Speedrack Products Integrates Pedestrian Protection into Rack Design

Background

Robert Dietrick Company (RDC) recently commissioned a new warehouse in Indianapolis to support continued operational growth. As with many modern facilities, the project required balancing two competing priorities: maximizing storage density within a constrained footprint while ensuring safe, efficient pedestrian movement between office and warehouse environments.

The transition area posed a particular risk. Employees and visitors needed a clearly defined pathway through an active warehouse with ongoing forklift traffic and overhead storage. Traditional solutions such as dedicated pedestrian aisles would have reduced valuable storage capacity.

RDC went to Speedrack seeking a solution that would maintain high-density racking, enhance safety, and align with both operational requirements and brand standards.

The Challenge

— Limited Floor Space: The layout required maximizing storage without allocating additional square footage for pedestrian aisles.
— Pedestrian Safety: Frequent movement between office and warehouse demanded a clearly protected pathway.
— Operational Continuity: Multiple access points along the partition wall needed to remain unobstructed.
— Aesthetic Consistency: Any solution needed to integrate with existing equipment and RDC’s brand identity.
— Durability: The system needed to withstand the demands of a high-traffic warehouse environment while protecting pedestrians from forklifts and falling materials.

Key Features

— Integrated Pedestrian Rack Tunnel: A purpose-built racking system designed to function as both high-density storage and a fully guarded pedestrian corridor, allowing safe movement between office and warehouse environments.
— Zero Floor Space Trade-Off: Pedestrian protection was built into the racking footprint, eliminating the need for a traditional 3-foot pedestrian aisle and preserving valuable warehouse floor space.
— Full Overhead and Side Protection: Solid decking, backstop beams, and rack structure provide protection from overhead falling objects, forklifts, and adjacent material handling activity.
— Controlled Access Safety Gates: Swing gates remain closed by default to keep pedestrians protected. Design allows authorized personnel to exit the tunnel safely when wearing appropriate PPE.
— Custom Engineered Layout: Rack uprights and components were strategically placed to maintain clear access through multiple existing doorways along the office/warehouse partition wall.
— Brand-Matched, Facility-Wide Color Consistency: Custom powder-coated finishes matched RDC’s branding and existing storage equipment, including mezzanine structures, for a cohesive and professional appearance.
— Robust Industrial Construction: Heavy-duty rack components engineered for durability in a live warehouse environment, delivering long-term structural integrity and pedestrian protection.
— Clear Installation Documentation: Detailed drawings and instructions enabled RDC’s internal team to complete installation efficiently.
— Scalable, Repeatable Design: The pedestrian rack tunnel concept can be adapted to other facilities and customer environments facing similar safety and space constraints.

The Solution: A Pedestrian Rack Tunnel

Rather than treating safety as a separate add-on, the design embeds pedestrian protection directly into the rack structure. This approach eliminates the need for dedicated floor space while maintaining full storage capacity.

The tunnel creates a clearly defined, guarded pathway for employees, customers, and visitors, ensuring safe passage through an otherwise high-risk area.