All pallet racking installations require building consent which must comply with the New Zealand Building Code. It’s a complicated process, but we can help.
Are you considering building, reconfiguring, or refitting a warehouse in New Zealand? If so, your pallet racking will need to achieve consenting and compliance.
A pallet racking system wake up call
During the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, many commercial warehouses experienced pallet racking collapses. These events brought to the surface concerns about the seismic performance of racking and how installations could be better regulated to ensure the safety of staff and protection of stock.
All pallet racking installations require a building consent, and applications for consent must include documentation to support the claim that the installation will comply with the New Zealand Building Code. But there are only a few pallet racking companies in the market that are really experienced at building consent applications.
A comprehensive consenting process includes these four stages:
- Detailed evaluation (PS1) by a registered engineer
- This evaluation is peer-reviewed (PS2)
- The installer signs off on the installations (PS3)
- Council inspection and approval (PS4).
To start the Building Consent process, you’ll need a PS1 (producer statement) design report by a registered engineer who specialises in pallet racking. This document ensures your project’s planned racking and shelving will comply with the New Zealand Building Code. You’ll need a PS1 as part of your pallet racking design/layout and prior to ordering the required components. Pallet Racking Solutions can help you with the consent application, including the documentation needed to ensure the installation will comply with the New Zealand Building Code.
An independent racking design engineer – either employed or approved by the Council – may also be required to perform a peer review for higher risk and non-standard designs. The peer provides a PS2 (producer statement design review). Get these first two steps right, and steps three and four will run more smoothly.
Making it all stack up
Things to consider:
- What’s the right type of racking for your needs? Consider your soil class, concrete floor specifications, seismic zone, structural integrity of your chosen racking, and loading weights on beams/frames.
- Don’t forget to check out the above before you sign a lease or purchase a property: as the state of the building will have significant implications for your racking.
- Safety comes first, but design and planning are also key to maximising usable storage space and efficiency in warehouses with challenging dimensions.
- Greater profile components are required if your warehouse is in a challenging seismic zone. This may extend to seismic bracing.
- Fire safety Reports and Emergency Lighting Reports also need to be completed as part of your warehouse building consent application.
- Your fire and emergency lighting reports need to be specific to the racking and your stock. e.g. paper or other flammable products may require an in-rack sprinkler system.
- Look for a pallet racking specialist that offers consenting as part of an overall service.
- Most importantly, get some expert advice: it will save you time and money in the long run, and keep you on the right side of the law (and your insurer).
The bottom line
To avoid expensive mistakes, it pays to talk to a pallet racking specialist who can walk you through the consent application, and help you with your documentation, so you can be sure your installation will be Building Code compliant.
Pallet Racking Solutions’ comprehensive consenting process walks you through the stages, providing an evaluation by our racking design engineer, a sign-off of installations, and fire & emergency lighting reports will be coordinated by us for submission to your local Council authority.
For more information on warehouse health & safety contact our team.
Pallet Racking Solutions designs, supplies and installs quality pallet racking and warehouse storage solutions, New Zealand wide. Follow our blog for the latest innovations, new tech, safety and compliance, case studies and in-depth explanations of our solutions.