CSA S345:23

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 It replaces CSA S16, Annex N, prepared under the same title in 2019, which superseded the previous edition of Annex N in CSA S16-14 (update 1) published in 2016.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. 

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).