Can I Order Racking Off-the-Shelf and Make It Work — Or Do I Need Expert Planning?
- Westbow Systems
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Can You Just Order Racking and Make It Work?
The short answer is, it depends. If you’ve got a straightforward warehouse layout, standard palletized inventory, and some experience with storage systems, you may be able to select and install pallet racking that meets your needs.
But here’s the thing: even in those situations, it’s worth having a second set of eyes. At Westbow Systems, our expert planning is complimentary when you follow through on your investment, and it often uncovers opportunities or challenges that aren’t immediately obvious, even to experienced operators.
It doesn’t cost you anything to double-check, but it could save you money, time, and space.
Why Racking Alone Doesn’t Guarantee a Good System
The racking itself isn’t the problem. Most industrial shelving, pallet racking, and modular systems are solid products. The challenge is making sure those systems are planned and installed to support your workflow, compliance needs, and future growth.
Questions to ask before hitting “Buy Now”:
Are your floor loads rated for racking placement?
Have you accounted for fire code clearance or seismic engineering?
Will your forklift or picker equipment fit between aisles?
Are you leaving space for staging, packing, or future automation?
Could your pick path be optimized?
These aren’t product issues, they’re planning issues.
What Happens If You Skip Planning?
Even with quality racking, skipping the planning phase can lead to:
Wasted vertical or horizontal space
Inefficient picking and packing paths
Compliance issues with permits or fire codes
Higher long-term costs due to layout limitations
Unsafe working conditions
It doesn’t cost anything to avoid these problems, if anything it can save you money and headaches down the road. Book a complimentary planning consult with Westbow Systems.
When It Might Be Fine Without Expert Planning
To be fair, not every project demands outside expertise. If you:
Have a simple, open rectangular warehouse
Are storing standard pallets with known weights
Have experience designing racking layouts
Aren’t facing tight space or high throughput demands
...you might be able to order and install racking successfully without a full design consult.
But remember, our job is to make sure you’re getting the most out of your investment. And since our expert planning is complimentary, you have nothing to lose by bringing us in for a second opinion.
Permits, Engineering, and Code Compliance
A frequently overlooked aspect of storage planning is compliance. Many municipalities in Western Canada require:
Whether you’re in B.C., Alberta, or Saskatchewan, we can help you navigate local requirements, ensure your racking is compliant, and avoid costly rework or delays.
Let us handle permitting and compliance, it’s part of our design service.
It’s the Plan That Makes the Difference
Here’s what really matters: it’s not whether your racking is standard or heavy-duty, boltless or pallet-based. It’s whether it’s planned around your people, products, and workflow.
And that planning? That’s where Westbow Systems shines.
We walk your space
We ask the right questions
We find opportunities for efficiency
We help future-proof your layout
We handle permitting and compliance
We do all this at no extra cost to you
Pallet Racking Project Gallery
A Better System Starts With a Better Plan
Even if your layout seems simple, or you’ve done this before — why not get a second opinion? We’ve helped businesses across Western Canada unlock better performance, safer workflows, and smarter storage with a quick, no-pressure site review.
Whether you need pallet racking, shelving, or mezzanines, we start with the plan — not the product.
