Most warehouse operators know their racking needs to be safe. Fewer know there’s a specific European standard, EN 15635, that spells out exactly what “safe” means in practice, and that it’s a real, ongoing legal obligation, not a one-time install checklist.
What EN 15635 actually covers
EN 15635 governs the application and maintenance of static steel storage equipment, in plain terms, it sets the rules for using, inspecting, and managing damage to industrial racking after it’s installed. It applies fully in Portugal regardless of whether a Portuguese-specific version has been separately published, and it’s the technical reference used to assess whether a warehouse’s racking is being managed safely.
The annual inspection requirement
The standard requires a periodic, at minimum annual, expert inspection of racking structures, on top of routine internal visual checks. Every site is expected to have a designated “Person Responsible for Storage Equipment Safety” who sets the frequency of those internal visual inspections and acts on what they find, whether that’s a bent upright, a missing safety pin, or a beam under visible stress.
Where it fits into Portuguese law
Racking counts as a work equipment item under Portuguese labour law, and Decree-Law 50/2005 requires all equipment used at work to be kept in conditions that meet minimum safety requirements. EN 15635 is effectively how that general legal obligation gets translated into a concrete, checkable standard for racking specifically.
What this means day to day
If your racking has never had a documented expert inspection, or if visible damage, a dented upright, a racked beam sitting at a slight angle, has gone unaddressed, that’s a real compliance gap, not a cosmetic issue. Damage to a single upright can significantly reduce a whole bay’s load capacity without it being obvious to the eye.
As the installer of your racking, we can help you understand what a compliant inspection routine looks like for your specific setup, reach out if you’re not sure where your warehouse currently stands.