Pallet Rack Protection: Post Protectors, Rack Guards & Column Protection

Pallet rack protection is steel guarding installed at the impact points of a racking system — post bases, aisle ends and rack backs — to absorb forklift collisions before they damage the structure. A rack upright that takes a hit loses capacity, and with over 11% of forklifts in the United States involved in some kind of accident each year, unprotected racking is one of the most predictable maintenance costs in a warehouse. The right protection is a one-time purchase that guards your racking 24/7.

Where does pallet racking get damaged?

Three zones take nearly all the abuse:

• Post bases — clipped by forks and pallet corners during putaway and retrieval.
• Aisle ends — struck by forklifts turning into and out of aisles; end-frame corner posts are the most exposed steel in the system.
• Rack backs — pushed-through pallets and loose product falling into the space behind the rack, endangering people and inventory below.

Each zone has a purpose-built guard.

Rack post protectors — column protection at the base

Cogan rack post protectors wrap the full circumference of the upright base in heavy curved steel:

Because the protector is anchored to the floor rather than clamped to the post, impact energy goes into the guard and the slab — not into the upright. A Large Crescent model is available for wider coverage.

Wrap-around rack protectors — end-of-aisle defence

Rack aisle protectors place a low, floor-anchored steel barrier around the rack end, exactly where forklift turns cause collisions. The single-sided wrap-around model uses a heavy steel crescent end plate — standard 12" high and 3/8" thick — welded to a floor angle of L5" x 3" x 1/4" structural steel, in lengths of 24", 42", 48" and 54" (double-sided: 42" and 48"). Anchoring is by 5/8"ø x 4 1/2" wedge bolts through 3/4"ø punched holes.

Effective protection close to the ground shields the rack without interrupting aisle flow patterns or limiting access to the pick area. A Large Crescent version extends the guarded envelope.

Wire mesh rack guards — keep product on the rack

Wire mesh rack guards bolt to pallet rack uprights to form a rigid wall between stored materials and the space behind the rack — protecting workers from falling debris if a pallet breaks or a forklift pushes a load too far.

• Panels: rugged 2" x 2" x 10GA welded wire mesh framed in 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" x 12GA structural angle, with an all-welded corner frame.
• Standard sizes: heights 3' to 5', widths 8' to 16'.
• Mounting: flush or offset brackets to accommodate pallet overhang, for both roll-formed and structural uprights; a corner bracket supports panels that extend above the top of the rack.
• Wire construction keeps inventory visible and ventilated.

Floor angle guides — steer wheels away from the steel

Where you need to guide traffic along a run of racking, floor angle guides made from 5" x 3" x 1/4" structural angle bolt to the slab in lengths up to 20', deflecting wheels and pallets before they reach the uprights.

Choosing the right combination

All four are all-steel, powder-coated safety yellow for visibility, and Ready Made — in stock and ready to ship, with accelerated production available.

Frequently Asked Questions