Industrial steel shelving units are a staple feature of any efficient warehouse or storage facility. In 2023, over 870 million square feet of warehouse space in the U.S. and Canada—equivalent to roughly 15,000 football fields—were equipped with industrial steel racking systems designed to optimize storage and improve operational flow. ANSI MH16.1-2023: Design, Testing, And Utilization Of Industrial Steel Storage Racks establishes minimum requirements for the structural design, testing, and utilization of industrial steel storage racks. Understanding and complying with ANSI MH16.1-2023 assures that industrial shelving units meet critical safety and performance standards, reducing risk and enhancing warehouse efficiency.
What Is ANSI MH16.1-2023?
ANSI MH16.1-2023 specifies requirements for the structural design, testing, and utilization of industrial steel storage racks, including movable-shelf racks, rack-supported systems, and automated storage and retrieval systems (sometimes referred to as “stacker racks”) constructed of cold-formed and/or hot-rolled steel structural members. Such rack types also include push-back rack, pallet-flow rack, case-flow rack, pick modules, and rack-supported platforms. This American National Standard is also intended to be applied to the design of the storage rack portion of any rack structure that provides support to the exterior walls and roof.
Safety measures include creating Load Application and Rack Configuration (LARC) drawings to validate stress distribution and anchorage. LARCs help assure load capacity labeling, maintain adequate clearances, perform regular inspections and maintenance, and have damaged racks assessed by a supervising engineer. ANSI MH16.1-2023 also specifies safety measures for the structural design, load capacity, beam deflection (L/180), and seismic/stability calculations an.
ANSI MH16.1-2023 is referenced by the International Building Code (IBC) for safe design and installation of industrial steel storage racks.
ANSI MH16.1-2023 does not apply to other types of racks, such as drive-in or drive-through racks, cantilever racks (see ANSI MH16.3 for guidance on cantilever racks), portable racks, or to racks made of material other than steel.
Why Steel Storage Racks Are Ideal for Warehouses and Industrial Use
Since steel storage racks are durable, sturdy, strong, convenient, and safe, they are one of the most common forms of racks found in the market today. Constructed from steel and with durable coating (powder-coating can prevent rust and oxidation), industrial steel storage racks are ideal to safely and efficiently hold heavy duty items like building supplies (e.g., forklifts). As opposed to standard units with plastic or wood shelves, a heavy-duty storage shelving unit with metal shelves sustains much heavier weights.
Therefore, the advantage of steel shelving is that it optimizes the space of a warehouse, distribution center, retailer, and manufacturing facility because it is extremely durable and sturdy. The extra weight capacity of steel storage racks allows for more efficient use of a facility’s storage space and to assure their safe use.
Benefits of Industrial Steel Storage Racks: Durability, Safety, and Flexibility
Here are the benefits of industrial steel storage racks:
- Durability: can sustain an impact from heavy duty machinery and from bulky items such as automotive parts, machinery, and tools. Also, certain steel varieties (aluminum and galvanized steel) have corrosion-resistant qualities, ensuring they can be used in humid environments, like cold storage.
- Modularity: are modular by design, meaning they can be easily adjusted, reconfigured, and relocated. Modular shelving is also customizable, so you can replace the decking material, add storage bins, or change the height according to your needs.
- Safety: have greater load capacities than other storage options, like wood and plastic, and steel storage racks can withstand heavy loads. Higher weight capacities of industrial steel storage racks help improve warehouse safety, reducing the risk of overloading and collapse.
- Visibility: increase visibility in the warehouse (which also helps improve employee safety).
- Mobility: transport goods or create additional floor space as many shelving units are available in static and mobile configurations.
ANSI MH16.1-2023 Guidelines for Designing Safe Industrial Steel Storage Racks
ANSI MH16.1-2023 states that industrial steel storage rack structures should be designed using the provisions for Allowable Strength Design (ASD) or the provisions for Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). It is important that they are designed for stability, supporting the product load. The standard further maintains that all computations for safe loads, stresses, and deflections should be made in accordance with conventional methods of structural design. This is specified in ANSI/AISI S100 for cold-formed steel components and structural systems and ANSI/AISC 360 for hot-rolled steel components and structural systems.
Common Warehouse Storage Rack Issues Explained (and Why ANSI MH16.1-2023 Compliance Matters)
Adhering to ANSI MH16.1-2023 helps prevent rack collapses, which are a common cause of OSHA warehouse violations and accidents. To prevent these incidents, materials must be stacked, blocked, and interlocked correctly and stored within designated height and weight limitations. A visual inspection of a warehouse racking system is useful to inform you of any areas that need attention; for instance, the various types of damage that you should visually be on the lookout for include the following:
- Beam damage — such as bent, cracked, or dented horizontal load members—can severely reduce the load-carrying capacity of a racking system. This may occur from forklift impacts or overloading. ANSI MH16.1-2023 emphasizes proper design and testing of beams to withstand applied loads and dynamic forces, but regular inspection and maintenance are also critical to prevent collapse.
- Missing components — such as cross-aisle ties, wall ties, beam safety locking pins, and crossbars— are essential to the rack system’s stability and safety. Missing any of these can compromise structural integrity, increase sway under load, or allow beams to dislodge. ANSI MH16.1-2023 requires these components be installed and maintained according to manufacturer specifications to ensure safe operation.
- Footplate (or baseplates) damage — such as when they are bent, missing or cracked— causes the rack to be vulnerable to tipping or collapse. ANSI MH16.1-2023 outlines load distribution expectations and anchoring strength that depend on intact, properly installed footplates
- Anchor damage — such as broken, loose, or missing anchors—reduce the system’s ability to resist movement, which can lead to frame instability. ANSI MH16.1-2023 includes guidance on anchor strength, spacing, and inspection intervals to maintain rack performance and safety.
- Diagonal and horizontal strut issues — bent, missing, or detached struts significantly reduce the rack’s rigidity and can result in leaning frames or progressive failure. ANSI MH16.1-2023 outlines frame design requirements that depend on the proper function of these braces.
- Leaning frames — frames that are visibly out of plumb or alignment often indicate underlying damage, uneven loading, or issues with anchoring or floor settlement. Leaning racks are a major red flag for imminent structural failure. ANSI MH16.1-2023 requires that racks be installed plumb and level, and periodic inspections should detect and address leaning before it worsens.
- Damaged decking — When decking is bent, corroded, sagging, or cracked, it can fail under weight, leading to falling products or injuries. While ANSI MH16.1-2023 focuses on structural members, safe decking is considered part of a compliant system when evaluated as a whole.
- Overloaded frames and beams — Overloading beyond the rated capacity (either per beam level or total bay load) can cause deflection, beam fatigue, or sudden collapse. ANSI MH16.1-2023 includes load capacity calculations based on frame design, material strength, and seismic zoning. All racking should have clearly posted load signage and be used within design limits.
- Column damage — When dented, crushed, or split, the structural integrity of columns is compromised. Damage is often caused by forklift impact and is a leading cause of rack failure. ANSI MH16.1-2023 specifies acceptable design limits, including options like column protectors, and encourages regular inspections to detect deformation early.
Complying with ANSI MH16.1-2023 not only assures rack systems are engineered to withstand expected loads and impacts, but also that they are maintained to prevent failures. A single weak point—whether it is a missing pin or a damaged column—can result in costly accidents, injuries, or product loss.
Benefits of ANSI MH16.1-2023 Compliant Racks
Using racks compliant with ANSI MH16.1-2023 helps businesses reduce the risk of structural failures, protect workers, and extend the lifespan of storage systems. These racks are engineered to withstand heavy loads and dynamic forces, promoting safer material handling practices and compliance with regulatory requirements.
ANSI MH16.1-2023: Design, Testing, And Utilization Of Industrial Steel Storage Racks is available on the ANSI Webstore.
ANSI MH16.1-2023 was developed by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHI).
Please direct any technical questions relating to this American National Standard to the developer. You can find the contact information for all standard developing organizations (SDOs) here: Who to Contact for Standards Related Questions.