Hi all I have been asked to comment on an archive area where old metal type racking is used to store files in boxes etc. This racking seems to have no safe weight limits on it and therefore I am unsure what weights limits should be. I am contacting the company to get some advice but this is proving difficult due to the age of it. My question is does anyone else have large storage areas where files, both loose and boxed are kept? Am I correct in my thinking that all storage racking should be checked at regular intervals and also be clearly marked with the weight limits, in this case number of full boxes maybe?? I welcome your thoughts on this.

Assuming the the racking is steel and from a visual picture I have - failure by overloading / material failure is probably very unlikely. Failure is probably more likely due to instability caused by uneven loading, the racking isn't assembled properly hence collapses/falls apart, failure to secure the racking to the floor or tie back to a wall etc Is it possible for someone to climb on the racking and pull it over on themselves?