Comparing 3 pallet rack standards — AS 4084 (Australia), EN 15512 (Europe), FEM 10.2.06 — and how to pick based on ministry TOR + Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning + DPT 1311-50 seismic requirements
See the whole-system guide: the Warehouse/DC fit-out guide — this article is one step — see the end-to-end fit-out guide.
Why Most Thai TORs Use AS 4084
TORs for government warehouses (State Railway, Royal Thai Army, BMA, SCG, TPI) often specify AS 4084 because:
- Thai adoption — since 2003 most rack manufacturers in Thailand test + certify to AS 4084
- Seismic-friendly — incorporates the Australian Seismic Code AS 1170.4, which can be adapted for use with DPT 1311-50
- Damage inspection green/amber/red — used in safety audits under ministerial regulations
EN 15512 + FEM 10.2.06 are usable — but they must be stated explicitly in the TOR, otherwise Thai auditors will default to AS 4084.
Comparison of the 3 Standards
| Topic | AS 4084 | EN 15512 | FEM 10.2.06 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Australia + adopted Thailand | EU + UK | EU (industry body) |
| Scope | Design + testing | Design + testing | Damage inspection |
| Latest version | 2023 (Parts 1 + 2) | 2020 | 2014 |
| Seismic provisions | AS 1170.4 reference | EN 1998 reference (Eurocode 8) | N/A |
| Damage classification | Red/Amber/Green | EN 15635 reference | Red/Amber/Green |
| Annual inspection | Required by AS 4084.2 | Required by EN 15635 | Required for FEM members |
| Compatible with Thai TOR | ✓ default | must be stated explicitly | must be stated explicitly |
| Test sample number | 3 samples min | 5 samples min | Per component |
When to Choose Which
AS 4084 — default Thai TOR
- Domestic government projects
- Warehouse < 12 m in height
- Selective + Drive-In + Cantilever rack in general
- Seismic zones of the Central and Eastern regions
EN 15512 — EU import / multinational
- Projects for EU multinationals (Tesco Lotus, Carrefour heritage, Makro)
- Warehouse > 12 m (Eurocode 8 seismic more comprehensive)
- VNA + Push-Back + Shuttle systems (European tech leader)
- Systems requiring explicit CE marking
FEM 10.2.06 — inspection only
- Used during annual inspection of racks built to EU spec
- Red/Amber/Green per FEM definition (more detailed than AS 4084)
- Requires an EN 15635 certified inspector
Seismic Compliance in Thailand
DPT 1311-50 divides Thailand into 5 zones:
- Zone A (0 PGA): Central + Southern regions
- Zone B (0.05g): Bangkok
- Zone C (0.10g): Eastern region + Ayutthaya
- Zone D (0.15g): Chiang Rai + parts of the Northern region
- Zone E (0.20-0.40g): Kanchanaburi + Western region + parts of Chiang Mai
For racks > 6 m or Zone D-E: seismic analysis is required, adding base anchors + cross-braces per AS 1170.4 or Eurocode 8 + DPT.
In-Service Inspection — per EN 15635
Every rack installation must be inspected annually:
- Daily visual by operator — report damage immediately
- Weekly walk-through by warehouse supervisor — log + photo
- Annual technical by EN 15635 / SEMA inspector — Red/Amber/Green report
- 5-year structural review — per the quotation + load history
Damage threshold:
- Green — minor surface damage, OK to continue
- Amber — schedule repair within 4 weeks, mark + monitor
- Red — unload immediately, repair before reload (safety risk)
Further Comparison
See the more detailed tables:
- /compare/as4084-vs-fem-10-2-06-vs-en-15512 — comparison of the 3 standards
- /compare/selective-vs-drive-in-vs-cantilever — choosing a rack type
- /compare/double-deep-vs-narrow-aisle-vs-vna-warehouse-rack — choosing a layout
Saha Service
Saha designs + installs pallet rack to every standard:
- Design + drawing: AS 4084 / EN 15512 / FEM 10.2.06 + DPT 1311-50 seismic
- Cert documents: mill cert + load test report + EN 15635 inspection cert
- Installation: anchor bolt + plumb + seismic brace + load test 1.25× WLL
- Annual inspection: EN 15635 certified inspector + Red/Amber/Green report
Send your warehouse drawing + SKU + lift truck spec → layout proposal + quotation within 48 hours.
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