OPTIMIZING YOUR STORAGE FACILITY: INDUSTRIAL STEEL CLIP SHELVING
Industrial steel shelving, also called clip shelving, allows warehouse inventory to be stored more efficiently and economically by providing organization and increased warehouse storage density. You’ll find industrial clip shelving in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution facilities. It is also found in restaurants, retail stores, back-rooms, offices, and garages.
Industrial clip shelving is made up of all steel components and is a simple, yet effective storage solution for light to medium weight loads. The basic elements of clip shelving systems are posts, beams, shelves, and compression clips. Clip shelving can be enhanced with accessories such as bins, boxes, dividers, and drawers to create very efficient storage solutions. These shelving systems are flexible, and can be set up in a variety of configurations. Clip shelving systems are easy to assemble, reconfigure, and move around as your storage needs evolve.
TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL CLIP SHELVING
There are two types of clip shelving: open shelving and closed shelving. Be aware that many cities have fire codes that require fifty percent open shelf area in a storage facility, so be sure to check with your city before designing your system.
OPEN INDUSTRIAL CLIP SHELVING
Open clip shelving is generally more economical and has the added benefit of making its contents more visible and easily accessible. Open industrial shelving units allow light to penetrate the storage area, and they allow for free airflow around stored materials. Stability is achieved with the use of X-shaped sway braces on each side and the back.
CLOSED INDUSTRIAL CLIP SHELVING
Closed clip shelving incorporates steel panels that enclose the backs and sides of the shelving unit. These panels give the shelving units greater stability. The enclosed three sides also help to keep stored items protected and clean. Closed industrial shelving systems offer a more finished look and can be combined with a variety of options, including doors to create a lockable cabinet.
HOW IS STEEL SHELVING SOLD?
CLIP SHELVING WEIGHT CAPACITY
Like many other types of industrial shelving units, how much weight you can store on each shelf or on each unit in total depends on the dimensions of the shelf and the gauge (thickness) of steel. The load capacity for clip shelving ranges from 250 to 1900 pounds per shelf. Whether the shelving unit is open or closed doesn’t make an impact on how much weight you can store on each shelf.
COMPONENTS OF STEEL SHELVING
Posts
There are two types of posts: Corner angle posts and T-posts. A starter unit will come with four corner angle posts, and an adder unit will include just two corner posts. T-posts, also called beaded posts, are what you might use to join together several units for a continuous run. T-posts use up less space than corner posts, and for a long run, those inches can add up.
Decking
Shelves for industrial clip shelving units are steel and come in light-duty to heavy-duty, depending on your storage needs. The decking is flanged twice on each side and triple-flanged on the front and rear. The shelves easily clip to the posts and are generally adjustable on 1 ½” centers. The top surfaces of the shelves are perforated or punched on 2” centers for connecting adjustable dividers, bins, and the like.
Back Panels
Back panels for closed shelving fasten to the posts. The center of the back panel is held tight against shelves with a back panel clip. For units 36” wide and up to 87” tall, a back panel is one piece. If a 36” wide unit is over 87” tall, the backs are split horizontally into two pieces. For 42” to 48” wide units up to 51” tall, the back panels are one piece. If they are taller than 51 inches, the back panels are again split into two pieces.
Back-to-back units can share one common back panel (provided the units are securely bolted together).
Side Panels
Side panels (or end panels) for closed shelving fasten to the front and rear posts and are in one piece up to 87″ high.
Back Braces
Back braces for open shelving fasten to the flanges of offset angle posts. Back braces also bolt to each other at the center hole, adding stability and making installation easier. The back braces eliminate lateral sway.
Side Braces
Side braces for open shelving fasten to the flanges of the front and rear posts. Side braces eliminate front to back sway.
Beams
Front-to-back beams join together the front corner angle with the back corner angle. Front-to-backs prevent the post from twisting.
Left-to-right beams join the shelving deck to the corner angle post or T-post. For each shelf, you need two left-to-rights, one for the front and one for the back.
Clips
Heavy-duty steel compression clips slip into holes in the uprights to provide support for the shelves. Two extrusions on the clips fit firmly into the post slots to provide a safe and secure fit.
Supports
With some clip shelving systems, additional shelf supports are available to accommodate a higher weight capacity.
ACCESSORIES FOR STEEL SHELVING
Accessories may include:
Footplates anchor the shelving units to the floor for extra rigidity to prevent overturning. Footplates would be required for seismic conditions.
Shelf Dividers divide shelves into separate sections.
Label Holders make finding products easy.
Bin Dividers divide closed shelving into several individual bin type compartments.
