The Racking IS the Superstructure
In conventional warehouse construction, a general contractor first erects massive structural steel columns and rafters, after which internal storage racks are anchored inside. Frazier Industrial Racking Systems Co., Ltd. eliminates this redundant secondary skeleton entirely.
With our engineered Rack Supported Buildings, the 100% hot-rolled structural steel storage rack serves as both the heavy-duty pallet storage system and the primary structural framework supporting wall girts, roof purlins, roof decks, and insulated metal panels (IMP).
- Ground-Assembled Crane Picks: Entire rack sections are built on the ground and hoisted rapidly into position, dramatically speeding up erection times.
- Direct Cladding Attachment: Siding, insulated sandwich panels, and roofing attach directly to the structural rack skeleton.
- Seismic & Environmental Resilience: Precision-calculated to bear severe wind shear, live snow loads, and strict Seismic Design Category D, E, and F requirements.
Built for Scale, Designed for Value
Procurement executives, logistics developers, and cold chain operators select rack supported buildings to solve strict footprint limitations, speed up time-to-market, and optimize capital return.
Save Up to 15% on Footprint
By eliminating perimeter civil columns and optimizing aisle tolerances, rack supported facilities pack up to 15% more pallet capacity into identical site acreage compared to conventional pre-engineered buildings.
Accelerated Time-to-Market
Concurrent manufacturing and rapid modular crane-pick installation compress overall construction schedules by several months, getting your automated distribution hub operational and cash-flow positive sooner.
Equipment Tax Depreciation
In many jurisdictions, rack supported structures qualify for classification as material handling equipment rather than real estate improvements, opening significant opportunities for accelerated capital depreciation.
100% Hot-Rolled Steel Integrity
Fabricated exclusively from heavy structural steel channel profiles. Unlike light-gauge roll-formed alternatives, structural steel delivers unmatched resistance against torsional stress, seismic drift, and equipment impacts.
ASRS & Automation Ready
Engineered to interface precisely with stacker cranes, high-speed automated storage & retrieval systems (ASRS), top-guide crane rails, and multi-directional shuttles with sub-millimeter tolerances.
Single-Source Turnkey Delivery
Frazier Industrial Racking Systems Co., Ltd. oversees engineering from geotechnical coordination and foundation slabs to structural framing, roof decks, wall girts, and fire safety systems under one accountable team.
Soaring Over 140 Feet: Engineering the Extreme
High-bay rack clad facilities present rigorous engineering hurdles. When racks exceed 100 feet in height, standard building codes merge with heavy industrial crane interaction dynamics.
Frazier's high-rise engineering division implements rigorous 3D finite element structural analysis to calculate thermal expansion, high wind uplift, seismic drift, and differential deflection. Every connection is backed by bolted structural members, providing repeatable precision that standard cold-rolled steel cannot match.
Turnkey Design/Build Capabilities Include:
Foundation & slab coordinate analysis, precision crane guide rail alignment, specialized roof trusses, exterior wall cladding attachment systems, and integrated NFPA-13 / NFPA-231C high-density in-rack fire suppression layouts.
| Technical Engineering Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Vertical Height Limits | Engineered from 30 ft (9 m) to over 140 ft (42+ m) |
| Steel Material | 100% Hot-rolled structural channel steel (50 ksi yield strength) |
| Structural Standards | RMI ANSI MH16.1, AISC 360, IBC, UBC, and Canadian NBCC |
| Environmental Loadings | Seismic Design Categories A through F, coastal wind up to 160+ mph, heavy snow loads |
| Temperature Ranges | Deep freeze (-40°F / -40°C), temperature-controlled coolers, and ambient |
| Depreciation Asset Class | Material handling equipment (subject to local tax advisory verification) |
| System Compatibility | Automated stacker cranes, pallet shuttles, pick modules, gravity flow |
Where Rack Supported Structures Lead the Industry
From mission-critical deep freeze hubs to automated e-commerce distribution nodes, Frazier rack clad warehouses provide the density and uptime demanded by global leaders.
Refrigerated & Deep-Freeze
Structural steel rack supported envelopes reduce surface-area-to-volume ratios, drastically lowering refrigeration utility expenditures.
Food & Beverage Distribution
High-throughput automated storage and retrieval allows rapid FIFO replenishment with high pallet turnover per day.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Maximum pallet density on premium industrial parcels, empowering contract operators to quote aggressive per-pallet rates.
Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals
Enclosed climate control with zero interior support columns ensures uncompromising clean-agent containment and regulatory compliance.
Construction Milestones & Project Execution
Explore how Frazier Industrial Racking Systems Co., Ltd. coordinates ground assembly, heavy crane picks, and exterior envelope installation with field-proven safety records.
Conventional Dock Tie-In
A rack supported building erected immediately adjacent to conventional staging docks, delivering high-bay reserve efficiency while maintaining standard dock operations.
Modular Crane Pick Lifting
Assembled at ground grade, high-capacity tandem crane picks position complete multi-level structural steel bay frames safely and swiftly into plumb line.
Wall Cladding & Roof Integration
Following internal structural plumb verification, heavy-gauge insulated metal panels and roof trusses affix directly to structural rack framework girts.
Rack Supported Building Technical Insights
How does a rack supported building compare financially to conventional warehouse construction?
A rack supported building eliminates redundant building structural steel (columns and rafters), which directly saves between 15% and 25% on overall construction costs. Additionally, because the facility can be built significantly taller (over 140 ft), it drastically reduces land purchase costs, site prep, and foundation footprint while qualifying in many tax jurisdictions for accelerated equipment depreciation.
What permits and structural engineering documentation are provided?
Frazier Industrial Racking Systems Co., Ltd. provides comprehensive engineering calculations and sealed structural drawings stamped by licensed Professional Engineers (PE/SE) covering local municipal building codes, seismic drift, wind resistance, and foundation anchor reactions to streamline local permitting.
Why are structural steel channel members critical for rack supported structures?
Roll-formed or light-gauge sheet steel lacks the torsional stiffness, cross-sectional strength, and seismic resilience needed to carry wind, snow, and envelope loads simultaneously. Frazier utilizes 100% hot-rolled structural steel channel with bolted moment-resistant framing, providing uncompromising stability over decades of high-cycle operation.
Can rack supported structures integrate with AS/RS crane and shuttle vendors?
Yes. Frazier routinely works in direct coordination with the world’s leading automation integrators. Our high-bay engineering team details top crane guides, bottom runway tie-ins, shuttle busway brackets, and fire sprinkler piping according to the strictest European (FEM) and North American (RMI) automation criteria.
Ready to Engineer Your High-Bay Facility?
Partner with the industry pioneers in 100% structural steel rack supported buildings. Connect with our senior engineering team to review site dimensions, pallet loads, and feasibility.