wide-aisle warehouse
A wide aisle warehouse is a special warehouse that is based on the use of forklifts, such as front-loading and reach trucks, in the warehouse. To enable effortless navigation through the warehouse, the distance between the shelves is generous and sufficient. Wide aisle warehouses are by far the most widely used storage facilities!
Table of contents
characteristics
Here is an overview of the classic characteristics of a wide aisle warehouse:
- For floor and shelf storage
- For channel, single or multi-bay racks
- Manual operation
- For front or reach trucks and tiller devices
- The shelf height can be adjusted to the maximum forklift height and can include several vertical levels
- Wide aisle warehouses offer unlimited application possibilities thanks to a wide range of accessories
- Dimensions of wide aisle warehouses: Aisle width of 2500 mm - 4000 mm with a lifting height of up to 10,000 mm
advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of wide aisle warehouses are as follows:
- Low to medium investment costs
- Particularly flexible with regard to extensions, conversions and storage goods
- Fast, safe access to all items
- Suitable for high handling performance
A disadvantage of wide-aisle warehouses is the low storage density, which is associated with less optimal use of space.
wide-aisle warehouse versus narrow-aisle warehouse
The narrow aisle warehouse is only suitable for shelf storage and not for floor and shelf storage as in the wide aisle warehouse. Narrow aisle warehouses are also not suitable for channel storage. Narrow aisle warehouses primarily work with three-way stackers or order picking stackers. Stacking takes place via side load handling and order picking via front load handling.
The aisle width of a narrow aisle warehouse is between 1400 and 1800 mm - for a wide aisle warehouse between 2500 and 4500 mm . The lifting height is 15,000 mm and for a wide aisle warehouse
The space utilization rate is higher in narrow aisle warehouses than in wide aisle warehouses. However, the investment costs are also higher.
safety regulations
Safety regulations apply when working in wide aisle warehouses and with a forklift truck with a liftable driver's seat. This is because when driving with the driver's seat raised, the overall center of gravity of the device shifts further and further upwards as the working height increases. A warning light is mandatory for forklift trucks with a driver's seat that can be raised higher than 3 meters above the floor.
A safety distance of at least 500 mm must be maintained between the forklift and the rack to prevent crushing or other injuries. This distance may be reduced in exceptional cases during storage or retrieval.
As soon as the driver approaches a shelf - ideally at ground level - the speed must be reduced. The distance between the device and the shelf must be carefully monitored.
safety distances
Safety distances include, for example, the distances between loads, the distances to shelf supports, to supports or to structural facilities. The individual distances are then explicitly specified through guidelines and standards.
shelf inspection
Employers are obliged to have their systems regularly inspected by appropriate persons within certain inspection periods.
If a part is damaged, it must be replaced immediately with an original spare part!
Rack inspections are carried out in accordance with EN 15635 - “Adjustable pallet racks - Guidelines for safe working”. In addition, the storage facilities and storage equipment are checked in accordance with BGR 234.
