Be it in the educational sector, manufacturing sector, or even commercial facilities, compactus shelving comes in very handy. With compactus shelving, you can easily store heavy objects for easy access whenever you need them. But while compactus shelving systems are great, there are tricks you ought to know when using them.
If you do not take proper caution when storing your objects in them, especially heavy ones, you may run into complications. For this reason, we came up with this article to educate you on the best ways to store heavy objects in a compactus shelving system.
Label all heavy objects
When shelving items in a compactus shelving system, the first thing you should do is to label them, the essence of labeling is to ensure every object is easily identifiable. As time goes by, and you keep adding more and more objects to the shelf, there is a very high likelihood that you will not remember which is which.
Hence, it will be a lot of work trying to figure out which object you need, since you may have to offload most of the objects on the shelf. But when you label the objects before arranging them in the compactus shelving, it will make it easy for you to locate any particular object.
Always store heavy objects on the lower or middle level
Another thing you should take note of when storing heavy objects is the level you keep them. Most compactus shelving systems you will see come with different levels of rack. Each rack is best at holding different objects. The top of the rack is most ideal for storing lightweight objects. At the same time, the middle and the lower level is best for heavy objects.
It is ideal for storing heavy objects at the lower or middle level of the compactus shelf because it has enough strength and support to hold the object’s weight. Apart from the integrity of the shelf, another reason not to store heavy objects at a high-level rack is because of how tedious it will be to store them up there and bring them down.
Store long heavy objects on its side
If the heavy object you want to store is long, it is ideal for storing it away on the shelf on its side. At the same time, you may be tempted to store it standing or vertically, do not. When you store a heavy, long object vertically, the slightest movement of the compactus shelf may cause the object to tip and fall. Storing long heavy objects vertically is not safe as they may fall and cause injury.
However, when you store the objects on their side, you increase their center of gravity. So, even if the shelf is tipped, perhaps moving it from one location to another, it will not cause the long heavy object to fall.
Secure fragile items
There may be a time when what you want to store on the compactus shelf will be fragile. You must secure the object properly before storing it in such a case. For example, if the object is something breakable, indicate it on its label and do not store any object. Rather, it is ideal for storing other objects first before storing any fragile object.
When it comes to securing any fragile items, you have multiple options. For example, an option you can use is packaging the object in a box and then placing it on a cushion base, top, and sides. So even if there are some external forces exerted on the object due to loading or unloading from the shelves, it wouldn’t damage it. Also, you can consider lining the object with bubble wrap.
Think about the climate
Lastly, always think about the climate when you want to store any object in a compactus shelving. Ascertain the object’s condition and its ability to hold up to the current climate. If it does not hold up, you must take the necessary precautions to store the object, so it doesn’t get damaged.
A typical example is keeping your compactus shelving in a room without climate control, like your garage or basement. Your garage may get too hot or cold, while your basement may accumulate too much moisture. Adding a dehumidifier can help protect your objects from the elements. Also, covering your objects with plastic covers can protect them from rodents attached to moist and cold environments.