7R Glossary
Storage Height (Clear Height)
What should you know?
Storage height is one of the most important technical parameters characterizing Class A warehouses. A common mistake is to confuse it with the total height of the building, measured along the exterior of the facade. For a logistics operator, only the clear space is crucial (clear height), in which forklifts can be safely operated and racking systems installed.
Market standards have been steadily rising over the years. While facilities 8–10 meters high were once considered the standard, in modern logistics parks a height of 12 meters has become the norm, and in specialized high-bay warehouses, this height ranges from 14 to even several dozen meters.
Storage Height in Practice 7R
At 7R, we tailor the storage height to the tenant’s specific operational needs. A standard feature of our logistics parks is a height of 12 meters to the bottom of the structure, which—compared to traditional 10-meter-high warehouses—allows tenants to store up to 20% more goods in the same floor space. In Built-to-Suit (BTS) projects , Built-to-Suit (BTS) is a model for developing commercial real estate—most often warehouse or industrial—that is designed and built from the ground up to meet the specific, individual requirements of a particular tenant. Unlike off-the-shelf speculative spaces, a BTS facility is built to order, taking into account the client’s unique technological processes, warehouse layouts, and technical specifications.Read the full definition → We also construct automated high-bay facilities with heights exceeding 14 meters.
Storage Height vs. Building Class and Type
| Criterion | Typical storage height (clear height) | Impact on pallet capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Older Buildings / Class B | 6.0 m – 8.0 m | Low (usually 3–4 storage levels) |
| Standard Class A (older) | 10,0 m | Medium (approx. 5 storage levels) |
| Modern Class A (7R standard) | 11,0 m | High (up to 6–7 storage levels) |
| High-Bay Warehouse | 14.0 m – 40.0+ m | Maximum (requires AS/RS automation) |
Frequently Asked Questions
A taller warehouse (e.g., 12 m instead of 10 m) allows for the addition of more levels of shelving without increasing the floor area. The tenant pays rent calculated per square meter of floor space while gaining more volume (cubic meters), which reduces the unit cost of storing a single pallet.
Height clear height is measured from the finished industrial floor to the lowest point in the building. This does not necessarily have to be a roof structure (such as a girder or purlin)—very often, the lowest points are internal system components, such as sprinkler system pipes (ESFR), cable trays, or heaters.