Fall protection nets for warehouse racking: purpose and positioning
Fall protection nets for warehouse racking are passive safety systems designed to prevent goods from accidentally falling from storage levels into the areas below. In warehouses with intensive material-handling activity, where loads are placed and retrieved several times a day, impacts and incorrect positioning can occur despite proper operating procedures. Fall protection nets provide an additional safeguard by retaining unstable loads before they can fall into aisles, work areas or personnel access routes.
Fall protection nets can be installed along the rear of racking where it faces material-handling aisles, picking areas, passageways or perimeter walls with personnel working nearby. They do not replace the other safety measures provided for the storage system, but serve as an additional containment barrier at points where there is a higher risk of loads falling from the rear of the racking.
Construction features and attachment systems for fall protection nets
Fall protection nets are made from welded wire mesh panels, with mesh size and wire diameter selected according to the weight and type of loads they are intended to contain. The modular panels are sized to suit the height and width of the racking bay, ensuring continuous coverage across the entire rear of the protected bay.
The nets are secured to the racking using dedicated brackets and supports attached to the uprights or beams, with no need to drill or permanently alter the structural components. The bracket configuration is selected according to the racking depth and the required offset, and can be adapted to both single-sided and double-sided racking, with different attachment solutions where needed on each side.
Safety standards for fall protection nets
Fall protection nets are a form of collective protection that employers may use to reduce the risk of materials falling from height, in line with the general safety requirements established by Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008. 81/2008. As protective components of a racking system, fall protection nets are also included in the scope of periodic technical inspections under UNI EN 15635, alongside the other components of the system.
Benefits of fall protection nets for warehouse safety
Installing fall protection nets in a storage system offers several operational benefits:
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Reduced risk of goods falling into aisles and workstations - Protection for personnel working or moving near racking systems
- Limiting damage to stored goods caused by impacts or incorrect positioning
- Non-invasive integration with the existing racking system, without permanent structural modifications
- Adaptability to single-sided and double-sided racking configurations using dedicated brackets
Applications of fall protection nets
Fall protection nets are used in various warehouse environments, depending on the racking layout and material-handling flows:
- Aisles used by material-handling equipment
- Picking areas with regular operator activity
- Passageways and tunnels running beneath or between racking bays
- Work areas located behind the racking
Assessment and configuration of fall protection mesh for racking
Every warehouse has its own combination of rack heights, bay depths, load types and handling operations, all of which influence the choice of mesh size, panel dimensions and fixing method. We assess the existing racking configuration and the characteristics of the area to be protected based on the available technical data. This enables us to recommend a fall protection mesh solution suited to the installation’s actual requirements and compatible with any existing safety accessories.
FAQ
Under Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008, employers must take appropriate measures to protect workers from safety risks, including falling objects. However, the legislation does not specifically require fall protection mesh as the sole means of protection. In practice, mesh is a widely used solution for reducing the risk of falling loads in areas where racking faces aisles or work areas. Its installation may be recommended following a risk assessment or racking inspection.
Yes. The panels are modular, with fixing brackets selected to suit the rack depth, the single-sided or back-to-back configuration, and the type of uprights and beams used. Before installation, the fixing system must be checked for compatibility with the existing racking structure.
As part of the storage system, fall protection mesh should be included in periodic racking inspections in accordance with UNI EN 15635. Inspections should cover the condition of the mesh, uprights, beams and other safety components.