If you’re thinking of outfitting your school, office, library, or gym facility with steel lockers, you’ve probably already discovered there are plenty of different options out there. In fact, maybe you’re a little bit overwhelmed with the broad range of products that are available.
Understanding the different factors that you should consider when purchasing lockers will ensure you end up with the best deal possible — from a financial and operational perspective.
Features and factors of lockers
Material:
Lockers are available in a broad range of different materials, from steel lockers to timber laminate. There are obvious advantages to choosing a steel locker. Steel tends to be incredibly secure and long-lasting, particularly if it is protected with a powder coat finish.
Steel is also available in a broad range of colours. No need to settle for a muted grey. These days, steel lockers come in everything from red to green. This is particularly useful if you are looking to brighten up a school corridor or add a splash of colour to your gym changing room.
Locking system:
The purpose of a locker is obviously to keep belongings safe and secure. This can’t happen without a lock!
Many shelving solutions providers will offer the traditional lock options of a combination lock or padlock and key. On top of that, you might want to consider a digital lock — particularly useful for school aged children who tend to forget their keys!
Size:
The size of your locker will often be dictated by the environment you are in. If you are purchasing lockers for a gym, for example, they only need to be large enough to fit a bag that contains a change of clothes.
If, on the other hand, you’re in the market for school lockers, they’ll need to be big enough to fit a bag, books, and more.
When you’re thinking about size, consider also the amount of room you have to group lockers. While the point of a locker is to offer secure, organised storage, it’s not going to be very useful if they’re taking up too much of your office or working space.
Ventilation:
Without proper ventilation, lockers can quickly turn into a source of unpleasant odours — particularly if you’ve got a row of them lined up and school children using them who forget to remove food from their bags! The same can also be said for bags stored in gym lockers.
Before purchasing lockers, make sure they have a proper ventilation system. Similarly, you should also check the type of material used to ensure it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
Purchasing steel lockers doesn’t have to be a difficult task, even if there are plenty of products out there. Consider reaching out to a shelving solutions supplier to discuss your storage needs and receive tailored advice about which make and model of locker is best for you.
