The activity of any enterprise is accompanied by a large amount of paper documentation. Its systematization and storage requires the allocation of special areas - archives. As a rule, the size of the premises used for this purpose is very limited, therefore a special storage system - racks is used to place a large number of documents.
What is a rack
According to the generally accepted definition, a rack is a specialized equipment that is used to store items. This is a multi-tiered system consisting of support racks and shelves. A feature of metal archive racks is that they are made of metal alloys with a special protective coating.
According to the type of fastening, it is customary to distinguish racks:
welded - all structural details are connected by a weld (today, this option is almost never used due to low mobility and large dimensions);
prefabricated - this type consists of individual elements that are easy to assemble, disassemble and modify.
What is an archival metal shelving made of?
To assemble archive racks, several types of elements are made.
Racks. These parts are perforated metal profiles of different sizes. The small pitch of the holes on the racks allows you to mount the shelves at an arbitrary distance from each other.
Shelves. They are available in different lengths and widths, so you can assemble a rack with the most convenient parameters. For additional reliability and durability, the shelves are equipped with stiffeners.
Back wall. This part is made in the form of a metal sheet and is necessary for installation on the rear wide side of the structure. The back wall is an optional element. It is used to prevent objects loaded onto shelves from falling.
Side wall. Like the back, it is a metal sheet that is mounted on the sides of the rack.
Adjustable feet. This element is installed in the thrust bearing, due to which it is possible to compensate for uneven floors.
The bar is restrictive. It is mounted parallel to the shelves instead of the rear and side walls. Its task is to prevent folders from falling from shelves.
Delimiter. This item is considered optional. It is mounted on a shelf, which helps to divide folders by periods and keep them upright.
Key Benefits of Prefabricated Shelving
Today, metal archival storage racks are considered the most convenient and sought-after solution for storing papers. Numerous advantages confirm this.
Universality. For assembly, you can purchase elements of the type and size that are needed to create the most suitable shelving. If necessary, you can buy components at any time and supplement the archive. One of the most popular is a metal archival rack 2000x1000x500 mm on 5 shelves .
Build speed. Fastening of racks, shelves and other parts occurs with the help of bolts. No special tools or parts are required.
Light weight. All elements are made of light metal alloys, which allows for installation even alone.
Convenience. A large number of additional elements make archive metal shelving racks as convenient and functional as possible.
Long service life. All elements of the rack system are covered with a layer of polymer that protects the metal from corrosion.
Scope of application
Thanks to its convenience and versatility, the rhikh metal rack can be successfully used by any enterprise that needs a simple and durable archival storage system.
Where there are large volumes of documentation, you can and should choose metal equipment:
Types of equipment for archives
The racks used in archives can be of several types.
Stationary This multi-tier storage system is installed in a specific place (along the walls or in several rows in the center of the room). This type of shelving is quickly mounted, easy to use, affordable. The only drawback is the fact that installing this system requires a lot of space (there must be passages between the racks).
Mobile The peculiarity of these models is that each archival metal rack is equipped with special rollers that move along the guides (a kind of rails). The advantage of this method is a significant saving in space (up to 70% of the area). This is explained by the fact that mobile racks do not need passages - just leave 1 and move the racks to access the desired row. Among the disadvantages: long installation of rails and high cost. This option is optimal for a large amount of documentation.
Corner Choose this storage system in cases where the company has a small amount of documentation and there is no special room for the archive. Thanks to the capacious corner racks, you can fill in less-used spaces.
How to choose a rack for the archive
When choosing a system, it is worth starting from the amount of documentation and the features of the room. Equally important is the budget allocated for equipment. Now manufacturers offer a huge selection of models of shelving systems. In general, they all have similar characteristics.
The cheapest option is a regular fixed system. Racks in this case can be modified at your discretion. They can be low, in human height, and can reach the ceiling (for example, a metal archive shelf 6 shelves).
When choosing a mobile system, it is worth remembering the high cost. It includes the price of all elements of the system and installation work. In case of floor defects, alignment is required.
Having studied the main characteristics and features of archival metal shelving , we can conclude that today such a system is one of the most convenient and affordable specialized equipment on the market.