Industrial warehouses are working environments characterised by intense and continuous goods flows. Storage and handling operations take place on a daily basis using equipment that operates in close proximity to racking systems. In such a dynamic context, industrial shelving is constantly exposed to stresses and impacts which, over time, may lead to wear and deterioration.

For this reason, shelving maintenance and inspection activities are essential to ensure a safe and compliant working environment. The term “shelving maintenance and inspection” refers to all activities aimed at verifying over time that storage systems maintain the conditions defined by the supplier during the design phase.

Depending on the method and timing of intervention, maintenance and inspection activities are divided into:

  • preventive actions, aimed at preventing potential structural alterations to the racking;
  • corrective actions, aimed at remedying a structural alteration detected on the racking system.

Prevention always remains the preferred strategy. However, when damage is identified, it is necessary to intervene by assessing the level of risk and adopting appropriate corrective measures.

Which regulations govern industrial shelving maintenance?

Shelving maintenance is regulated by specific technical standards. A distinction must be made between the European regulatory framework and the Italian one.

UNI EN 15635

At European level, the main reference standard is UNI EN 15635:2009, which governs the use, inspection and maintenance of storage equipment. This standard requires racking systems to undergo periodic inspections carried out by competent personnel, with the aim of promptly identifying any damage.

Damage is classified according to three risk levels:

  1. green: no action required;
  2. yellow: replacement or corrective action required and temporary unloading within 4 weeks;
  3. red: critical damage requiring immediate unloading and isolation of the affected area.

The Italian regulatory framework

In Italy, the European framework is supplemented by additional regulations and guidelines, including:

These regulations help define roles, responsibilities and operating procedures to ensure the safe and correct use of industrial shelving over time.

Key roles: PRSES and the specialised technician

Within the control system established by UNI EN 15635:2009, the PRSES and the specialised technician play a central role.

The PRSES (Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety) is the person responsible for warehouse safety and must be formally appointed by the racking user. The main responsibilities of the PRSES include:

  • carrying out regular visual inspections, generally on a weekly basis, to verify that warehouse conditions comply with what was defined during the design phase by the supplier;
  • recording and documenting any identified issues;
  • ensuring the training of personnel operating within the warehouse.

The specialised technician is a qualified professional responsible for carrying out in-depth technical inspections, on an annual basis, on each component of the shelving. At the end of the inspections, the technician must produce a written report to be submitted to the PRSES, indicating any critical issues and classifying them according to the criteria defined by UNI EN 15635.

The importance of maintenance: benefits and risks not to be underestimated

Proper warehouse maintenance management requires constant and coordinated collaboration between all parties involved: supplier, user, specialised technician and operational warehouse staff.

Maintenance is not only essential to preserve the structural integrity of the shelving, but also represents a fundamental guarantee for workplace safety.

Effective maintenance management provides numerous benefits, including:

  • reduced risk of accidents and injuries;
  • increased durability of racking systems;
  • full compliance with current regulatory standards;
  • preservation of the integrity of stored load units.

What are the risks of inadequate maintenance of industrial shelving?

The lack of inspections and maintenance activities can, over time, compromise the strength of racking systems and significantly reduce safety levels, resulting in an increased risk of accidents, injuries and operational downtime.

To prevent such situations, the supplier is required to provide a user and maintenance manual containing all the necessary instructions for correct use. The user, in turn, is required to strictly follow the provided instructions and carry out inspection and maintenance activities at least once a year.

Any improper use or unauthorised modifications may compromise the safety of the shelving and invalidate the conditions defined during the design phase.

Conclusions

Planning maintenance and inspection activities for metal shelving is a matter of primary importance for anyone managing an industrial warehouse.

Only through regular checks, thorough inspections and interventions carried out in compliance with current regulations is it possible to ensure adequate safety conditions over time, structural durability and continuity of operations.