An industrial equipment manufacturer needed outdoor storage for steel pipe. SJF supplied hot-dip galvanized cantilever designed to stand up to heavy loads, forklift traffic, and Minnesota weather.
Challenge
The customer needed a dedicated outdoor storage area for 21-foot steel pipe outside its existing facility, with loads up to 8,000 lb per level. Because the rack would be exposed year-round, the finish was just as important as the structure. Painted steel can perform well indoors or in protected areas, but scratches, chips, and standing moisture can expose bare steel and create rust concerns outdoors. A cold-galvanized coating can be useful for touch-up work, but it does not provide the same bonded, all-around protection as a true hot-dip galvanized finish. For this Minnesota application, the rack also had to fit along an exterior wall while leaving room for forklifts, trucks, and daily yard traffic.
Solution
SJF supplied new Heartland hot-dip galvanized cantilever racking for the project. In the hot-dip galvanizing process, fabricated steel is coated with zinc to create a durable, corrosion-resistant finish that protects exposed rack components from moisture, snow, salt, and changing temperatures. This makes hot-dip galvanized cantilever rack a strong choice for outdoor pipe, lumber, steel, building material, and other long-load storage applications.
The system uses 12-foot uprights, 60-inch bay widths, and four levels of 36-inch arms, each rated at 2,100 lb. To confirm the design could carry the required loads, SJF provided engineering calculations for the system. SJF also supplied custom pipe end stops based on the customer's layout and storage plan. Together with the slight upward incline of the arms, the stops help keep pipe properly contained on the rack.
The rack is configured in two single-sided runs along the building wall, leaving the front open for forklift loading. The runs sit between yellow bollards that help protect the rack and the building from vehicle contact.
Finish Comparison
| Finish | Best Use | Outdoor Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-dip galvanized | Long-term outdoor storage where corrosion resistance is important | Zinc coating protects the steel from moisture, snow, and salt with less ongoing touch-up maintenance. |
| Painted steel | Indoor or protected applications where appearance and color matching matter | Chips and scratches can expose bare steel, requiring repainting or touch-up to prevent rust. |
| Cold-galvanized coating | Touch-up, repair, or field-applied coating on small areas | Useful for maintenance, but not the same as a factory hot-dip galvanized finish for full-system outdoor protection. |
Results
- SJF supplied six bays of new Heartland hot-dip galvanized cantilever rack for outdoor pipe storage.
- Dedicated exterior storage for 21-foot steel pipe along the building wall.
- Four levels of 36-inch arms, each rated at 2,100 lb supporting up to 8,000 lb per level.
- Zinc-coated hot-dip galvanized finish selected for better outdoor corrosion resistance than standard painted steel.
- Custom pipe end stops matched to the customer’s storage plan to help contain long pipe.
- Open-front layout supports efficient forklift loading and unloading while keeping material organized off the ground.
Conclusion
Outdoor cantilever storage puts extra demands on both the rack structure and the finish. For sites that deal with snow, salt, rain, or freeze-thaw cycles, hot-dip galvanized cantilever rack gives customers a more durable outdoor option than standard painted rack and a more complete long-term solution than field-applied cold galvanizing. In this project, SJF supplied a rack system that organized long pipe, helped protect the material handling flow around the building, and reduced corrosion-maintenance concerns over time.
Technologies Used
- Cantilever
- Heartland Hot-Dip Galvanized Cantilever Rack
- Custom Pipe End Stops
- Engineering Load Calculation