Shelving Types Buying Guide

Epoxy coated shelving for wet or refrigerator applications – Refrigerators are a humid or wet environment. Zinc or Brite shelves will rust in this type of environment. You can use epoxy coated shelving in freezer applications, but it is not required.

Brite (Zinc) or chrome finishes is for dry or freezer applications only.

Stainless steel wire shelving is for use in most applications, including wet applications.

Stainless steel solid shelves is for use in most applications, including wet applications.

Aluminum shelving works great for wet, dry, refrigerator or freezer applications.

Metro Max Q shelving works great for wet, dry, refrigerator or freezer applications.

Camshelving will work for wet or dry, refrigerator or freezer applications.

Sizes available:

• The shelf sizes will vary by the manufacturer; however, the common sizes are 14", 18", 21", 24", 30", and 36" wide
• The shelf length varies from 18” to 72” long, not all lengths are available for all widths offered
• Posts range from 7-5/8" to 86-5/8"
• Watch out for obstructions: drains, pipes, switches, overhead cabinets, etc.

Planning your Purchase:

Four posts with five shelves for 86" high sections; or four posts with four shelves for 63” or 74" high sections.

Think about how you will be using the section. Large boxes mean fewer shelves farther apart, small objects or boxes mean more shelves.

Knowing what you want to store will help you determine the type of shelving you need, whether a wire or solid shelf, and how many shelves you will need.

Where could you add a shelf and make your business more productive? Look over your kitchen, vegetable preparation area, mopping area, receiving area, server stations, and other work zones of your business. Here are some ideas;

• Move the microwave oven off the countertop and give them more counter space
• Add a shelf above the toaster for bread storage
• Office storage area above their desk
• Mount a wall shelf above the mop sink for cleaning supplies.
• Add a shelf above salad preparation table, for the non-refrigerated salad fixings
• Receiving area
• Dish room area above sinks
• Outdoor eating area for holding supplies – Cambro wall shelf is ideal for indoor or outdoor locations
• Server stations
• Add above a worktable to store small equipment used on worktable

Installation:
Always fasten brackets into a wall location with solid wall construction, and not just into sheet rock. The heavier the expected weight load, the more rigid wall bracing is required.

For Cambro® –

• Locate the wall studs.
• Measure twice and mark the proper wall location carefully.
• Mount the brackets evenly and securely into the wall studs, using the proper hardware for mounting the brackets into the wall studs. Depending on the intended weight load, the size and type of mounting hardware will vary. If you are not sure what type of bolts to use, ask your local hardware store for advice!
• Snap on the shelf.

Cambro®Camshelving® and Eagle Snap-N-Slide wall shelves both have adjustable shelf supports to fit into the wall studs.

Metro shelf brackets:
If you want an 8’ continuous shelf, you would use two 4’ Metro shelves, starting with an end bracket; use a middle bracket to hold up both shelves in the center, and another end bracket. If you need other size shelves, consider custom-made shelves from a one of our stainless steel fabricators with adjustable shelf supports. Please contact us for pricing.

Recommended Accessories:

Dividers, ledges, label holders and shelf markers to create an organized shelving system, etc.

Casters to make the unit movable for cleaning – If you want a set of casters, order the posts that come without the footplate, for use with the casters. This will save you the additional work of removing the adjustable footplate, to install the casters when you receive the order.

Always consider having a top shelf at the top of the posts, as storage space is usually limited, and lightweight supplies or products can be stored there.