Steel frame versus rack supported warehouse structures

Abstract

Steel frame buildings based on vertical steel columns and horizontal beams or lattice are the most common style for industrial and distribution warehouses. Depending on the use, these typical warehouses are equipped with various types of free standing racks. Construction of self-supporting pallet racking warehouse, as a special form of pre-fabricated building, consists mainly of the racking system elements supporting the roof and walls, and also serves to storage materials. All elements are made of structural thin-walled steel profiles that provide the necessary lightness and low cost of construction. In this paper two systems of warehouse buildings are presented. Two structural designs are analysed and compared in terms of their construction process, technical feasibility with storage capacity, time advantage, economic viability and flexibility of usage.