Having strong and secure storage facilities is one of the most important considerations for a museum curator. After all, the artwork, artefacts, and files that you are looking after can cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Oftentimes, they are literally priceless.
No two museums will have the same storage requirements. However, most will find that longspan shelving is an excellent option, for a range of reasons. Longspan shelving is reliable, secure, and can be easily adjusted to meet changing needs.
What is longspan shelving?
To better grasp why longspan shelving is the ultimate museum storage solution, it’s important that you first understand its properties and attributes.
Longspan shelving is a versatile storage option that is used across a number of different industries and environments. Smaller types of longspan shelving are used in retail and commercial settings. Warehouses often use large longspan shelves to safely store equipment and stock.
Longspan shelving tends to be made from either steel, wood, or mesh. Quality longspan shelving is adjustable, and can be adapted to fit your environment and needs.
Advantages of longspan shelving
Longspan shelving offers many advantages over other types of shelving solutions. It is one of the most popular shelving options out there, with good reason!
These advantages include:
●Improved use of vertical space: Space is often at a premium, making vertical storage solutions an appealing option. Many longspan shelving providers can manufacture shelves to fit your exact requirements, meaning you can make the most of the room that you do have.
●Customisable heights: If you are in charge of a museum or art gallery, your storage needs are likely to be constantly changing in accordance with current and upcoming exhibits. As such, it can be impossible to predict what space you will require. Longspan shelving can be customised to different heights, making it a great option for these purposes.
●Walkway creation: Having clear and unobstructed walkways is important for all businesses and organisations. A vertical storage solution, like longspan shelving, can create a safe working environment, increasing employee efficiency.
●Variety of material types: Most manufacturers of longspan shelving offer their products in a number of different material types, including steel, wood, and mesh. The shelf can then be customised to meet your specific needs and the overall ambiance of your environment.
Museum storage considerations
At this point, longspan shelving seems like a pretty good option for most working environments. What makes it particularly well suited for museum storage?
Well, given the fact that many museum artefacts are incredibly rare, old, and expensive, storage is a significant consideration for curators and managers. The right museum storage solution is one that:
●Is well ventilated to reduce the risk of mould and insect infestation.
●Is made from a sealed material (such as steel). Unsealed timber, for example, may stain artefacts and result in deterioration.
●Provides easy access to staff.
●Grants artefacts plenty of room. Overcrowding items can lead to damage. This means you will also have to plan in advance if you are planning to grow your collection.
●Is smooth and non-abrasive.
The good news is that longspan shelving ticks pretty much every single of the above-mentioned boxes, making it an excellent choice for museum storage.
Most likely, your museum will require a range of storage options. If, for example, you are wanting to safely and securely store important files, a plan file cabinet is what you are looking for. On the other hand, mobile art racks can make protecting and retrieving expensive artworks simple.
Longspan shelving is recommended if you are wanting to store medium to large artefacts or boxed archives.
What to consider when purchasing longspan shelving
Not all longspan shelving is of equal quality. Finding the right manufacturer and supplier is as important as deciding on the type of shelving itself.
When purchasing longspan shelving, consider the following important attributes:
●Material: Longspan shelving is available in metal, particle board, and mesh. You might only need one type of surface material, or you might prefer to have a few options at your disposal. Make sure that the shelving supplier can meet your needs.
●Adaptability: Many brands of longspan shelving can be easily adapted to fit new spaces. This is important. As a museum curator, your storage needs will be constantly changing. Ensure that your storage can change concurrently.
●Beam capacity: Museums house all types of different objects, some of which can be quite heavy. Do you research and make sure that your chosen longspan shelving is strong and reliable enough to house all your important artefacts. The last thing that you want is to be putting shelving under undue pressure.
Keep your important artefacts and assets safe by choosing to use quality longspan shelving.
