Pallet Racking in Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho
Selective, push-back, drive-in and pallet flow rack for warehouses, supply houses and food plants across Eastern Idaho, from Rexburg and Idaho Falls to Blackfoot, Pocatello and Chubbuck, with layout, permits support, delivery and installation.
Since 1997
Storage systems experience
6 orders
Eastern Idaho pallet rack projects
SDC D
Seismic-ready rack details
Free
Layout design and quote
Shop Pallet Rack Online for Eastern Idaho Warehouses
Starter and add-on sections, wire decking and column protectors with current online prices. Freight is quoted by destination, and some common sizes are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation. For a full Idaho Falls or Pocatello layout, request a free quote.
Pallet rack for Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Eastern Idaho
Idaho Falls and Pocatello anchor the I-15 corridor through Eastern Idaho. Interstate 15 runs north to Montana and south to Utah, I-86 heads west from Pocatello toward Boise, and US-20 runs from Idaho Falls toward Rexburg and Yellowstone, with Union Pacific rail through both cities. The region’s warehouses serve farms and food processors on the Snake River Plain, contractors and suppliers working for the Idaho National Laboratory, and the wholesale and parts businesses that supply a large rural trade area.
In Idaho Falls, industrial and distribution buildings sit along the I-15 interchanges, in the Eagle Rock area west of the river and around the airport, with newer growth in Ammon, Ucon and Iona. In Pocatello and Chubbuck, warehouse space is concentrated near the I-15 and I-86 junction, along Yellowstone Avenue and at the Pocatello Regional Airport business park, which is zoned for warehouse, distribution and manufacturing.
Material Handling USA has designed, supplied and installed storage systems since 1997. We are based in Salt Lake City, about three hours south on I-15, and we have supplied pallet rack to Eastern Idaho businesses in Idaho Falls and Pocatello. This page covers which rack fits which operation, what Idaho Falls, Pocatello and the surrounding counties require, and how delivery and installation work. For rack types and capacities in more depth, see our main warehouse pallet racking guide, and for western Idaho see our Boise pallet rack page.
Pallet rack types we supply in Eastern Idaho
The right system depends on how many SKUs you carry, how many pallets of each, and how fast they turn. This table matches common Eastern Idaho operations to the rack that usually fits them.
| Rack type | Best for | Typical Eastern Idaho users |
|---|---|---|
| Selective pallet rack | Many SKUs, direct access to every pallet | Wholesale supply houses, parts distributors, manufacturers |
| Double-deep rack | More positions per aisle, two pallets deep | Beverage, grocery and farm-supply distributors |
| Push-back rack | 2 to 6 pallets deep, last in first out | Food processors, packaging and seasonal stock |
| Drive-in rack | Deep lanes of the same product, highest density | Frozen and cold storage, bulk ingredients |
| Pallet flow rack | First in first out, gravity-fed lanes | Dated food products and high-volume picking |
| Carton flow rack | Case and each picking at the pick face | Parts counters and order fulfillment |
| Cantilever rack | Long loads such as pipe, lumber and steel | Irrigation, plumbing and building supply yards |
| Structural rack | Heavy loads and forklift abuse | Food plant freezers and heavy manufacturing |
Wholesale supply houses
Eastern Idaho’s water well, irrigation, plumbing, HVAC and electrical wholesalers carry thousands of SKUs, from pallets of pumps and fittings to coils of pipe. Selective rack with wire decking handles boxed goods and partial pallets, and cantilever rack in Idaho Falls keeps long pipe off the floor.
Spring irrigation season brings a surge of inventory, so leave room in the layout to add bays later.
Pallet rack applications in Idaho Falls and Pocatello
These are the Eastern Idaho applications we design for most often, with links to our detailed guides.
Auto parts and fleet storage
Parts stores and distributors keep a wide mix of small boxes, heavy batteries and bulky items. Pallet rack with wire decking holds cartons and loose parts on the upper levels, while heavy items stay low where they’re easy to pick and safer in an earthquake.
Our pallet racking weight capacity guide explains how beam, deck and frame ratings work together.
Eastern Idaho pallet rack projects
These are real Closed Won pallet rack projects in Eastern Idaho, plus two elsewhere in Idaho. We describe the business and the work, but we don’t publish client names, layouts, quantities or prices.
The pattern is common across Idaho: a business starts with a few bays, then adds more as it grows. That is why we design with standard frame depths and beam lengths, so later bays match. If you already have rack and need to add to it, our pallet rack identification and compatibility guide explains how to match what you own.
Idaho Falls and Pocatello permits and code for pallet racking
Each city and county in Eastern Idaho runs its own permit office, so confirm requirements for your address before you order. The rules below are summarized from published city and county sources.
Current code. Idaho Falls has adopted the 2018 International Building Code, and Pocatello enforces the 2018 IBC and the 2018 Idaho Fire Code, as do Ammon, Chubbuck and Bonneville County. The Idaho Building Code Board has started rulemaking to move the state to the 2024 codes, and Idaho cities adopt new editions after the state does, so check which edition applies when you submit.
Building: what Idaho Falls asks for by rack height
Under the building code, movable racks up to 5 feet 9 inches tall are exempt from a building permit. Taller rack is not. For racking over 8 feet, the Idaho Falls commercial plan submission requirements call for engineered drawings:
| Rack | What to expect in Idaho Falls |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 9 in tall or less | Exempt from a building permit when movable and not fixed to the building |
| Over 5 ft 9 in up to 8 ft | Not exempt. Confirm with the Idaho Falls Building Division whether a permit and drawings are needed for your layout |
| Over 8 ft | Stamped structural drawings, structural calculations and a signed third-party Special Inspection Agreement, submitted for approval |
| High-piled storage, over 12 ft, or over 6 ft for high-hazard commodities | Fire code high-piled storage rules, plus an operational permit from the fire department when the area exceeds 500 sq ft |
Tall rack is anchored to the slab, and the special inspector checks the anchors. Our concrete slab requirements for pallet racking guide explains slab thickness, strength and joints, which the anchor design depends on. Our guide to permits and engineering for pallet rack explains who prepares what.
Fire: high-piled storage
The Idaho Fire Code treats storage in racks or on shelves as high-piled above 12 feet to the top of storage, or above 6 feet for high-hazard commodities such as tires, Group A plastics and some packaging.
Idaho Falls requires a fire department operational permit for high-piled storage areas over 500 square feet, applied for through the city’s business registration and fire code permit application. In Pocatello, fire permits go through Pocatello Fire Prevention and eTRAKit.
Ammon, Chubbuck and Bonneville County
Ammon builds to the 2018 IBC and requires an architect’s stamp on all commercial projects. Chubbuck has adopted the 2018 IBC as amended by the State of Idaho. Unincorporated Bonneville County uses the 2018 codes, and it exempts qualifying agricultural buildings from its building codes. Even where no permit is needed, have rack over 8 feet engineered and anchored. Our warehouse fire safety and flue space guide covers the sprinkler side.
Seismic design, snow and cold winters
Seismic. Eastern Idaho sits in the Intermountain Seismic Belt. The Idaho Falls Building Division’s geographic design criteria list Seismic Design Category D unless a soils report shows otherwise, and Ammon uses SDC D as well. For pallet rack that means base plates and anchors sized for sideways force, frames and beams checked for earthquake loads as well as weight, and row spacers tying back-to-back rows together. Keep heavy loads low where you can. Our pallet rack seismic compliance guide explains what engineers look at.
Snow and frost. Idaho Falls designs for a ground snow load of about 47 pounds per square foot and a 30-inch frost depth, and Pocatello for 45 pounds and 3 feet. Those numbers matter to the building more than the rack, but older buildings with lower clear heights and heavy roof structure limit how tall rack can go.
Cold docks. Winter brings snow and ice at the docks, and many Eastern Idaho warehouses are only partly heated. Steel rack doesn’t mind the cold, but wet forklift tires and icy aprons lead to more rack impacts near the doors, so guard the end frames and the first columns inside the dock.
Mezzanines. If you need more space for small parts and offices rather than pallets, a mezzanine can add a second floor above the work area.
Delivery and installation across Eastern Idaho
We deliver and install pallet rack throughout Eastern Idaho. Freight is quoted by destination, and the rack ships from the manufacturer or distribution warehouse that best fits your order.
Idaho Falls area: Ammon, Iona, Ucon, Shelley, Rigby and Rexburg. Pocatello area: Chubbuck, Blackfoot, Fort Hall and American Falls. Beyond: Driggs, Salmon, Burley and Twin Falls.
Installers anchor every column with the specified anchors and pin every beam. Where a special inspection is required, schedule the third-party inspector with the install. See our pallet rack installation page and anchor bolt guide.
Layout and quote
Send a floor plan or photos. We draw a free layout around your building, lift trucks and code limits.
Engineering and permits
We provide the rack details an Idaho-licensed engineer needs for stamped drawings and calculations for city or county review.
Delivery
Freight is scheduled to your dock, with the delivery date confirmed ahead of time.
Install and sign-off
Frames are stood, anchored and beamed, inspections completed, load plaques posted, and the rack handed over for loading.
Moving buildings? Existing rack can often move with you, though rack over 8 feet will still need engineering for the new layout. See our pallet rack relocation, teardown and reinstall service. After installation, protect columns near docks and busy aisles with column protectors and end-of-aisle guards, add rack safety netting where cartons could fall into walkways, and set up regular rack inspections, especially after any earthquake.
New vs. used pallet racking in Idaho Falls and Pocatello
Many Eastern Idaho buyers look for used pallet racking first. Before you count on the savings, it helps to know where the money actually goes.
Used savings are usually used up by installation. Rack that has been taken down and moved rarely goes back together cleanly. Bent columns need replacing, connectors don’t seat well, and mixed batches don’t line up. The installer time spent straightening and fitting used parts often costs more than the difference in price, so new rack frequently ends up cheaper once it’s installed. Stamped drawings for rack over 8 feet also depend on known manufacturer capacities, which are hard to document for unmarked used rack.
Reusing rack you already own can work, especially for a straight move of a known system. Even then, new parts are sometimes cheaper after the fix-up time is counted.
The quickest way to decide is a call to our sales team with pictures of the rack, the upright labels and the connectors. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth installing. Our used vs. new pallet rack guide explains the trade-offs in more detail, and our pallet rack cost and pricing guide shows how to compare quotes.
Plan your Eastern Idaho rack online
Lay out bays and levels in our free 3D pallet rack configurator, then send the design for an Idaho Falls or Pocatello freight and installation quote.
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Idaho Falls and Pocatello pallet racking FAQs
Do I need a permit for pallet racking in Idaho Falls?
What building code applies to storage racks in Idaho Falls and Pocatello?
When is storage considered high-piled in Idaho?
Why does seismic design matter for pallet rack in Eastern Idaho?
Do you deliver and install pallet rack in Idaho Falls and Pocatello?
Have you installed pallet rack in Eastern Idaho before?
Is used pallet racking cheaper in Idaho Falls?
What pallet rack works best for Eastern Idaho food processors?
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Free layout design, seismic-ready rack details and delivery and installation across Eastern Idaho.