Can you extend or reconfigure your existing Dexion pallet racking?

Existing Dexion pallet racking may be suitable for extension or reconfiguration when your storage requirements change. The answer depends on the system you have, its condition, the components available and the loads and layout you now need.

Start by identifying the installation and describing the proposed change. Adding pallet positions, accommodating taller loads and moving a run of racking are different jobs, even if each begins with the same equipment.

How to understand your existing Dexion pallet racking system

Original drawings, installation records, manufacturer markings and load notices can help identify your Dexion pallet racking system. Dexion publishes separate installation and construction guidance for different ranges, including Speedlock Mk3 and P90+.

Use those records to establish what was supplied and the arrangement for which it was specified. Note any changes made since installation, even where they seemed minor at the time.

Useful photographs include:

• A view of the full run and its position within the warehouse.

• Manufacturer markings, labels and load notices.

• The uprights, beam ends and their connections.

• The base plates, bracing and any visibly damaged areas.

Take photographs from a safe position at ground level. They help with the initial enquiry, but do not replace the assessment needed to confirm the system's condition or suitability.

If you have inherited the racking with the premises and have little documentation, say so. Knowing that the records are incomplete is more useful than assuming the installation matches a similar-looking system.

What should be checked before extending or reconfiguring Dexion pallet racking?

Before extending or reconfiguring Dexion pallet racking, check the system identification, component suitability, condition, proposed loads and layout. The assessment should establish which equipment can be retained and what design or installation work the revised arrangement needs.

Component compatibility must be confirmed before alterations

Proposed components need checking against the identified Dexion system and design before they are specified. Appearance, colour or an apparently matching connection should not be used as the basis for combining equipment.

The existing installation also needs assessing for damage, missing parts and other defects that could affect the work. Where an inspection has already identified issues, provide the report when discussing the project. An extension should not be planned on the assumption that every existing component can be retained.

Any uncertainty about older ranges, previous alterations or mixed components needs resolving before the specification is agreed. It may require manufacturer information or specialist engineering advice.

Can changing beam positions affect the racking's capacity?

Changing beam positions, bay arrangements or stored loads can affect the capacity of your Dexion pallet racking. The existing load notice relates to a specified configuration and should not automatically be carried over to a different one.

SEMA's technical guidance directs users seeking loading information for a changed bay arrangement to the manufacturer or its appointed distributor. Here at Penwright we can arrange loading and structural analysis where required as part of establishing a suitable solution.

Provide the maximum loaded pallet weights and dimensions, together with the proposed storage arrangement. Leave alterations to the competent project team once the design and installation requirements have been established.

How will the altered racking fit into your warehouse?

The altered racking needs to fit the available floor space, handling routes and access requirements of the warehouse. An extra bay can affect turning space, access to other stock or an existing pedestrian route. Moving a run introduces a different position on the floor and may change how goods move through the area.

Include the forklift details and explain what needs to remain accessible during normal operations. These practical requirements belong in the brief alongside the desired number of pallet positions.

When can existing Dexion racking be reused?

Existing Dexion pallet racking may be reusable where its system is identified, its condition is suitable and it can meet the new requirement with appropriate components and design checks. It may allow part of an existing installation to remain in service while a particular area is changed.

Replacement may deserve consideration where the required parts cannot be confirmed, the equipment needs extensive remedial work or the existing arrangement is poorly suited to the stock you now handle.

Compare the full scope of each option. For reuse, that might include assessment, replacement components, dismantling, reinstallation and updated loading information. A low parts price alone does not establish the total project cost.

Also consider the working layout you will have afterwards. If retaining the current equipment leaves an awkward picking arrangement or prevents the required access, the saving may come with an operational compromise. Discuss that before deciding which option represents better value.

Component availability and lead times need confirming for the particular system. An official distributor relationship provides a route for enquiries; it does not mean every historic component will be available or suitable for a new design.

How Penwright can help with your Dexion pallet racking

Penwright's storage design and installation service includes assessing opportunities to extend or reconfigure your Dexion pallet racking. We can discuss the existing installation, your proposed changes and the survey, design and quotation scope needed to assess the options.

Send us a description of the installation and what you want to achieve. Include photographs, available records, pallet information and a plan showing the proposed area of change.

Be specific about the problem. “We need space for taller incoming pallets” gives a more useful starting point than a request to move a beam. It allows the requirement to be considered before settling on an alteration that may or may not suit the existing structure.

The quotation should identify the equipment being retained, any new or replacement components, the installation work and the loading information needed for the completed arrangement. Discuss access and any need to phase the work around warehouse activity at the same time.

If you only need a particular component, include that in your enquiry along with the system identification and intended use. Compatibility still needs confirming before the part is selected.

Contact Penwright about your Dexion racking project, or call 020 8880 1919. We are the only official Dexion distributor in North London. We can discuss your existing installation and help establish what information is needed to assess the options.