Steel King Now Offering Building Permit Storage Rack Solutions

Prevent delays in building permit, warehouse rack storage systems by including your rack supplier early in the process

(PRWEB) October 7, 2008 -- Whether it's for new warehouse construction or a distribution center overhaul, the last thing a facility manager needs to hear is that opening will be delayed by weeks or months due to building permit delays. Bringing in a warehouse storage rack (http://www.steelking.com) supplier early in the process can help facility managers avoid being blindsided by building permit delays, and help keep operation plans on track. Some suppliers of warehouse rack storage systems can help prevent permit headaches by providing comprehensive building permit services.

"In the material handling equipment industry, permits are required but not limited to storage rack, pallet rack, rack picking systems, conveyor systems and mezzanine/storage platforms used in warehouses and home improvement centers," says Tony Landeros, President of Permit Services of California, a material handling permit expeditor servicing the Western United States.

"While the permit process usually takes from 3 to 6 weeks from beginning to end, it can take as long as 16 weeks," cautions Landeros. "Each city, county and state have their own ordinances that must be met; and some cities require full compliance with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) before issuing a permit."

The key, according to Landeros, is to start the permit process as soon as possible and get it right the first time. That way, facility managers won't have to wait on pins and needles for a municipal Building or Fire Department to get back to them-- with requests for more documentation that can require re-submission two, three, four or more times.

Any error, of course, translates into costly permit and operational delays.

To help facility managers avoid permit delays and keep operation plans on track, some suppliers of warehouse rack storage systems such as Steel King (www.steelking.com) prevent permit headaches by providing comprehensive building permit services. For instance, the company offers a calculation package for the permit process, and deals with all national, regional or local agents necessary to handle permitting. It accomplishes this with in-house professional engineering staff and a network of permit specialists.

"With seismic codes enforced nationally but with variations by locale, you need a company that understands the permit process with the resources to stay on top of it," says Steel King project coordinator Logan Lechleightner. Steel King, a major designer and manufacturer of warehouse storage rack (http://www.steelking.com), pallet rack and material handling/safety products, has helped plan warehouses since 1970. It is a licensed fabricator in Los Angeles County, which has some of the strictest seismic codes in the nation.

Fire codes can be a particular problem. "Building departments will not release the storage rack permit until you provide them with Fire Department High Pile Storage (HPS) approval," adds Landeros. "Most rack permit delays are due to poor HPS approval planning."

Even if the facility has a building permit, there will still be a fire permit inspection. This can involve sprinklers, vents, firewalls, access to exits, and hydrants.

"A good way to expedite the permit process is to work with a reputable storage rack (http://www.steelking.com) manufacturer such as Steel King, which can supply or coordinate the engineering and layout details in a turnkey permit package," says Landeros.

For more info, contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; call 800-826-0203; email: dheemstra @ steelking.com or visit the website www.steelking.com.

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