In the context of Vietnam’s e-commerce and logistics growth of ~20% in 2024, warehouses have to handle twice the volume of goods but land is increasingly expensive. Agile businesses are switching to 5-tier shelves – the highest configuration in the group of multi-purpose steel racks – to compress containers vertically, reducing warehouse rental costs by 30-40%. After 25 years, Long Quyen has installed hundreds of 5-storey shelves for customers and proven the formula of “increase capacity – reduce mileage – shorten turnover” to help warehouse profits increase by half and a half.
1. Storage challenges in the era of Logistics 4.0
1.1 Escalating site costs
According to Savills, warehouse rental prices in Hanoi average 5.4 USD/m²/month at the end of 2024, up 12% YOY. If the height is not exploited, operating costs will “eat” 20-25% of the profit margin.
1.2 Increasingly stringent safety regulations
OSHA recommends “loading heavy loads on low floors, not exceeding shelf load limits,” the Occupational Safety and Health Agency recommends. Many old warehouses lack ANSI MH16.1 certification, so there is a potential for shelves to collapse and stop the line.
1.3 Require fast turnover
Omnichannel forced e-commerce warehouse pick & pack in 2 hours. Traditional 3–4-tier shelves do not meet the increasing density of SKUs.
2. Long Quyen 5-storey shelf – Structure & specifications
Parameter
Standard Values
Notes
Height
6–12 m
Depending on the clear height of the warehouse
Load/Floor
1,000–2,000 kg
1.4× Design Load Compression Test
Shelf tops
Ω beam + 1.5 mm thick tole
CNC Cold Stamping
Coatings
Powder coating 60–80 μm
500 h Salt Spray
Quote: “The design, testing and use of industrial steel shelving must comply with MH16.1 for continuous safety” – Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI)MHI.org
3. 7 outstanding benefits of 5-tier shelves
Doubling the capacity compared to 3-storey shelves, helping to reduce 40% of the rental warehouse area.
Increased turn‐over: 3.2 m of aisle is enough for a Reach Truck at 12 km/h.
Problem: An area of 3,200 m², 8,000 SKUs, it is necessary to increase the capacity from 7,500 to 12,000 pallets.
Category
Before
Behind the shelves 5 floors
Capacity
7,560 pallets
12,240 pallets
Aisle
4.2 m
3.2 m (Reach Truck)
Order Turnover
2.8 days
1.6 days
Cost/Application Processing
6,200 VND
4,300 VND
Payback
–
11 months
Result: Logistics industry X saved 268 million VND/year thanks to reducing warehouse and personnel rents, and at the same time meeting 24-hour SLAs delivered to the city.
25C epoxy 5-layer shelf cold storage
6. Installation & Maintenance Instructions according to ANSI MH16.1
The design load is clearly indicated on the rack load sign label.
Do not change the beam pitch when the warehouse is in operation.
Check floor anchor bolts every 6 months; retighten if < 180 N·m.
Treat 5 mm column > dents with replacement, no in-situ reinforcement welding (MH16.1-2023, item 8). MHI.org
What is the maximum load capacity of a 5-tier shelf? Long Quyen’s standard structure is designed with 1–2 tons/floor, tested at 120% load.
Can an 8 m high warehouse install 5-storey shelves? Yes, the 1.2 m low beam solution helps to arrange all five tiers and 0.4 m of pallet top safety.
Which forklift is suitable? Reach Truck lifting height 11 m, fork 1.1 m, turning < radius 2.8 m.
Installation time for a 2,000 m² warehouse? About 7 days, including load-bearing acceptance.
Does powder coating peel off? Paint layer 60–80 μm reaches 500 h Salt Spray; If the collision is strong, it can be painted on the spot.
Is BIM/Revit supported? Yes, Long Quyen provides a full-shelf Revit family library.
How long is the warranty? Frame 5 years, beam & paint 2 years.
Is it possible to expand more floors later? Yes, but the floor load & bracing needs to be recalculated.
Are 5-tier shelves used for cold storage –25 °C? Yes, Long Quyen uses a two-pack Epoxy paint that is heat-resistant to −30 °C.
8. References
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2024) Warehousing – Hazards & Solutions, OSHA.gov. Retrieved 04 May 2025. Occupational Safety and Health Agency
Statista (2024) E-commerce Share of Retail Sales in Vietnam 2017–2024, Statista.com.
Vietnam Logistics Association (2023) Logistics Vietnam 2030 Roadmap, vla.com.vn.
9. Contact us now for advice & quotation
Optimize your warehouse in just 3 weeks with shelves on the 5th floor of Long Quyen – click the button below, a team of experts with 25 years of experience will design your own 3D layout for free.
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Contact us HOTLINE: 0903422179 (Mr. Dat) | 0903412296 (Mr. Hien) | 0903434374 (Mr. Cam) EMAIL: contact@giakelongquyen.com | contact@longquyen.com OFFICE: 79 Dao Tan St., Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam FACTORY: Tay Mo Industrial Park, Tu Liem, Hanoi
