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How to Choose the Right Shelving
There are many manufacturers—both domestic and foreign—of steel and rivet shelving. Most of the major US manufacturers have very similar products. Often price and shipping FOB drives a shelving purchase decision. But you still want to match up the right shelving to meet your specific needs.
We recommend that you choose steel shelving with an appropriate weight capacity to handle your organization's needs. The following recommendations will help you choose the best storage shelving.
Shelving Gauge
Weight capacity is the major key to choosing the right shelving. Some manufacturers use a lighter-gauge steel that provides a weight capacity equal to or greater than 18-gauge steel. Based on the manufacturer's printed weight capacity, there may be other types of shelving to consider besides solid steel shelving, such as rivet, woven or wire-meshed shelving. The smaller the gauge number, the stronger the shelving; 16-gauge shelving will not hold as much weight as 12-gauge steel shelving. 20 gauge shelving is not as strong as 18 gauge shelving.
Weight capacity is the determining factor when choosing what gauge steel shelving to use for your storage needs. If lighter-gauge steel shelving provides the necessary weight capacity for your needs, you can save yourself some money. But let the need drive the purchase.
Shelving Material
For standard steel shelving, all parts of the shelving should be made of steel. The best shelving choice is powder-coated or baked enamel metal shelving. Painted shelves are not recommended. If possible, consider purchasing light-toned shelving to optimize lighting in your storage area.
If considering rivet shelving with particle board decking, remember that wooden or particle board decking can emit gases over time due to the natural decomposition of the wood. Gases can aid in the degradation of paper stored in boxes on the shelves. And in the case of fire, any wooden parts of the shelving may aid in the destruction of records. If the load is heavy, it will often cause wooden shelving to buckle over time. Wood also tends to hold moisture, and when wet, such shelving can deteriorate rapidly. However, rivet shelving is easy to assemble and costs a lot less that standard steel shelving.
Shelving Height
The appropriate height for shelving will depend on your storage needs and the size of your storage facility. Standard heights of shelving range from five-to-10 feet, with an extra three or four inches added to allow for space to keep the bottom shelf off the floor. Shelving six or seven feet high is the most common, however. With six-foot shelving, you should not need any ladders to reach the top boxes on any shelves.
Always allow for at least one foot between the cartons on the top shelves and lighting fixtures or ductwork. Sprinkler heads should be at least one-and-one-half feet above the cartons to allow the sprinklers to distribute water evenly.
Pallet Rack
It’s very important to select the right pallet rack for your application. Failure to do so can be disastrous. If you’re unsure what type or weight capacity of pallet rack that you need, contract with someone who does.
Pallet rack systems come in teardrop or keystone style. The most popular is teardrop rack—easy to assemble, and less expensive than the keystone rack. But depending on the application, the sturdier keystone rack might be the better choice.
First, know what you need. What are you going to be storing? Pallet rack frames are available in numerous different load carrying ranges, with standard depths of 30", 36", 42", 48", 54" and 60" (other depths are available). Standard heights range from 48" to 240" in 6" increments, but you can achieve greater heights with the utilization of splices.
For obvious safety reasons, your rack weight capacity should meet or exceed the load capacity of your forklift. And the rack should not be higher than the height capacity of your forklift. If you’ll be placing standard pallets on the pallet rack beams, add three inches to the front and back of the rack. If your pallets are 42 inches deep, choose rack that hangs three inches over each end, or rack that is a total of 48-inches in depth. If you live in a seismic zone, you’ll need to check and see if you need seismic boots placed on the feet of the pallet rack frames.
Do your homework with pallet rack. The life of your employees may just depend on it.
Record Storage Shelving
If storing records, we recommend shelving that is 42 inches wide, which allows for a row of three standard records center cartons (12" wide x 15" long x 10" high). Depth can vary, depending on the dimensions available and storage needs. Shelves 16" or 32" deep are preferable. For the best use of space in a records center, purchase shelving that is 32 inches deep, which allows for boxes two-deep on each shelf. If efficient use of space is not a concern, 16"-deep shelving will hold a row of boxes one-deep. Shelving of other depths is suitable for records storage, but is not as preferable. Boxes stored on shelves that are 15" or 30" deep will hang slightly over the edge. Shelves 16" or 32" deep are preferable, since the cover of the shelving provides modest protection to the boxes in the event of a fire or a water leak from the ceiling. You may also consider purchasing shelving that is either 18" or 36" deep. However, such shelving is a little deeper than is necessary and does not make optimal use of space. Organizations with large records centers might consider purchasing special steel shelving that is 8 feet (96") wide, which can hold seven boxes across and reduces the number of uprights needed.
The estimated weight of a standard records storage box is approximately 35 pounds. A 42"-wide shelf 16" deep holds one row of boxes (three across) which is approximately 105 pounds. But a 42"-wide shelf which is double-deep (30" or 32") and stacked two- high will hold twelve boxes and approximately 420 pounds. To choose what shelving would work best for your organization, determine the number of boxes you will be storing per shelf. Based on the approximate weight of 35 pounds per box, check the weight capacity of the steel shelving and choose accordingly.
Other Considerations
You should always arrange shelving in the most cost-effective scheme possible. For example, you can save money by placing boxes two-high on each shelf, thereby reducing the number of individual shelves that need to be purchased. Some organizations may want easier and quicker access to their products, and so may decide to have only one layer of boxes per shelf. Shelving can also stand alone in an aisle, but if you want access to both sides you’ll want to go with rivet shelving unit, which provide access to all four sides.
Organizations should also realize that a few long rows of shelving may be more economical than numerous short rows. This is because the shelving unit at the end of each row of shelving (or the starter shelving) is a single free-standing unit with four sides instead of three, and is sometimes more expensive. The add-on units, which must be attached to starter units, are cheaper because they contain fewer sides and less material.
Shelving should run parallel to the direction of airflow and perpendicular to ceiling light fixtures, if possible. Leave a few inches of free space between the shelving unit and the wall to allow for circulation. Bottom shelves should be approximately four to six inches from the floor to allow for airflow and for protection against flooding. For easy retrieval of items, your shelving arrangement should allow for aisles approximately 36 inches wide. This will also satisfy requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Conclusion
Selecting the right shelving for your organization will require you to investigate the choices currently available. While many factors will contribute to an efficient and accessible storage facility, the shelving you choose will be integral to your success.
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