Racking inspection: who, when and how?

By Kollirama 3 August 2026 Updated on 6 August 2026

In short

The NF EN 15635 standard organises the monitoring of metal racking at three levels: immediate reporting of damage by operators, regular visual inspections by the PRSES and an expert inspection at least every 12 months. Each instance of damage is classified green, orange or red according to precise deformation tolerances.

What the regulations actually require

No French regulatory text names "the annual inspection of racking" as such. The obligation derives from the Labour Code: article R4322-1 requires work equipment to be kept in a compliant condition, and the employer must assess the risks linked to storage. To define the "how", both the INRS and the manufacturers refer to the NF EN 15635 standard, the recognised reference in the event of an inspection or accident.

In practice, an operator who applies NF EN 15635 (continuous monitoring, regular visual inspections, expert inspection at least every 12 months, treatment of damage) gives concrete form to their safety obligation. Conversely, the absence of any inspection traceability is difficult to defend before the labour inspectorate or the insurer.

The three levels of monitoring of NF EN 15635

The standard organises monitoring into three complementary levels, whose frequency is adjusted to the intensity of operation: turnover, number of machines, night work.

Level 1, continuous observation: any employee immediately reports each observed instance of damage or anomaly (impact, dislodged beam, non-compliant pallet), in accordance with a written procedure.
Level 2, visual inspections: a trained person on the site, the PRSES, walks the installations at regular intervals, weekly in practice in active warehouses, and records their findings.
Level 3, expert inspection: a technically competent person, often a specialist body or the manufacturer, inspects the whole at least every 12 months and issues a written report.

Green, orange, red: the deformation tolerances

NF EN 15635 classifies each instance of damage according to deformation thresholds measured with a 1 m straight edge. Below the limit, the component stays in the green category, to be monitored; between one and two times the limit, it moves to orange: unloading and repair to be dealt with within four weeks; beyond twice the limit, it moves to red: immediate unloading and taking the area out of service.

Element checked	Permissible deformation over 1 m	Classification beyond
Upright, bending in the aisle direction	5.0 mm	Orange up to 10 mm, red beyond
Upright, bending in the depth direction	3.0 mm	Orange up to 6 mm, red beyond
Diagonals and bracing	10.0 mm	Orange up to 20 mm, red beyond

The PRSES, the driver of racking safety

NF EN 15635 recommends appointing a PRSES (person responsible for storage equipment safety). This officer, trained in storage risks, keeps the register of damage and inspections, enforces the load notices, checks the compliance of the pallets and triggers the taking out of service. A written appointment, with dedicated time, gives credibility to the role.

The PRSES also keeps the required documentation: manufacturer’s manuals, layout plans, up-to-date load notices, expert inspection reports and proof of repair. Modifying the configuration of a rack (beam heights, loads) without updating the load notice invalidates the whole arrangement.

How an expert inspection is carried out

The annual expert inspection follows a methodical sequence; allow a few hundred euros for a small site to a few thousand for a logistics platform.

Systematic visual examination, aisle by aisle, of all the components: uprights, beams, diagonals, anchors, beam safety locks.
Measurement of the deformations with a 1 m straight edge on the suspect elements and verification of the verticalities against the assembly tolerances (NF EN 15620).
Check of the load notices: presence, legibility, consistency with the configuration actually installed.
Verification of the operating conditions: state of the pallets, overhangs, clear heights, upright protectors, floor marking.
Written report with green, orange, red classification of each instance of damage and a dated, prioritised action plan.

Repair or replace: the rules to follow

A deformed component is never straightened: straightening masks the loss of strength without restoring it. The rule is like-for-like replacement, with components from the original manufacturer, since compatibility between brands is not guaranteed even at equal dimensions.

After repair, the area stays unloaded until verification, and the closed-out damage is recorded in the register. Areas classified red are unloaded immediately and physically isolated (barriers, hazard tape) until they are restored, with no exception for the pallets already in place.

Frequently asked questions

Is the annual inspection of racking mandatory?

The Labour Code requires work equipment to be kept in a compliant condition (article R4322-1) without setting a frequency; it is the NF EN 15635 standard that provides for an expert inspection at least every 12 months. Recognised by the INRS and insurers, it constitutes the expected reference in the event of an inspection or accident.

Who can carry out the expert inspection?

A technically competent person independent of the day-to-day operation: an inspection body, the manufacturer, a specialist provider or a trained in-house expert. They must master NF EN 15635, measure the deformations and issue a written report with green, orange, red classification.

What should you do with an upright classified red?

Immediately unload the locations concerned, physically prohibit access to the area and replace the component with an original part before any reloading. The red classification corresponds to a deformation greater than twice the permissible limit: keeping it loaded is not acceptable.

What are the tolerances for a bent upright?

Measured with a 1 m straight edge: 5 mm of deflection in the aisle direction and 3 mm in the depth direction; 10 mm for the diagonals. Between one and two times these values, the component moves to orange, to be unloaded and repaired within four weeks; beyond twice, to red.

Does the PRSES have to be certified?

No mandatory certification exists in France: NF EN 15635 asks for a trained and appointed person, with clear duties (register, visual inspections, load notices, taking out of service). Specific training and a written mission letter remain strongly recommended.

Which documents should be kept to prove compliance?

The manufacturer’s manuals and plans, the up-to-date load notices, the register of damage and visual checks, the annual expert inspection reports and the proof of repair. Together these document the employer’s safety obligation towards the labour inspectorate and the insurer.

Sources & references

NF EN 15635: operation and maintenance of storage systems; NF EN 15620: tolerances (AFNOR)
Labour Code, article R4322-1: keeping work equipment in compliance
INRS, brochure ED 771 "Metal shelving"
Kollirama field observations: racking inspections and compliance restorations (2023–2026)