Whether pallet racking needs to be bolted down is a common question in warehouse and industrial environments. In most cases, floor fixings are a core safety requirement rather than a design choice.
This article explains when pallet racking must be bolted to the floor, how UK standards and guidance influence that requirement and the limited circumstances where unbolted systems may be acceptable.
Why pallet racking is bolted to the floor
Pallet racking systems are tall, narrow structures carrying heavy, often uneven loads. Even when perfectly upright and correctly loaded, they rely on floor fixings to remain stable.
Bolting racking to the floor serves three critical purposes:
- Prevents overturning caused by even loading or seismic and vibration forces
- Restrains movement from forklift impact, braking and cornering
- Maintains design tolerances, ensuring beam levels and upright frames perform as tested
Without floor fixings (such as anchors, bolts and other fastening devices), small movements at floor level are amplified higher up the structure. Over time, this can lead to misalignment and increased risk of collapse.
This is why most manufacturers design pallet racking systems on the assumption that uprights are fixed to a suitable concrete slab.
UK regulations on pallet racking floor fixings
UK health and safety guidance is clear that pallet racking must be installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. In practice, those instructions almost always specify floor fixings.
Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that storage racking should be:
- Securely fixed to the floor where necessary for stability
- Installed on suitable, level foundation
- Capable of withstanding foreseeable impacts and loads
In addition, racking design and installation commonly reference BS EN 15620 and BS EN 15635, which cover tolerances, installation, ongoing safety management and more.
These standards assume anchored uprights as the default condition.
Failing to bolt down racking where required can therefore place operators in breach of both manufacturer guidance and recognised industry standards.
Does pallet racking need to be bolted to the floor in all cases?
Although bolting down is the standard requirement, there are specific scenarios where pallet racking may not be fixed to the floor. These are carefully engineered exceptions rather than informal choices.
Situations where racking may not be bolted
- Very low-level racking – typically one or two beam levels
- Extremely heavy base loads – where self-weight provides stability
- Temporary installations – with restricted access and no mechanical handling
- Mobile racking systems – which use guided rails rather than anchors
Even in these cases, stability calculations must be carried out and the decision should be supported by a competent racking designer or structural engineer. Unbolted racking still needs to meet load and impact criteria.
If a system relies on weight alone for stability, any change in loading pattern can invalidate the original assumptions.
How to bolt pallet racking to the floor
Bolting pallet racking to the floor is not a standalone task but part of the overall installation.
1. Position and align the uprights
Upright frames are set out to the agreed layout and checked for level and plumb before any fixings are installed. Accurate alignment at this stage is essential, as bolting should restrain the racking in its correct position rather than pull it into line.
2. Drill fixing holes through the base rates
Once positioned, holes are drilled through the upright base plates into the concrete slab. The hole diameter and depth must match the anchor specification provided by the racking manufacturer to ensure the fixing performs as designed.
3. Install the specified floor anchors
Mechanical expansion anchors are commonly used, as they provide reliable resistance to shear and pull-out forces created by pallet loads and forklift impact. In certain floor conditions, resin anchors may be specified to achieve the required performance.
4. Shim where necessary to maintain vertical alignment
If the floor is uneven, steel shims are inserted beneath the base plates before final tightening. This prevents the anchors from being loaded unevenly and ensures the uprights remain vertical once fixed.
5. Tighten anchors to the correct torque
Anchors are tightened to the manufacturer’s stated torque setting so they achieve their designed holding capacity. Under- or over-tightening can compromise anchor performance and racking stability.
6. Inspect and record the fixings
Completed fixings are visually checked as part of the installation handover. Recording anchor installation supports ongoing racking inspections and confirms that the system has been installed in line with its design assumptions.
Why floor conditions and anchor performance matter
Bolting pallet racking down is only effective if the floor can safely accept the fixings. Most racking systems are anchored into reinforced concrete slabs using mechanical or resin anchors.
Key factors that affect anchor performance include:
- Concrete strength and thickness
- Slab condition and age
- Presence of underfloor services or joints
- Anchor type, diameter and embedment depth
A typical warehouse slab will comfortably accept standard M12 or M16 anchors, but older or thinner floors may require testing or alternative fixing strategies. This is why professional installers often carry out floor assessments before installation.
Bolting racking into an unsuitable floor is as risky as not bolting it at all.
Can bolted pallet racking still be relocated?
A common concern warehouse managers and business owners have is that bolting racking down makes layout permanent. In practice, pallet racking is designed to be demountable.
Anchors can be removed, holes made good and the system reinstalled elsewhere using new fixings. While this involves some remedial work to the floor, it does not prevent future reconfiguration.
In most warehouses, the safety and compliance benefits of bolting down far outweigh the minor inconvenience when layouts change.
Conclusion
In most operational environments, bolting pallet racking to the floor is a baseline safety requirement rather than an optional detail. Where exceptions do exist, they must be deliberately engineered and clearly justified.
If you’re looking at reviewing your existing racking installations or planning new layouts, understanding these principles is a key part of selecting the right pallet racking systems and ensuring they are installed to perform safely over their full working life. Get in touch with our team at Pallet Racking Systems, to find out how we can help you.