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Min. depth for tall freestanding shelving units

1/28/14       
Matt

A repeat customer has asked me to build some freestanding shelving units for home goods showroom in Ny. He wants a big chunky rustic unit 70 w x 80"h x 18"d. The units are to sit on cast iron foundry casters. They are also to have 3/4" ply backs that will have hang hooks screwed into from the back side, so he will have display options on from and back.

My worry is the stability of the units. I figure I will have about 16" between centers front to back on the casters. As said earlier they are 80" tall. Did I mention the frame and shelves are made of 8/4 red oak? If one starts to fall there will be no stopping it...

Thoughts?

1/28/14       #2: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Dave Edgerton  Member

Would be better if there was a skirt that was say 1/8 off the floor and the casters hidden inside. at least if it starts to tip there is something there to block it. Otherwise put a thin slot so it can be picked up with a dolly and moved. IN commercial setting i could see those things going over and killing someone.

1/29/14       #3: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
David R Sochar Member

If this is for retail display, educate your customer and explain how his liability insurance will exclude this cabinet before it hits the floor and crushes that kid.

Use this as an opportunity to show your customer that your professional knowledge can prevent him from having problems, and propose a fix when you discuss the issues with the original design. A wider base is my first thought.

"Signing off" of some sort of document means nothing, as a liability lawyer will only see it as a clear sign all parties were aware of the potential hazard, but chose to officially ignore it. You will be sued, but since they follow the money, once you are cleaned out, they will go to your customer.

You might also check with your insurance carrier to see what your liability insurance says about these things.

Anti-Tip Article

1/29/14       #4: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Matt

Thanks for the replies. The shelves aren't technically in a retail setting. The showroom is to display new styles for national chain purchasers to peruse. There shouldn't be any children in there. That being said it is still a concern.

The customer definitely wants to see the casters so I can't hide them.

At this point I think we will need to modify design to include a deeper base, or make the entire unit deeper.

OR incorporate fasteners to tie them together and and make sure the customer understands to have at least 2 in a run tied together to make a 90 degree turn.... Make sense?

1/29/14       #5: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
scott

The chunky rustic foundry look will allow you to put the casters on some sort of steel or wood "outrigger" construction to get a larger spread and still work into the industrial design theme, I'm assuming a lot here but that's how I'd initially approach it. Or, to get a little wacky, & if it's for display & not to be moved, attach it directly to the floor with some plates & rods out of sight & underneath the bottom floor. Goofy but effective.
18" is definitely too narrow, the offset of the caster will constrict this much more than the 16" OC hoped for.

1/29/14       #6: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Dave Edgerton  Member

what if you make them double sided to add depth and have more display area on the back side?

1/29/14       #7: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Matt

Scott, you're right, oc would actually be 14" with the casters I am looking at, but the outer edge would be 16". This is with the edge ofthe mounting plate flush with the front and rear edges of the bottom. I also like the outrigger idea.

Dave, customer wants a solid back so that either: hang Hooks can be attached so quilting can be displayed, or, the units can be positioned next to each other forming a solid "wall" that a bed can be set in front of to display bedding textiles.

I definitely like the idea of setting them up back to back. Possibly making 6-8 of these so some may be positioned this way.

Thanks. Matt

1/30/14       #8: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
mark

Swivel casters? If so, the base could shrink further.

1/30/14       #9: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Matt

Good point Mark. Swivel casters are a definite no go.

1/31/14       #10: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Alan F.

Mount the casters to a 1/2" plate steel that is 18 x 70 and that will add 250+/- lbs. to the base of the fixture. If a mockup seems unstable go to 3/4" or 1" plate.

1/31/14       #11: Min. depth for tall freestanding sh ...
Matt

I hadn't thought of lowering the cog. Slick.


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