Cantilever racking stores long materials horizontally on supporting arms, with no front uprights obstructing access. It is well suited to timber, steel sections, pipes, tubing and other awkward loads.
We specify the arm lengths, column spacing, loading capacities and access arrangements to suit your stock, building and handling equipment.
What is Cantilever Racking?
Cantilever racking has horizontal load arms (cantilevers) fixed to upright columns, with bracing between the columns along the back of the run. Loads rest directly on the arms, and the open front lets long materials be placed and removed without uprights in the way.
Single-sided cantilever racking has arms on one side of the column and is suitable for positioning along a wall or around the perimeter of the storage area. Double-sided cantilever racking has arms on both sides and runs freestanding.
Why Cantilever Racking Matters
Long goods are awkward to store. Floor stacking wastes height and makes the items underneath hard to reach, and standard pallet racking isn’t designed for loads longer than its bays. Cantilever racking gives you:
- Open-front access to stored loads
- Adjustable arm heights for loads of different heights
- Column spacing and arm numbers chosen to suit the length and stiffness of your materials
- Single- or double-sided runs to fit your layout
- Loading by hand or with lifting equipment, depending on the goods
Load Support & Distribution
Each arm has its own rating, and each column and base has an overall limit. Both matter: the total capacity of a run can’t safely be assumed by simply multiplying the arm ratings. The load must also be supported on enough arms, spaced to suit its length and stiffness, so it doesn’t bend or overhang. We work this out for your materials and show the limits on the load notices.
Industries & Applications
Timber & Builders’ Merchants
Store boards, beams, posts and long timber lengths with open-front access. Adjustable arm heights suit stacks of different heights.
Steel Stockholders
Heavier-duty cantilever systems hold bar stock and structural sections.
Manufacturing & Engineering
Store raw material blanks, extrusions, profiles and prefabricated components for production lines.
Automotive
Component storage for long panels, trim and subassemblies.
Our Cantilever Racking Process
Site Survey & Storage Requirements
We measure your space and record your materials’ lengths, sizes and weights, how they are handled, and whether the racking is indoors or outdoors.
System Design & Specification
We specify the columns, arm lengths, column spacing, loading capacities and any accessories to suit your stock, and provide a CAD layout.
Supply & Installation
Our experienced installation teams install the system to a programme agreed after the survey.
Load Notices & Handover
We display load notices prominently so operators can see the loading limits and configuration, and show your team how to use the racking safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the arm specification, how the load is placed and the supporting columns and bases. Arm ratings and column limits are separate, so the overall capacity can’t simply be worked out by multiplying arm ratings. We confirm the ratings for the system we supply for your stock, and show them on the load notices.
Yes. Arms can usually be moved up or down the column in set steps, which lets you store loads of different heights in the same run. Arm length is chosen when the system is specified; standard arms don’t extend or retract.
Single-sided racking has arms on one side only and is suitable for positioning along a wall or around the perimeter of the storage area. Double-sided racking has arms on both sides and runs freestanding, giving more storage from one run. The right choice depends on your layout and how you load and unload.
Yes, with a suitable finish, such as galvanised steel, for the exposure. Outdoor runs also need to allow for wind and weather, and for any roof or cladding you plan to add. We cover this at the survey.
Depending on the materials and how they are handled, we can specify end stops, dividers or decking. These aren’t all standard features, so they are chosen to suit your stock and loading method.
Often, yes. Suitable systems can be dismantled and reinstalled. Before cantilever racking is moved or changed, its condition, the new layout, the loading and the fixing requirements all need checking.
Cantilever racking can be loaded by hand or with lifting equipment, depending on the goods and the design. Whether manual loading is suitable depends on the size, shape, grip and weight of the items and the handling task, not weight alone. Hazardous manual handling should be avoided where reasonably practicable, and otherwise assessed and reduced. We design the system around your intended loading method.
Structural design is covered by the applicable cantilever racking design code and the manufacturer’s instructions, while BS EN 15635 covers use and maintenance. Load notices should be displayed prominently so operators can see the loading limits and configuration. HSE guidance (HSG76) recommends weekly or other risk-based visual checks, immediate reporting of damage, and expert inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Cantilever inspections need an inspector trained in cantilever racking, and stored goods may need moving so columns, connections and bracing can be seen properly.