QMH Warehouse Solutions & Services
Posted by Rafael Gonzalez on December 9, 2016
Last updated: July 2026. Reviewed by the Quality Material Handling Inc. warehouse design team.
Quick answer
Boltless shelving is a modular storage system that assembles with rivets and slot-and-tab connections instead of nuts, bolts, or welding, making it faster to install and reconfigure than bolted or welded rack systems. It’s available in several beam styles, including single rivet, double rivet, and double rivet channel beams, each offering different capacity and vertical clearance tradeoffs. Boltless shelving works well for light to medium-duty storage in warehouses, stockrooms, and archive spaces where reconfiguration flexibility matters more than the heavier load capacities of structural pallet racking.
Environmental Benefits of Boltless Shelving
Boltless shelving systems offer several sustainability advantages over traditional welded or bolted rack systems:
- Recyclable steel construction – Most boltless shelving is made from cold-rolled or galvanized steel, which is 100% recyclable at end of life
- Longer service life – Powder-coated finishes resist corrosion, extending the system’s lifespan and reducing replacement waste
- Modular design reduces waste – Components can be reconfigured or reused when storage needs change, avoiding disposal of the entire system
- Lighter shipping weight – Boltless systems ship disassembled, reducing transportation weight and associated fuel consumption vs. pre-assembled shelving
- Space efficiency reduces facility footprint – High-density boltless shelving helps warehouses avoid facility expansions, reducing overall construction impact
Boltless racks, also known as boltless shelving or rivet shelving, are an easy-to-install storage solution for your garage or warehouse. Although installation is easy, knowing exactly what style of boltless racks you need is a little more complex. With boltless shelving being one of our most popular items, we want our customers to be knowledgeable and informed. With so many sizes and options to choose from, first-time buyers may get confused. We’ve created a boltless racking guide that breaks down the components of a boltless shelving unit to expand your understanding.
Angle Post
Used as upright post for standard rivet shelving units.
Single Rivet Beam
A single rivet beam is primarily used as an intermediate shelf support when maximum vertical space between levels is needed and/or capacity is less.
Single Rivet Heavy Duty Beam
Single rivet heavy duty beams are manufactured to provide a higher capacity with very little loss of useable vertical space between shelves.
Double Rivet Beam
Double rivet beams are used to establish unit stability and provide shelf support on all sides. Provides higher capacity than single rivet beams but uses more vertical space between shelves.
Double Rivet Channel Beam
Double rivet channel design provides maximum left-right and front-back stability and higher capacity than standard beams. These cannot be used at floor level.
Double Rivet Channel Heavy Duty Beam
Same use as a standard double rivet channel beam but provides an even higher capacity. These cannot be used at floor level.
Double Rivet Z-Beam
Double rivet Z beams have reduced profile sizes increases vertical clearance and also protects decking edges while maintaining the standard beam capacities.
Tie Support
Tie supports run beam to beam under the shelf decking. Also known as shelf support or center support—used with beams that have double rivets to add stability to beams and increase the shelf capacity. *Note that capacities are based on evenly distributed loads and take shelf structure materials into consideration, not shelf deck materials.
Particle Board
5/8” particle board is the standard decking used for rivet shelving.
Shelf Wire Decking
Wire decking is another stable and secure option for shelves. Doesn’t trap dirt and also makes overhead sprinklers more effective and simple to install.
Tie Plate
The tie plate is a square plate used to join angle posts of shelving units side by side to ensure proper row alignment and stability.
Single Footplate
Single footplates are used to anchor boltless racks to the floor.
Double Footplate
Double footplates are used to anchor boltless racks to the floor. They are twice the size of single footplates to be anchored with two bolts, as opposed to just one.
Assembled Unit
Customer may request that QMH assembles the units before delivery or will call. We can provide this service at a price per unit assembled. This can sometimes be difficult for lager units due to transportation.
Shelving Installation Labor
Customer may request that we install their existing shelving or new shelving in their warehouse. The price for this service is one lot price starting at a minimum of $375.
Unassembled Unit
When a unit is sold the materials for the order will be palletized and it is either delivered or will called at QMH and the customer assembles the unit themselves at their own discretion.
Capacity
The amount of weight the shelf can hold of an evenly distributed load.
Gauge of Steel
Each gauge number represents the thickness of the steel. Ironically, as the gauge number decreases, the steel becomes thicker.
Shelving Decking
There are various types of decking that can be used on shelving such as particle board, wire decking, steel decking, etc. We can also design custom decking.
Rivet Rack
Rivet shelving is often called rivet rack, boltless shelving, and rapid rack, along with other industry jargon names.
Shelf Opening
The space between shelf levels. For example, a six shelf unit will have five openings.
Still have questions? We’re here to help! Our boltless shelving experts and knowledgeable installation team can assist you with your needs. Call today!
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Future Trends in Boltless Shelving
Boltless shelving systems continue to evolve alongside warehouse technology. Here are the key trends shaping the next generation of boltless rack solutions:
- Automation integration – Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and robotic order picking are increasingly paired with boltless shelving. Robots can autonomously navigate boltless shelving aisles, retrieve items, and deliver them to packing stations with precision.
- IoT and smart shelving – Sensors embedded in shelving units provide real-time data on inventory levels, temperature, and product conditions. This enables predictive maintenance, remote inventory management, and proactive replenishment — eliminating the need for manual audits.
- Sustainable materials and design – Manufacturers are shifting to recycled steel, sustainable wood sources, and modular recyclable designs. Eco-friendly shelving reduces environmental footprint and appeals to sustainability-focused operations.
- Ergonomic design – Adjustable shelf heights, easy-access configurations, and anti-fatigue features are being built into boltless systems to reduce worker strain and improve safety compliance.
- Augmented reality (AR) assistance – AR glasses can overlay real-time product information, inventory levels, and picking instructions directly onto a worker’s field of view, reducing errors and training time when working with boltless shelving systems.
- Advanced security features – Biometric access control, tamper-proof locking mechanisms, and motion-activated sensors are being integrated into boltless shelving to protect high-value inventory.
Choosing the right beam style for your load and clearance needs
Single rivet beams maximize usable vertical space between shelf levels, making them a good fit when you need more clearance and are storing lighter loads. Double rivet and double rivet channel beams trade some vertical clearance for higher capacity and better side-to-side stability, which matters more for heavier or less uniform loads. Since double rivet channel beams cannot be used at floor level, it’s worth planning your shelf configuration around this constraint before finalizing an order.
Anchoring and stability considerations for boltless shelving
Even though boltless shelving assembles without bolts at the connection points, footplates are still used to anchor the units to the floor, and tie plates help align and stabilize adjoining units in a row. Skipping proper anchoring to save time during installation is one of the more common mistakes that leads to instability later, especially in facilities with higher shelf loads or frequent restocking activity. Confirming footplate and tie plate requirements with your supplier before installation helps avoid this issue.
Our experience: With over 32 years of experience in material handling, QMH has helped warehouses select boltless shelving configurations, from beam style to anchoring hardware, based on their actual load and clearance needs. In our experience, taking the time to properly anchor and tie boltless shelving rows together prevents most of the stability issues we see in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about boltless shelving beam styles, anchoring, and stability.
Boltless shelving is a modular storage system that assembles using rivets and slot-and-tab connections instead of nuts, bolts, or welding, making it faster to install and reconfigure than bolted or welded rack systems.
Single rivet beams maximize usable vertical space between shelves for lighter loads, while double rivet beams provide higher capacity and better stability but use more vertical clearance between shelf levels.
No. Double rivet channel and double rivet channel heavy duty beams cannot be used at floor level, so this needs to be factored into your shelf configuration planning.
Yes. Footplates are used to anchor boltless shelving units to the floor, and skipping this step is a common cause of instability, especially with heavier loads or frequent restocking.
A tie plate joins angle posts of adjoining shelving units side by side to ensure proper row alignment and stability across multiple units.
Boltless shelving works well for light to medium-duty storage. For heavier pallet loads, structural pallet racking is generally the better choice due to its higher load capacity.
