Point load

The point load, also known as a single load, describes a type of load on heavy-duty shelving where a force is concentrated on a single point or a very small area. The point load is particularly important in storage technology and structural design, for example in heavy-duty shelving or other storage equipment. A point load typically occurs at the points where loads are carried by supports, pillars or areas limited to a single point. Take heavy-duty shelving, for example: the point load acts on the surface on which the shelving stands.

Difference between point load, bay load and shelf load

In comparison, the bay load or shelf load is distributed over the entire storage area of a shelf. In the case of heavy-duty shelving, for example, the bay load refers to the maximum load that a complete shelf bay can safely bear, while the shelf load indicates the permissible load per shelf compartment. This distinction is important in order to optimally distribute the loads and avoid damage or instability.

For heavy-duty shelving, precise consideration of the point load and bay load is essential to ensure the safe storage of heavy objects. One example of this is pallet racking, where the loads from pallets act on the floor at specific points. The structure must be designed in such a way that it can bear both the point load and the distributed load without deforming or breaking.

Dynamic loads with point loads

The point load can also be subjected to dynamic loads, for example if the load is unevenly distributed or if the bearing system moves. In such cases, the load limits for shelf load and bay load must be adjusted accordingly. In the case of heavy-duty shelving, it is recommended that the load is distributed as a total load to the strongest support points for safety reasons and that the manufacturer's specific load capacity specifications are observed.

This means that the point load represents a specific force that acts at specific points and must therefore be taken into account when designing heavy-duty shelving in addition to the shelf load and bay load. This is the only way to ensure a safe load and long-term stability of the storage structure.