Bulk Rack Shelving in Utah
Heavy-duty bulk storage racks for cartons, totes, equipment and job material that are too big for standard shelving but loaded by hand, not by forklift. Sized, quoted with freight and installed for Utah warehouses, shops, contractors and public agencies.
Hand-load
Bulky items, no forklift needed
Wire/board
Deck options per level
Step beam
Floor level can stay open
Utah team
Quote, freight and install
When Bulk Rack Shelving Is the Right Choice
Bulk rack shelving sits between standard shelving and pallet rack. It has heavy, braced upright frames and long step beams like a small rack system, but people load and pick it by hand from the aisle. It is built for things that are too wide, deep or heavy for a 36" or 48" boltless unit and that don’t arrive on pallets: master cartons, boxed fixtures, bins of fittings, records boxes, spare equipment, tires and returned goods.
Most of the bulk rack we supply in Utah is Jaken FastRak, which uses bolted upright frames, 3" step beams and wire mesh or board decks. Comparable bulk storage racks from Lyon and other manufacturers fill the same role. Our national bulk storage rack and wide span shelving guide covers the product family and brands. This page covers how Utah buyers spec, order and install it.
Signs your storage has outgrown standard shelving
- Cartons hang over the front of 18" or 24" deep shelves, or sit on the floor in the aisle.
- You need spans of 72" to 96" so long or bulky items fit without a post in the way.
- Heavy items sit on the bottom shelf because the upper levels feel undersized.
- Product comes in by hand truck or cart, not on pallets, so pallet rack would waste height and aisle space.
- You want a floor-level bay for drums, totes or equipment, with shelves above it.
Bulk Rack vs. Boltless Shelving vs. Pallet Rack
These three systems overlap at the edges, and the right choice depends on how items arrive and how people handle them. Ratings vary by manufacturer, beam length and decking, so always confirm the rated capacity for the exact configuration on your quote.
| Boltless / rivet shelving | Bulk rack shelving | Pallet rack | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical load | Cartons, bins, parts | Heavy cartons, totes, equipment | Palletized loads |
| How it is loaded | By hand | By hand or cart | Forklift or pallet jack |
| Common depths | 12"–48" | 24"–48" | 36"–48"+ frames |
| Common spans | 36"–96" | 48"–96" | 96"–144" |
| Frames | Light posts, rivet beams | Braced upright frames, step beams | Structural frames, engineered layouts |
| Permits | Rarely | Sometimes, for tall or anchored runs | Often, for taller systems |
| Learn more | Boltless shelving in SLC | This page | Utah pallet rack |
If you are unsure which side of the line you are on, look at the heaviest single item and how it moves. A 60 lb carton carried by one person belongs on shelving or bulk rack. A 1,500 lb pallet belongs on pallet rack. Many Utah facilities use all three: pallet rack for inbound stock, bulk rack for broken-case and oversize items, and boltless shelving or bin shelving for small parts.
Wide-span shelving is a close cousin. Our wide-span boltless shelving page explains that format, which uses lighter frames and is common in stockrooms.
Sizing Bulk Rack: Depth, Span, Height and Levels
Bulk rack is ordered as a starter unit (two upright frames) followed by add-on units that share the previous frame. That means a run of five bays needs one starter and four add-ons, and the add-ons cost less per bay than the starter. Each bay is defined by three numbers: beam length (width), frame depth and frame height.
- Depth: 24" for cases and totes, 36" for most bulky cartons, 48" for large boxed goods or two-deep box storage.
- Span: 72" or 96" beams are the common choices. Longer spans mean fewer frames but need the right beam and deck for the load.
- Height: frames from about 72" up to 120" or 144". Above reach height, plan a rolling ladder and keep lighter items on the top level.
How we size a Utah bulk rack layout
| Question | Why it matters | What to send us |
|---|---|---|
| Largest and heaviest items | Sets the depth, beam and deck, and the rated level capacity needed | Item sizes and weights, or a few photos with a tape measure |
| How many locations | Sets the number of levels and bays | Current item count and expected growth |
| Clear height and obstructions | Sets frame height and top-level clearance below sprinklers and lights | Ceiling height, sprinkler head height, lights, doors and columns |
| Single or back-to-back runs | Back-to-back runs share an aisle and are tied together | Room sketch with aisle widths |
| Floor-level storage | Step beams can start above the floor so drums or totes slide underneath | What needs to sit on the floor |
| Floor type | Anchoring method and whether foot plates are enough | Slab, raised floor, mezzanine deck or asphalt |
You can also rough out a layout yourself in our Jaken shelving and rack configurator and send it with your quote request.
Choosing Decking: Wire Mesh, Particleboard or Steel
Wire mesh decking is what most Utah buyers choose for bulk rack. It lets light through and doesn’t trap dust, and it lets water from overhead sprinklers pass through to lower levels. Fire marshals in many jurisdictions prefer open decking in sprinklered buildings, so check with yours before choosing solid decks. Wire decks sit on the step beams with channel supports underneath.
Particleboard or laminated board gives a smooth, solid surface for small loose items, soft packaging and records boxes. White laminate looks cleaner in customer-facing back rooms. Ribbed steel decking is the tough option for oily parts, rough castings and anything that would chew up board.
| Deck type | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Wire mesh | Cartons, totes, equipment, sprinklered warehouses | Small loose items can fall through: add a liner or bins |
| Particleboard | Records boxes, soft goods, small items | Moisture and heavy point loads; may face sprinkler limits |
| White laminated board | Retail backrooms and clean storage | Same limits as particleboard |
| Ribbed steel | Oily, rough or heavy parts | Heavier and costs more; solid surface |
You can mix decks in one run. A common Utah layout uses wire on the upper levels for visibility and sprinkler water, a board deck at waist height as a packing or staging surface, and no deck at the bottom, so totes, drums or wheeled equipment sit on the floor under the first beam.
How Utah Facilities Use Bulk Rack Shelving
Since 2023 we have shipped Jaken FastRak bulk rack orders to Utah buyers in Ogden, Lehi, Salt Lake City and Logan. They include a general contractor, a public transit agency and a repeat customer that placed a second order. The uses below are the ones we are asked about most.
Fleet and transit partsBulky filters, body parts and boxed components near the shop floor.
Records and archive boxesDeep 48" frames hold boxes two deep with board decks.
Schools and public agenciesFurniture, seasonal equipment and supplies in district warehouses.
Contractor job materialFittings, fixtures and job-staged material kept off the floor.
Warehouse broken-case stockHand-pick oversize cartons next to the pallet rack.
Tire storageFastRak frames also come in tire rack versions.Anchoring, Seismic Concerns and Installation in Utah
Utah’s Wasatch Front is an active seismic area, and tall, narrow storage that tips is the main risk. Bulk rack upright frames take foot plates that bolt to the floor, and in Utah we treat floor anchoring as the default for tall frames, runs near walkways and anything in a public building. Back-to-back runs are tied together at the frames. Exact anchoring, row-spacer and permit requirements come from the local building official and fire marshal, not from us. We include the hardware they expect in the quote and flag tall layouts early.
Bolted frames go up quickly, but a long run is still a two-person job with a level, a drill and anchor hardware. We can quote shelving installation in Utah with receiving, carry-in, assembly, anchoring and cleanup spelled out. If the rack sits on an older or thin slab, our note on concrete slab requirements covers what to check before anchoring.
Before the truck arrives
- Confirm who receives the freight and whether there is a dock. Small orders often arrive on a liftgate truck.
- Clear the wall or floor area and mark column lines, doors, panels and sprinkler risers.
- Decide level heights from your largest items. It is faster to set them once than to move beams later.
- Know your slab: anchoring into post-tensioned or radiant-heated slabs needs extra care.
- Keep foot plates, anchors and deck supports with the frames so nothing gets left out.
What a Utah Bulk Rack Order Looks Like
Recent Utah bulk rack orders have followed two patterns, and knowing which one you are in speeds up the quote.
Send the basics
Item sizes and weights, room dimensions, ceiling and sprinkler heights, and a few photos.
Layout and quote
We pick depth, span, height, levels and decking, and quote equipment, freight and optional installation on one page.
Order and ship
The order goes to the manufacturer. Recent Utah quotes have listed about two weeks for small orders and two to four weeks for larger layouts, confirmed when the order is placed.
Install and use
Your team or our installation partners assemble, level and anchor the run, and we help with add-ons later.
Availability note: some common sizes are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation. We don’t stock bulk rack in our own warehouse, so lead times depend on the manufacturer and the configuration.
Bulk Rack Shelving Across Utah
We supply bulk rack shelving along the Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, Lehi, Provo, Orem, Ogden, Layton and Bountiful. We also ship to Logan, Park City, Tooele, Richfield, Cedar City and St. George. Freight and installation are quoted per site.
Bulk rack is often one part of a larger storage plan. We also coordinate pallet rack in Utah, steel shelving, mezzanines, security cages and mobile shelving. Utah shelving projects we have published include steel shelving for Nucor Steel Utah, clip shelving for Veterans Trading Company and archive box storage in Lehi. Call our Utah project line at 801-328-8788, or start from Utah Shelving Solutions to see every shelving type we supply in the state. For the national range, see Shelving Solutions.
Shop Bulk Rack Shelving Online
Buy select items directly from our online store, or request a quote for volume, custom sizes and freight-rated orders.
Bulk Rack Shelving FAQs
Where can I buy bulk rack shelving in Salt Lake City?
What is the difference between bulk rack and boltless shelving?
Do I need pallet rack instead?
Does bulk rack need to be anchored in Utah?
Which decking should I choose?
How long does bulk rack take to arrive?
Can you install it?
Planning Bulk Rack Shelving in Utah?
Send item sizes, room dimensions and a few photos for a free layout and freight-included quote.