The standard
What AS 4084:2023 is — in one paragraph
AS 4084:2023 is the Australian Standard for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of adjustable steel pallet racking. It is the document every Australian WHS regulator, insurer and engineer treats as the practical benchmark for racking safety. Whether you run a 200 m² depot in Acacia Ridge or a 30,000 m² 3PL in Eastern Creek, the same Standard applies to your uprights, beams, baseplates and bracing.
Scope
What the Standard actually covers
AS 4084:2023 is published in two parts. Part 1 sets out the engineering rules for designing racking systems. Part 2 governs how those systems are used, inspected and maintained on the warehouse floor — the part most operators interact with.
| Part | Audience | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 — Design | Manufacturers and engineers | Loads, members, connections, bracing, seismic, baseplates |
| Part 2 — Operation & Maintenance | PCBUs, warehouse managers, inspectors | Installation, load notices, inspection cadence, damage limits |
Who it applies to
Every racked warehouse in QLD and NSW
If you have any adjustable steel pallet racking on site — selective, drive-in, push-back, cantilever or carton flow — AS 4084:2023 applies to you. It applies whether the racking is new, second-hand, mixed-brand or 30 years old. It applies to landlords and tenants. And it applies regardless of the brand badge: Dexion, Colby, Macrack and SSI Schäfer are all assessed against the same Standard.
- Distribution centres and 3PLs
- Cold rooms and freezer storage
- Food and beverage manufacturers
- Hardware and bulky-goods retailers
- Automotive parts depots
- Pharmaceutical and chemical stores
WHS link
Why AS 4084:2023 matters to PCBUs
Under the model Work Health and Safety Act, the PCBU operating the warehouse owes a primary duty of care to anyone affected by the racking — workers, contractors and visitors. The regulator's first question after an incident is almost always "does your racking comply with AS 4084?" If you can't answer with documentation, you have a problem before the investigation even starts.
Heads up
Stay compliant
The four obligations every operator owes
- Buy or commission racking designed to AS 4084:2023 Part 1.
- Install it to the manufacturer's drawings and the Standard's clauses.
- Inspect it on the cadence in Part 2 (daily, weekly, monthly and annually).
- Maintain a current load notice, layout drawing and inspection register on site.
Get any one of these wrong and your other layers of compliance start to unravel — insurance, WHS, even your customer audits. The good news is none of it is exotic engineering; it's mostly disciplined paperwork backed by an honest inspection.