Friends working on warehouse planning, have you ever encountered this situation—just after installing newly purchased shelves, you notice chipped paint, cracked welds, or even slight歪斜 of the upright posts? These seemingly minor "cosmetic issues" actually hide significant risks that can undermine your warehouse’s efficiency! Today, let’s talk about shelf appearance quality, guiding you step by step to identify common defects and understand the essential acceptance criteria.

I. Paint/Coating Defects: Don’t Let “Skin Diseases” Shorten Your Lifespan
✅ Typical symptoms: Blisters that peel off, resembling sunburned skin; noticeable color variations—some areas are noticeably darker, others lighter; tiny bumps scattered all over, reminiscent of the seeds on a strawberry's surface; and streaks of uneven flow that look just like dripping candle wax.
Real-life case: A certain auto parts warehouse experienced extensive rusting on its shelving units within just six months because the surface of the shelves hadn’t undergone proper anti-corrosion treatment. As a result, the entire row of shelves had to be replaced ahead of schedule, leading to direct losses exceeding 100,000 yuan.
Determination of the Red Line: ① Gently scrape the coating with your fingernail; if powdery flaking occurs, the product is deemed non-compliant. ② When observed under natural light, if the color difference among shelves on the same level exceeds 30%, rework is required. ③ Dense pinholes with a diameter greater than 0.5 mm are considered critical defects.
Key takeaway: A high-quality shelf should achieve "three no's"—no exposed base material, no orange-peel texture, and no tear marks or blemishes.

II. Welding Process Defects: The "Invisible Killer" Hiding Dangerous Risks
High-risk signals: A loose connection at the虚焊 (cold solder joint) that easily comes undone with a gentle shake; severe咬边 (undercutting) resembling damage caused by rodents; densely packed气孔 (porosity) comparable to honeycomb coal; and significant错位 (misalignment) exceeding standards, making it impossible to install the beam properly.
A painful lesson learned: During last year's major e-commerce sales event, a warehouse suffered a chain reaction collapse after a pillar's weld seam snapped, resulting in millions worth of goods being damaged! Investigations revealed that the failure was directly caused by embrittlement in the weld's heat-affected zone.
Acceptance tips: ① Key load-bearing areas (such as column-to-column connections) must be fully welded; ② Weld bead height ≥ 80% of the thickness of the components being welded; ③ Use the edge of a coin to scrape across the weld—visible burrs indicate insufficient grinding.
Fun fact: Large manufacturers conduct X-ray flaw detection, but home workshops simply don’t have this equipment!

III. Dimensional Deviation and Deformation: A Difference of Millimeters Can Ruin Projects Worth Tens of Millions
Precision Crisis: Layer height errors accumulate, causing pallets to become unstable; unequal diagonal lengths lead to shelving instability; and excessive verticality deviations in the upright posts trigger stress concentrations.
Industry consensus: According to the "Logistics Warehouse Shelving Design Specifications," the height deviation for a single shelf section should be ≤ ±2 mm, with the total cumulative deviation across the entire length not exceeding ±5 mm.
Self-testing method: Pull a thin string aligned with the top of the pillar, and check the gap width from the side. If the gap exceeds 3 mm, it may affect the seismic performance.
Fatal warning: Some companies once opted to save costs by purchasing non-standard shelving, only to find that their automated vertical warehouses began experiencing frequent slowdowns after just three months—enough to cover the cost of buying two entirely new systems for retrofitting!

Shelf Appearance Quality Inspection: Defect Classification and Acceptance Criteria

IV. Other Minor Defects: The Devil Hides in the Details
Sharp, non-rounded corners: Operators' clothing is often torn by hooks, posing a persistent risk of cuts.
Labels missing or blurred: Couldn’t find the corresponding part during repair—frustrated enough to stomp my feet!
Insufficient packaging protection: Bumps and deformations occurred during transportation, only to be discovered as difficult to remedy upon installation.
Warm reminder: Quality suppliers will conduct salt-spray tests (simulating humid environments) and impact resistance tests before products leave the factory, and they’ll also affix anti-counterfeiting traceability codes to each component.

A good shelf should not only "look great" but also "last long."
     While appearance inspections may seem like nitpicking, they actually help you avoid three major risks: ① safety hazards (such as collapse or tipping); ② high maintenance costs (frequent touch-ups or replacements); and ③ damage to your company’s image (how awkward would it be for customers to see worn-out shelves during a visit?). Next time you inspect your goods, don’t forget to bring along this guide—go through the checklist one by one and mark off each item. After all, shelf equipment is a long-term investment that can last eight years or more! If possible, businesses should consider entrusting a third-party testing agency to provide a detailed report, ensuring peace of mind without breaking the bank.