether you need a static system or one that may need to be reconfigured over time.
Beyond the physical specification, it is worth ensuring the system is supplied by a reputable installer who can demonstrate compliance with SEMA guidelines and relevant British Standards. A well-specified warehouse cantilever racking system should also account for floor loading, anchor points and safe working load labelling throughout.
Logical Storage Solutions works with businesses across the UK to design and install warehouse cantilever racking systems that are built around the specific demands of each site, rather than an off-the-shelf approach that may not suit your operation.
Cantilever Racking Installation UK - Which Areas Do You Cover?
Logical Storage Solutions offers a UK nationwide service for pallet racking installation, including our cantilever systems.
When you get in touch for a free quote, you can let us know where your warehouse is based, plus anything else about your storage requirements. From there, we’ll arrange all of the steps to survey your site, design your racking system and install it.
