“If a company works primarily in an area where seismic calculations are not needed then they probably do not have the calculations to give you because… The company also lacks the experience or knowledge that will guide you through a successful process of procuring permits…”
Every grower has to start out somewhere and most of the growers out there start out by ordering something on Amazon. They figure, correctly, that they can see if they like growing, if they are capable of doing it, and what it is like overall. It is a smart idea altogether. Why waste time in a profession where it is not going to pan out. However, if you get past this stage and realize that you want more from the industry then you are going to have to start looking at growing vertically in a rack. You are also going to have to figure out how you can do it more efficiently.
One of the biggest problems you face when you go from being a hobbyist into a bigger business is the amount of consumer-level products that will be pitched to you. The truth is that there are a lot more entry-level consumers than there are businesses that make it in this industry. Many of the businesses building rack or shelving tend to focus on this segment which means that you might be out of luck when it comes to finding what you want. You will have to comb through the hundreds of consumer-level products to find a few that are capable of doing the level of growing that you have in mind.
Industrial strength is not industrial strength in the consumer market. Many of the products they have in the marketplace tout “industrial strength”. Much of those products have a limit somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 lbs. The weight sounds impressive until you find out that professional growers can handle up to 2500 lbs per level with their racks. They can also stack their grows vertically to the limits allowed by their local governments. If you are stuck with a rack or shelf that only does 800 lbs and your competition has a shelf that can do 2500 lbs per level while maintaining the ability to grow vertically then you can guess how much bigger of a yield and profit they have above you.
“If you still intend on using it legally in your business then you may have to have it modified. It may end up being more expensive than just buying a vertical farming rack that has seismic calculations already included.”
Money is always a factor and you should do what is profitable for you but you should not cut corners because that is where you start to have trouble. If you start looking into the used vertical farming rack or discount racks that are new then you can run into trouble. It is because not all racks have the necessary documentation that will allow them to be used, legally, in your location. Not all areas have the same seismic activity happening underneath their businesses. It is because of this fact that not all rack or shelving should or can be used in your business. If they do not have a need for seismic calculations in their respective area then it is unlikely they will have the calculations for you. If you need calculations for your permit process then you might be out of luck. You will have to get them so that you can prove that your newly bought used rack is up to code. If it is not up to code then you will have to store it. There are some cases where you might be forced to disassemble it and then store it away. If you still intend on using it legally in your business then you may have to have it modified. Of course, this is all dependent on what your seismic calculations say. It may end up being more expensive than just buying a vertical farming rack that has seismic calculations already included.
Remember, this is also possible with a new rack. If a company works primarily in an area where seismic calculations are not needed then they probably do not have the calculations to give you because it is unnecessary for them or the clientele they deal with on a day to day basis. The company also lacks the experience or knowledge that will guide you through a successful process of procuring permits for your area. You should always ask about seismic calculations before you buy a new or used rack so you know what you are getting into before you buy anything.
If you are looking for a vertical farming rack with seismic calculations and a company that can help you with permitting then you want to talk to us. Give us a call at 503-536-7218. You can also look at this vertical farming rack or mobile grow rack by clicking the respective links.
