Which Upright Column Should Face the Aisle?
Believe it or not, under most circumstances, it’s more of a philosophical question than an engineering one.
Unless you’re using “X” braced or strapped frames, they’ll have the usual “K” bracing like the illustration to the right. With this normal bracing, you can have the bottom diagonal brace go from bottom to top or top-to-bottom facing the aisle. Deciding between the two involves making a decision about column damage to the upright.
With a bottom-to-top orientation, the diagonal brace absorbs tension and adds support if the column is damaged. Depending on the point of impact, the diagonal and horizontal braces and welds add stiffness to the column and can reduce the damage from an impact.
A top-to-bottom set-up facing the aisle has the advantage of avoiding breaking the welds of the diagonal brace upon impact and further reducing the capacity and reliability of the frame.
According to the Rack Manufacturers Institute, unless the orientation is design-critical, either option works well and is simply a matter of personal preference.
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