CASE STUDY
INDUSTRIAL
RACKING
Engineering design and assessment of heavy-duty industrial racking systems for a large warehouse facility, including seismic anchorage, upright frame design, and floor slab capacity review.
CASE STUDY
INDUSTRIALRACKING
Engineering design and assessment of heavy-duty industrial racking systems for a large warehouse facility, including seismic anchorage, upright frame design, and floor slab capacity review.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project provided complete structural engineering for a heavy-duty selective pallet racking system installed in a large industrial warehouse in Saskatoon. The racking system accommodated high pallet loads across multiple bays, requiring detailed analysis of upright frame capacity, beam connector loads, and floor slab anchorage.
Zagrosia Engineering performed both the racking design and a floor slab capacity review to confirm the existing concrete slab could support the concentrated column loads from the racking system. Seismic anchorage was designed per NBCC 2020 and CSA A344 User Information Bulletin requirements.
PROJECT DETAILS
- LocationSaskatoon, SK
- Building TypeIndustrial Warehouse
- ServicesHeavy Racking System Engineering
- JurisdictionCity of Saskatoon
- CodeNBCC 2020 / CSA A344
- ExpertiseP.Eng — British Columbia
THE CHALLENGE
The warehouse floor slab was cast as part of the original building construction and was not designed for the high concentrated column loads imposed by the proposed racking system. A detailed slab capacity assessment was required to determine whether reinforcement was sufficient or whether new footings and slab thickening were needed.
Seismic demands in Saskatoon required horizontal bracing in the cross-aisle direction and base plate anchorage sized for both uplift and shear. The anchorage layout had to avoid existing embedded conduit runs in the slab without compromising the structural performance of the system.
ENGINEERING APPROACH
Racking System Analysis
Upright frame, beam, and connector loads calculated for the specified pallet weights and rack configuration. Capacity verified against manufacturer data and CSA A344 acceptance criteria.
Slab Capacity Review
Existing floor slab reviewed for punching shear and flexural capacity under racking column loads. New thickened slab zones and reinforcement specified where capacity was insufficient.
Seismic Anchorage Design
Base plate and anchor bolt design for seismic horizontal and uplift forces per NBCC 2020 post-installed anchor requirements, using Hilti profis anchor design software.
SCOPE OF WORK
Racking Frame Design
Upright frame, beam, and bracing design for specified pallet load capacities and rack heights
Floor Slab Assessment
Existing slab punching shear and flexural capacity review under concentrated racking column loads
Slab Remediation Design
Thickened slab and supplemental reinforcement design where existing slab capacity was insufficient
Seismic Anchorage Design
Base plate and post-installed anchor design for seismic demands per NBCC 2020 and CSA A344
Installation Review
Site observation during racking installation to verify anchor placement, torque values, and frame plumb
OUTCOME
OPERATIONAL & CODE-COMPLIANT
The racking system was installed and approved by the City of Saskatoon without required modifications beyond the remediation zones identified in the slab assessment. The system has been in full warehouse operation since installation, with no structural issues reported.
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DO YOU WANT TO START YOUR PROJECT?
Every project is unique. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements, and discover how we can help.