Why is the Damo Guard attached to the upright with bolts?

The DAMO GUARD is designed as a fully engineered, bolt-on protection solution—and the way it attaches to the upright is a critical part of its performance. Like all Damotech protection and repair products, the DAMO GUARD is intentionally built to be a bolted system rather than a welded one. Every unit ships with all required hardware (anchors, bolts, and the 1/4-inch backplate) at no additional cost, ensuring a reliable, code-compliant installation every time. 

Bolting the guard directly to the upright accomplishes several important safety and performance objectives. First, it prevents the guard from being pulled away or dislodged when a forklift backs up and scrapes a pallet or load against the upright. In busy warehouses, especially high-traffic zones, cold storage aisles, or drive-in racks, this type of incidental rubbing is extremely common. A guard that is not anchored to the upright can shift, rotate, or detach under repeated contact, reducing its ability to shield the column from impact.

Second, the bolted connection helps ensure that lateral impacts are transferred through the centroid of the column, which is the strongest part of the upright. This is especially important for cold-formed steel racks, where the front flanges are more vulnerable to damage. By anchoring securely to the upright, the DAMO GUARD redirects impact forces away from weaker components and distributes stress through the frame in a way that minimizes deformation. Independent testing has shown that the DAMO GUARD can reduce stress on a front column by up to six times, and by nine times on the sides—far outperforming basic, non-anchored guards.

The guard’s hardware package also includes a heavy-duty 5/8" Hilti screw-type anchor integrated into the bullnose. This anchor helps transfer part of the impact load directly to the concrete slab instead of the upright itself. Combined with the 3/16" structural steel shell and powder-coated finish, the bolted design makes the DAMO GUARD a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution for protecting the lower 24–48 inches of the rack, the zone where over 85% of rack damage occurs.

Whether you’re protecting new racking or retrofitting existing systems, bolted-on guarding ensures consistent performance, easy installation, and long-term peace of mind. 

If you’d like to discuss which guarding options are best for your facility, talk to an expert today.