CSA Group CSA S345:23 Design and construction of steel storage racks

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA S345, Design and construction of steel storage racks. It replaces CSA S16, Annex N, prepared under the same title in 2019, which superseded the previous edition of Annex N in CSA S16-14 (update 1) published in 2016.

CSA published A344.1 and A344.2 in 2005 as a two-part document: a user guide and a design standard for steel storage racks. Following the withdrawal of CSA A344.2 in 2016, and its subsequent incorporation into CSA S16, this Standard has been developed as a stand-alone document. The contents of this new Standard are linked with both CSA A344 and CSA B335, which establish the requirements for a safe environment where steel storage racks and lift trucks are the primary equipment of the workplace.

No technical changes have been made to the content originating from CSA S16, Annex N. Editorial changes to this edition include the updating of referenced standards.
This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Industrial Storage Racks, under the
jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee for Construction and Civil Infrastructure, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Notes:

1) Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.
2) Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.
3) This Standard was developed by consensus, which is defined by CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization as “substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity”. It is consistent with this definition that a member may be included in the Technical Committee list and yet not be in full agreement with all clauses of this Standard.
4) To submit a request for interpretation of this Standard, please send the following information to [email protected] and include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:
a) define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include an illustrative sketch;
b) provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and
c) where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue.
Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are available on the Current Standards Activities page at
standardsactivities.csagroup.org.
5) This Standard is subject to review within five years from the date of publication. Suggestions for its improvement will be referred to the appropriate committee. To submit a proposal for change, please send the following information to [email protected] and include “Proposal for change” in the subject line:
a) Standard designation (number);
b) relevant clause, table, and/or figure number;
c) wording of the proposed change; and
d) rationale for the change

1 Scope

1.1 General
This Standard applies to free-standing, selective-type storage racks where the principal structural components are upright frames and load support beams. These storage racks include selective racks, double-deep racks, very narrow aisle (VNA) racks, push-back racks, pallet-flow racks, pallet shuttle racks, and automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) racks.
Note: Storage racks are typically used to store unit loads and loaded by using powered lift equipment.

The selective-type storage racks consist of regularly spaced, braced frames in the cross-aisle direction and parallel, multi-level moment resisting frames or concentrically braced frames in the down-aisle direction.
Note: There are limited racks produced with moment frames in both the down-aisle and cross-aisle directions. This
introduces biaxial bending in the column, which has not been considered in the Standard.

This Standard applies only to steel racks constructed of hot-rolled or cold-formed sections, or a
combination thereof.

1.2 Application
This Standard does not apply to the following storage racks:
a) cantilever racks;
b) drive-in and drive-through racks;
c) portable racks;
d) rack structures supporting floors or walkways;
e) rack-supported buildings; and
f) all other storage structures not specified in Clause 1.1.
Note: Certain parts of this Standard, particularly the structural demand criteria, may be used as guidance when designing rack structures outside the scope of this Standard as there are additional force effects on these systems that are not considered in this Standard.

1.3 Terminology
In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as
requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their
application.

1.4 Units
Equations and expressions appearing in this Standard are compatible with the following SI (metric) units:

a) force: N (newtons);
b) length: mm (millimetres);
c) moment: N•mm; and
d) strength or stress: MPa (megapascals).