Forklift Pallet Rack Protection & Rack Guards

Column guards, end-of-aisle and row guards, guard rail, bollards and rack backing that keep forklift impacts off your uprights, plus SpaceGuard Centurion Row Guards and repair kits for racks that are already damaged.

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SpaceGuard Centurion Row Guard installed at the end of a pallet rack row, protecting the front and rear uprights

Under 45 min

Centurion kit install, rack stays loaded

10,000+ lb

AisleGuard rail impact test at 4 mph

99%

of uprights fit the Centurion cuff

3, 4 or 5 in

upright sizes for Centurion Low Guard

Shop GuardsWhat It IsTypes ComparedRow GuardsChoosingRepairFAQ

Shop Pallet Rack Guards Online

Column guards, end-of-aisle guards, low-profile guard rails and back guards, priced online. Some common sizes are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation. For a full-facility layout, Centurion Row Guards or AisleGuard guardrail, request a quote.

Interlake pallet rack column protector, orange floor-anchored upright guardColumn Guards & Upright ProtectorsBolt-on and floor-anchored guards for the front of each uprightFrom $53.39 · 2 listed herePopular: Interlake Pallet Rack Column Protector ($69.68)Shop Column GuardsColumn guard guide →
Vestil pallet rack end guard, yellow steel end-of-aisle guard with black and yellow hazard stripingEnd-of-Aisle Rack GuardsFloor-anchored guard that wraps the exposed end frame of a rowFrom $252.14Popular: Vestil Pallet Rack End Guard ($252.14)Shop End-of-Aisle Rack GuardsCompare end protection →
Vestil low profile rack guard, yellow steel hoop rail anchored to the floorLow-Profile Rack Guard RailsHoop-style floor rails that keep forks and pallets off the rack faceFrom $71.84 · 2 listed herePopular: Vestil Low Profile Rack Guard 48 in. ($88.15)Shop Low-Profile Rack Guard RailsWhere guard rails fit →
Vestil pallet rack back guard, yellow framed wire mesh rack backing panelPallet Rack Back GuardsWire mesh panels that stop loads from being pushed out the back of a bayFrom $316.96 · 2 listed herePopular: Vestil Pallet Rack Back Guard 120 x 48.5 ($373.98)Shop Pallet Rack Back GuardsRack backing guide →

Prices are current online prices. See all protective barriers · Request a rack protection quote

What Is Forklift Pallet Rack Protection?

Forklift pallet rack protection is the set of guards and barriers that take a truck impact before your rack does. Column guards shield individual uprights, end-of-aisle and row guards protect the exposed end frames, guard rail and bollards keep trucks out of a zone entirely, and backing or netting stops loads from being pushed out the back of a bay.

Uprights carry every beam level above them. A small dent near the floor can reduce what the frame safely holds, and a hard hit can bend a column out of line. Guards are far cheaper to replace than an upright, and much cheaper than a collapsed bay.

Shopping only for column protectors? See our pallet rack column guards page.

Yellow SpaceGuard AisleGuard rack guard protecting a pallet rack upright at an aisle corner

What Happens When a Forklift Hits a Pallet Rack Upright?

Most rack damage is low and slow: a fork tip, a pallet corner or the rear of a truck clipping an upright while it turns. It adds up. These are the outcomes protection is designed to prevent:

Potential rack collapseA strong impact can push a loaded frame past what it can carry and lead to failure of the bay or the run.
Product damageLoads can shift or fall, damaging inventory and creating cleanup and claims.
Risk of injuryFalling product and failing frames are a serious hazard to operators, pickers and visitors.
Structural damageBent uprights and braces must be unloaded and repaired or replaced, which costs time and money.
Beam displacementImpacts can knock beams out of their connectors or jam them, complicating removal and replacement.

Where hits happen most: the bottom few feet of aisle-facing uprights, the first frame at each row end (side impacts from turning trucks), and the back of the rack where pallets are pushed in from the other side.

Types of Pallet Rack Protection Compared

No single guard covers every risk. Match the product to the zone and the type of impact you see on the rack today.

Protection type What it protects Where it goes Best for
Column guards / upright protectors One upright, from the front Aisle-facing uprights, floor level Every aisle with forklift or pallet jack traffic
End-of-aisle guards The full end frame Row ends facing cross aisles Side impacts from turning trucks
Centurion Row Guard Front and rear uprights at the row end Bolted to the end frame, anchored to the floor Row-end protection without the floor footprint of a separate guard
Guard rail / low-profile rails A run of rack or a zone Along rack faces, walkways, offices Keeping trucks and forks away from the rack face
Bollards A point, such as a corner or door Rack corners, dock doors, equipment Stopping a truck at one spot
Backing and netting Product falling out the back Rear of the bay Back-to-back rows, walkways behind racks
Repair kits (Centurion) An already damaged upright Bolted over the damaged section Restoring uprights without replacing the frame
Yellow floor-mounted column guard wrapped around the base of a teardrop pallet rack uprightColumn guardsFloor-anchored steel guards wrap the front of an upright and take fork and pallet hits low on the column.
Yellow end-of-aisle guard anchored around the base of a pallet rack end frameEnd-of-aisle guardsAnchored around the end frame so a turning truck contacts the guard, not the uprights.
Yellow SpaceGuard AisleGuard industrial guardrail with double rails beside pallet rackingAisleGuard guardrailSingle-, double- or triple-rail runs in OSHA yellow powder coat, with bolt-through or drop-in rails.
Yellow SpaceGuard safety bollards anchored in front of a wire mesh cage in a warehouseSafety bollardsA fixed stop at rack corners, cage entries and doors where trucks cut close.
BeastWire wire mesh pallet rack backing panels lining both sides of a warehouse aisleRack backingBeastWire wire mesh backing keeps loads from being pushed into the next aisle.

SpaceGuard Products photos (Centurion, AisleGuard and BeastWire product lines) used with permission; MH-USA is an authorized SpaceGuard dealer. Specifications from SpaceGuard’s published product pages.

SpaceGuard Centurion Row Guard: End-of-Row Protection That Saves Floor Space

The Centurion™ Row Guard from SpaceGuard Products protects the rack end against side impact. It is designed to replace the traditional end-of-row guard that sits out on the floor, and it protects and reinforces both the front and rear uprights.

Because it attaches to the uprights, the row end does not need the extra floor footprint of a separate guard, so you gain back square footage at every aisle end. Each Row Guard is custom made to fit your size of racking.

Centurion Row Guard with adjustable brace bolted to teardrop pallet rack uprights at the row end
Red Centurion Row Guard frame anchored to the floor across the front and rear rack uprights

How it is built:

  • Bolt-on cuff adjusts to the upright’s hole pattern; SpaceGuard states it fits 99% of uprights with no in-field reaming.
  • Solid tube frame for strength and durability.
  • Base plate in in-line or seismic versions.
  • No-snag side connections so pallets move in and out of the bay cleanly.
  • Centurion kits install in under 45 minutes without offloading the rack.
Feature Centurion Row Guard Traditional end-of-row guard
Mounting Bolts to front and rear uprights, anchored base plates Separate guard anchored to the floor in front of the end frame
Floor space Stays within the rack footprint Adds footprint at each row end
Fit Custom made to your rack size Standard widths
Base plate In-line or seismic Varies by model
Repairs the upright too Yes, it reinforces damaged front and rear uprights No, it only shields

See the full SpaceGuard line we carry on our SpaceGuard Products page, or request a Row Guard quote with your upright size, frame depth and number of row ends.

SpaceGuard Products photos (Centurion, AisleGuard and BeastWire product lines) used with permission; MH-USA is an authorized SpaceGuard dealer. Specifications from SpaceGuard’s published product pages.

How to Choose Pallet Rack Protection for Your Warehouse

Walk the floor before you buy. Existing scrapes, dents and paint marks show exactly where trucks make contact.

1

Map the damage

Note every dented upright, scuffed guard and bent brace by aisle and level.

2

Map the traffic

Mark main travel lanes, cross aisles, turning points, docks and pedestrian walkways.

3

Match product to zone

Column guards in pick aisles, end-of-aisle or Row Guards at row ends, rail and bollards along lanes, backing at the rear.

4

Check, install, inspect

Confirm upright size, hole pattern and slab condition, anchor guards correctly, then check them during routine rack inspections and after any hit.

Questions that decide the right guard

Truck type and aisle widthReach trucks in narrow aisles hit differently than counterbalance trucks in wide aisles. Narrow aisles favor low-profile guards that do not steal clearance.
Upright size and rack brandBolt-on guards and repair kits must match the upright. Teardrop and structural rack use different hardware.
Floor footprintEvery inch at a row end matters in a dense layout; this is where a Row Guard beats a freestanding end guard.
Seismic zoneIn seismic areas, base plates and anchoring need to suit local requirements; ask about seismic base plate options.
Fire protectionBacking panels on back-to-back rows should keep the flue space open so sprinklers can reach the load.

Already Damaged? Rack Repair and Inspection

Guards prevent new damage, but they do not fix a bent column. If an upright is already damaged, unload the bay and have it assessed.

Engineered bolt-on kits such as the SpaceGuard Centurion Low Guard repair the bottom 16 in. of a 3, 4 or 5 in. upright, where most forklift damage happens, and reinforce it against the next hit. Mid Guard and High Guard kits cover taller damage.

Our pallet rack repair and inspection service covers assessment, Centurion repair kits and replacement, and rack design runs through our pallet rack team.

Centurion Low Guard repair kit bolted to the base of a damaged pallet rack upright

Standards, Inspections and Buying Protection With New Rack

OSHA29 CFR 1910.176 requires safe clearances where mechanical handling equipment is used and that stored material not create a hazard. It does not name specific guard products.
Rack design standardsThe Rack Manufacturers Institute publishes ANSI MH16.1 for industrial steel storage racks. Your rack manufacturer or engineer of record can tell you what protection your design assumes.
Your insurer and code officialInsurers and local officials may set their own expectations for guarding and inspection; confirm them for your site.
Inspection routineLook at guards during regular rack walk-throughs and after every impact. Replace a guard that is bent or loose at its anchors.

Buying new rack? Plan the protection at the same time. It is easier to lay out row-end guards and anchor points before the rack goes in, and protection is a small part of the total project cost. Price a layout in the pallet rack configurator, build and order pallet rack online, or see structural pallet rack for high-impact areas.

How it works with MH-USA

1

Consultation

Tell us about your rack, trucks and problem areas, with photos if you have them.

2

Layout and quote

We recommend guards by zone and quote products, SpaceGuard Centurion kits or installation.

3

Delivery or install

Order online for self-install, or have our crews install and anchor everything.

4

Ongoing support

We help with inspections, repairs and add-ons as your layout changes.

Pallet rack guards & column protectors →Column protector styles, sizes and ordering for individual uprights.
Pallet rack repair & inspection →Damage assessment, Centurion repair kits and replacement uprights.
Pallet rack safety netting →Netting for the back and sides of bays where cartons can fall.
Pallet rack backing →Wire mesh backing panels for back-to-back rows and walkways.
Pallet rack anchor bolts →Anchors and base plates that keep frames and guards in place.
Pallet rack security enclosures →Wire mesh siding and doors that close off a rack bay.
SpaceGuard Products →Centurion, AisleGuard and BeastWire products from our authorized vendor.
Wire decking →Decking that supports loads and keeps product from dropping through.

Pallet Rack Protection FAQs

What is the most important type of pallet rack protection?
Column guards on the aisle-facing uprights are the baseline, because the front upright near the floor is where most forklift contact happens. After that, protect every row end that faces a cross aisle or main travel lane with an end-of-aisle guard or a Centurion Row Guard, since those frames take side impacts from turning trucks.
What is the difference between a column guard and an end-of-aisle guard?
A column guard protects one upright from the front. An end-of-aisle (row-end) guard spans the whole end frame and protects both the front and rear uprights from side hits as trucks turn into or out of an aisle.
What is a Centurion Row Guard?
It is a SpaceGuard Products guard that replaces a traditional end-of-row guard. It bolts to the front and rear uprights with the Centurion bolt-on cuff, uses a solid tube frame and an in-line or seismic base plate, and is custom made to fit your rack size. Because it attaches to the uprights instead of sitting out on the floor, it gives back floor space at the row end.
Can pallet rack guards be added to existing racks?
Yes. Column guards, end-of-aisle guards, guard rails and rack backing are all commonly retrofitted to racks already in service. Floor-anchored guards need sound concrete, and bolt-on guards must match your upright size and hole pattern, so send the rack brand, upright size and a photo with your request.
How often should pallet rack protection be inspected?
Check guards during routine rack walk-throughs and immediately after any impact. A guard that is bent, cracked or loose at its anchors should be replaced, and the upright behind it should be checked for damage. A documented periodic rack inspection, such as the service on our rack repair and inspection page, gives you a written record.
Is pallet rack protection required by OSHA?
OSHA does not list specific rack guard products, but 29 CFR 1910.176 requires that stored material not create a hazard and that aisles used by mechanical handling equipment have safe clearances. Your rack manufacturer, engineer of record, insurer or local code official may call for specific protection, so confirm requirements for your site.
Should I repair or replace a damaged upright?
Remove load from any visibly damaged bay and have the upright assessed. Depending on the damage, an engineered bolt-on repair kit such as the Centurion Low Guard or Mid Guard can restore the upright without replacing the whole frame. Our rack repair and inspection team can help decide.
Does rack backing or netting count as pallet rack protection?
Yes, it protects the other direction. Backing panels and netting stop cartons and pallets from being pushed off the back of a bay into the next aisle or a walkway. Panels mounted to the inside of back-to-back uprights help keep the flue space open for sprinklers.
Do you install rack protection?
Yes. MH-USA designs and installs pallet rack, rack protection and repair kits. Online orders ship for customer installation; for installed projects, request a quote with a layout or photos of the area.

Protect Your Racks Before the Next Hit

Send us photos of your problem areas and we will recommend and quote the right rack guards, row guards or repair kits.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT • Serving customers nationwide
Local service areas: Salt Lake City • Provo • Ogden • Park City • St. George • Logan • Lehi • Orem