How to develop steel structure design for warehouse?

In any steel structure design for warehouse, the floor has absolute relevance in the design, execution and use phases, being the element whose function is to support absolutely all the members present in the space – from people to operations.

But, on many occasions, the implementation or expansion of logistical infrastructures ends up being unfeasible.  These warehouse has floors with constitution, flatness and/or load capacity incompatible with the required one.

Therefore, we invite you to understand the factors that need to be considered when choosing the ideal floor for your warehouse, so that it guarantees security and support for the stored materials.

What are the essential variables for steel structure design for warehouse?

Many variables are essential to define the best warehouse floor. In general and more commonly, during the process of designing logistics solutions, many companies have information that the warehouse floor can withstand a certain “load per square meter” (For example: 5000 kgf/m).

However, this information alone is not enough to steel structure design for warehouse. The warehouse floors demand not only for distributed overloads, but also for specific overloads. They may also have static or dynamic actions, with different frequency and simultaneity of action.

Importance of warehouse floor

Therefore, due to the variation and complexity of all the ingredients, only the uniformly distributed resistance to overload says little about the real capacity of use. In this sense, there are three movement categories that need to consider:

The columns that make up the selective Pallet Truck, due to their own weight and the load units overload the floor of steel structure design for warehouse. It happens with concentrated and static actions.  Pallets stored directly on the floor generate more evenly distributed and static overload.

The handling equipment generates concentrated overloads, of a dynamic nature – with variable position and magnitude. This depends on the mechanics of the activity.

Role of surface resistance and joints

Therefore, it is worth mentioning that, many times, handling equipment can be as harmful as or even more harmful to the floor than the Storage System itself. The equipment mentioned above also demand another performance requirement of great importance for warehouse floors.

• The surface resistance to abrasion
• and the treatment of joints – whether constructive or not.

When these aspects neglect by the company for steel structure design for warehouse, an early deterioration of the floor can manifest itself. This creates risks to the security of the warehouse.

Therefore, it is a fact that the constant technological evolution of handling equipment is increasingly demanding more from floors.

Constructive characteristics: Fundamental for having a good floor in the warehouse

In addition to the movement of machines and type of storage, another recurring mystique to consider ideal is attributing its resistance. It comes to the dimension of the thickness of the concrete layer.

For example, a 6 cm thick floor is stronger than a 10 cm thick floor. This statement is not incorrect, as the floor’s constructive characteristics are in fact relevant to its performance.

However, there is an element that directly influences support capacity of steel structure design for warehouse and deserves full attention!

What is the role of subgrade?

We are talking about the subgrade. This is the natural soil layer that locates in the lower portions of the sub-base.

What is a warehouse floor?

A warehouse floor is nothing more than a layer of concrete – of specific strength, which can be simple, reinforced, pre stressed, with fibers of variable constitution or even a combination of these – normally supported directly on the ground.

Therefore, it is important to mention that the good performance of the floor is also guaranteed by the “resistance” of the natural soil, a characteristic closely linked to local geological factors.

Therefore, it is not possible to accurately guarantee that a 15 cm floor is more resistant than a 10 cm floor. We cannot do without considering the characteristics of the concrete for steel structure design for warehouse common and the soil layers that support it.

Role of planning for steel structure design for warehouse

There are even situations where the inaptitude of the subgrade (ground and underground) demand the execution of floors supported on deep foundations, as is the case of the “Stacked Floors”. Better planning plays an essential role to always have a good warehouse floor.

Based on what we have seen so far, it is possible to conclude that the guarantees regarding the performance of a given floor come by multiple variables. Some of them with complex tangibility are difficult to make. The lack of knowledge of these can result in the impossibility of understanding its real limits.

Therefore, the challenge of analyzing an existing old floor or of evaluating a new floor of steel structure design for warehouse that has been built without having previously carried out all the required and unsupported design studies are similar.

Importance of improved logistics management in warehouses

With the advancement of e-commerce in recent years, the search for improved logistics management in distribution centers and warehouses has become frequent.  And these are essential for companies that intend to stand out in the market.

Therefore, having an efficient logistical management in distribution centers and warehouses makes all the difference in customer service. This allows for greater satisfaction, credibility, loyalty, in addition to attracting more business opportunities.

Tips to guarantee a logistical management

Based on this, we have separated some tips. This guarantees a logistical and organizational management that, when well implemented and planned, generate excellent results.

Then follow each of these tips and take the opportunity to innovate in your business processes and steel structure design for warehouse.

Standardize product storage

Imagine a warehouse or a distribution center where the products to store, without any security or differentiation in weight and volume.  This comes without any process that speeds up the removal of levels. It would be a mess.

Without a doubt, the lack of standardization in distribution centers or warehouses means working in the midst of chaos! Employees do not know how to proceed in the midst of many disorganized merchandise.

Summary steel structure design for warehouse

The result will be delays in deliveries, replacements, sales, that is, a drop in credibility and efficiency. Therefore, it is important to standardize the storage of products, storing them in the most correct and logical way. Sort them by categories, sizes, weights and features. Put codes on every shelf.