What you need to know about UNI EN 15635 and racking safety
When it comes to UNI EN 15635, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether compliance with the standard is mandatory. Some industry professionals consider it a legally binding requirement, while others see it simply as a recommendation with no practical implications. The reality is more nuanced and deserves closer examination.
UNI EN 15635 is the key technical standard for the use and maintenance of static steel storage systems. Its purpose is to provide technical and organisational guidance for keeping industrial racking in a safe condition throughout its service life.
Although it is not legally binding, the standard is widely adopted by companies because it brings together best practices developed across Europe for the management of racking systems. Its guidance helps define responsibilities, inspection procedures, damage assessment criteria and corrective actions, helping to reduce the risk of accidents while keeping warehouse operations efficient.
What Is UNI EN 15635?
UNI EN 15635 is a European technical standard that has also been adopted in Italy and sets out requirements for the use and maintenance of industrial racking.
The standard was developed to provide a common approach to managing racking safety after installation. Design is only one stage in the life cycle of a storage system. Once in operation, racking can be exposed to accidental impacts, layout changes, changes in load units, maintenance work and changes to warehouse operations. All of these factors can affect its safety.
For this reason, UNI EN 15635 sets out a series of guidelines for the day-to-day management of racking systems, including procedures for regular inspections, criteria for classifying damage, and organisational responsibilities that help monitor the condition of storage equipment over time.
Racking safety is not an occasional task, but an ongoing process that continues throughout the service life of the system.
To achieve this, the standard places considerable emphasis on the way warehouse safety is organised and managed. It describes the roles involved in managing safety, how to carry out visual checks and regular inspections, and the criteria to follow when damage or other issues are identified.
This approach allows companies to take timely, planned action and prevent minor damage from developing into potentially dangerous situations over time.
Who does UNI EN 15635 apply to?
UNI EN 15635 applies to all companies that use static steel storage systems, regardless of the size of their warehouse or the industry they operate in.
The standard focuses on the operational phase of the system. It does not cover the structural design of the racking, which is addressed by other technical standards in the same series, but sets out how inspection, maintenance and monitoring activities should be organised once the system is in service.
UNI EN 15635 was developed for storage systems used in industrial and logistics environments, where the stresses and impacts associated with handling operations involving forklifts, pallet trucks and other equipment require specific inspection procedures.
Is UNI EN 15635 mandatory?
The short answer is no. UNI EN 15635 is not a legally binding standard and, in itself, does not impose any legal requirements. It is a voluntary technical standard designed to provide a consistent framework for the management of industrial racking systems.
However, this point needs some clarification. Calling the standard “voluntary” does not mean that it can simply be ignored without first considering the relevant technical requirements.
Italian Legislative Decree 81/08 requires employers to provide safe work equipment, keep it properly maintained and take all necessary measures to protect workers’ health and safety. However, the law does not set out specific requirements for inspecting industrial racking or define the procedures to be followed for regularly assessing its condition.
UNI EN 15635 is widely used as a reference for technical assessments and is recognised as good practice across the industry.
In other words, the legal obligations come from workplace health and safety legislation, while UNI EN 15635 provides a recognised technical framework for meeting those obligations when it comes to industrial racking.
This distinction is also important from a communication standpoint. Attributing requirements to UNI EN 15635 that actually arise from Italian Legislative Decree 81/08 creates a misconception that has become widespread over time in many online articles and commercial materials.
What does UNI EN 15635 cover?
Now that its role as a technical standard has been established, it is useful to look at what it actually covers.
The aim of UNI EN 15635 is to provide a structured approach to managing racking throughout its service life. The activities outlined in the standard are not intended to be carried out as isolated measures, but as part of an ongoing process to monitor the condition of the equipment and take action whenever needed.
Key areas covered by the standard include:
- The organisation of visual checks and periodic inspections;
- The allocation of responsibilities for racking management;
- The classification of damage identified during inspections;
- How issues and corrective actions are recorded;
- Procedures to follow when potentially unsafe conditions are identified.
This approach makes clear that racking safety depends not only on the quality of the equipment itself, but also on having effective inspection procedures in place and being able to act promptly when issues are identified.
Inspections required under UNI EN 15635
When it comes to racking inspections, the first thing that often comes to mind is the annual inspection carried out by an expert validator. In fact, UNI EN 15635 takes a broader approach, providing for several types of checks at varying intervals and for specific purposes.
The aim is to identify any issues at an early stage, monitor how they develop, and plan the necessary corrective action before they can compromise warehouse safety.
Visual checks during daily operations
The first level of inspection involves visual checks carried out during daily operations.
Warehouse operators, forklift drivers and other handling staff are often the first to spot a damaged upright, a deformed guard or a component that is out of position. The standard therefore stresses the importance of fostering a reporting culture in which any issue is promptly brought to the attention of the person responsible.
Internal periodic inspections
Alongside daily checks, UNI EN 15635 recommends carrying out scheduled periodic inspections.
The frequency of these inspections is not strictly defined and should be determined based on several factors, including:
- the frequency and intensity of warehouse operations;
- the number of daily handling operations;
- the type of load units;
- the presence of areas at greater risk of impact;
- the history of recorded damage;
These inspections provide a systematic assessment of the condition of the racking, helping to identify any deterioration that may not be apparent during normal operations.
Inspection by an expert validator
UNI EN 15635 also recommends having the racking inspected at least once every twelve months by an expert validator
This inspection differs from internal checks. The inspector examines the entire racking system, assesses any damage identified against the criteria set out in the standard, and prepares a technical report documenting the condition of the racking and any recommended corrective measures.
It is worth noting that the standard does not require inspectors to hold a specific certification. What matters is that the inspection is carried out by someone with the appropriate technical knowledge and experience in industrial racking.
The role of the PRSES in racking management
One of the key features of UNI EN 15635 is the introduction of the PRSES (Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety).
Over the years, the PRSES role has often been presented as a legal requirement. However, this point deserves some clarification.
The standard recommends appointing a person responsible for managing the safety of storage equipment. This organisational approach establishes clear responsibilities and helps ensure that control activities are carried out systematically and in a coordinated manner, rather than on an occasional basis.
The PRSES does not replace the employer, nor does the position automatically carry any legal responsibilities that the law assigns to other company personnel. Its main function is organisational: coordinating the activities required by the standard and ensuring that the racking control system is consistently implemented.
Typical responsibilities include planning inspections, managing damage reports, monitoring maintenance work, and keeping records of the inspections carried out.
In many companies, the PRSES acts as the link between operational staff, management and external inspectors, helping to maintain an overall view of the condition of the racking.
Rather than acting as an “inspector”, the PRSES is the central point of reference for the safety of storage equipment.
Why do many companies follow UNI EN 15635 even though it is not mandatory?
If UNI EN 15635 is a voluntary standard, why are more and more companies choosing to adopt it?
The answer lies primarily in risk management.
Le scaffalature industriali sono attrezzature destinate a rimanere in esercizio per molti anni. Senza un sistema organizzato di controlli, è facile che piccoli danneggiamenti vengano trascurati o sottovalutati.
UNI EN 15635 provides a structured framework for managing these situations. It sets out who is responsible for carrying out the checks, how they should be documented, and which criteria should be used to assess any issues identified.
From a management perspective, this means keeping better records of the activities carried out, making more informed decisions about maintenance, and reducing the risk of relying solely on personal experience or ad hoc assessments.
UNI EN 15635 as a warehouse management tool
Viewing UNI EN 15635 simply as a requirement for annual racking inspections overlooks much of the value the standard can bring to warehouse management.
La norma propone un approccio più ampio, basato sull’idea che la sicurezza delle scaffalature dipenda dalla continuità dei controlli, dalla chiarezza delle responsabilità e dalla capacità dell’organizzazione di intervenire quando vengono individuate situazioni di rischio. Le ispezioni periodiche sono uno degli strumenti attraverso cui questo obiettivo viene perseguito, ma non sono l’unico elemento del sistema.
For companies managing a warehouse, following the guidance set out in UNI EN 15635 provides a structured approach that can help improve internal organisation and contribute to meeting the general health and safety obligations established by law.
For a closer look at any of the topics covered in this article, the Di Massa Srl blog features dedicated content on technical racking inspections, the role of the PRSES, damage classification under UNI EN 15635, and the professionals involved in managing industrial racking systems.
Each topic is explored separately to provide an appropriate level of detail for both warehouse managers and safety professionals.
FAQ about UNI EN 15635
1. Is UNI EN 15635 mandatory?
No. UNI EN 15635 is a voluntary technical standard and does not, in itself, impose any legal obligations. However, it is one of the main technical references for the management of industrial racking systems and is widely used by companies to organise inspection and maintenance activities.
Health and safety requirements are instead established by Italian Legislative Decree 81/08, which requires employers to ensure that work equipment is kept in a safe condition. UNI EN 15635 provides a recognised framework for applying these principles to industrial storage systems.
2. How often should racking systems be inspected?
The standard recommends a multi-level inspection and monitoring system.
Alongside the visual checks carried out by staff during normal operations and the periodic inspections arranged internally, the standard recommends at least one inspection each year by an expert validator.
The frequency of internal inspections should be determined based on the characteristics of the warehouse, the intensity of racking use, and the risks involved.
3. Chi può effettuare l’ispezione annuale?
UNI EN 15635 states that periodic inspections should be carried out by an expert validator, meaning a professional with specific knowledge of industrial racking systems, damage assessment criteria, and the inspection procedures set out in the standard.
The key requirement is the inspector’s technical competence. They must be able to assess the condition of the racking systems and identify any situations requiring corrective action.
4. Is appointing a PRSES mandatory?
The standard recommends appointing a person responsible for the safety of storage equipment, referred to as the PRSES (Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety).
This is not an obligation imposed by UNI EN 15635, but an organisational choice that helps establish clear responsibilities and coordinate inspection, maintenance, and the management of any issues identified.
In companies where racking systems play a central role in logistics operations, appointing a dedicated person to oversee them can make the safety management system more effective.
5. Which types of racking systems are covered by UNI EN 15635?
The standard applies to static steel storage systems used in industrial and logistics environments.
This includes pallet racking and other types of industrial racking systems designed for storing goods.