Shelf (storage)

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A simple wooden wall shelf Atifells de cuina andalusins, Museu Arqueologic Municipal d'Alcoi.JPG
A simple wooden wall shelf
A wooden shelf with a great number of different hair colours in a hairdresser shop in Germany Shelve with various hair colours (hair dyes) in a hairdresser shop in Germany (2023).jpg
A wooden shelf with a great number of different hair colours in a hairdresser shop in Germany

A shelf (pl.: shelves) [1] is a flat, horizontal plane used for items that are displayed or stored in a home, business, store, or elsewhere. It is raised off the floor and often anchored to a wall, supported on its shorter length sides by brackets, or otherwise anchored to cabinetry by brackets, dowels, screws, or nails. It can also be held up by columns or pillars. A shelf is also known as a counter, ledge, mantel, or rack. [1] Tables designed to be placed against a wall, possibly mounted, are known as console tables, and are similar to individual shelves.

Contents

A shelf can be attached to a wall or other vertical surface, be suspended from a ceiling, be a part of a free-standing frame unit, or it can be part of a piece of furniture such as a cabinet, bookcase, entertainment center, headboard, and so on. Usually, two to six shelves make up a unit, each shelf being attached perpendicularly to the vertical or diagonal supports and positioned parallel one above the other. Free-standing shelves can be accessible from either one or both longer length sides. A shelf with hidden internal brackets is termed a floating shelf. A shelf or case designed to hold books is a bookshelf.

The length of the shelf is based upon the space limitations of its siting and the amount of weight which it will be expected to hold. The vertical distance between the shelves is based upon the space limitations of the unit's siting and the height of the objects; adjustable shelving systems allow the vertical distance to be altered. The unit can be fixed or be some form of mobile shelving. The most heavy-duty shelving is pallet racking. In a store, the front edge of the shelf under the object(s) held might be used to display the name, product number, pricing, and other information about the object(s).

Materials

Adjustable shelving made from Dexion steel slotted angle Old-slotted-angle-shelving.jpg
Adjustable shelving made from Dexion steel slotted angle

Shelves are normally made of strong materials such as wood, [2] bamboo or steel, though shelves to hold lighter-weight objects can be made of glass or plastic. Do it yourself (DIY) shelves can be made from things such as an old door, [3] colored pencils [4] or books. [5] Additionally, shelves can also be 3D printed, allowing do it yourself (DIY) projects to have intricate detail.

Pipe shelving

Pipe shelving can be used in a home, business, store or restaurant. It consists mainly of wood boards resting on black or galvanized steel gas pipe. Copper pipe can be used but it is not recommended[ by whom? ] for heavy-duty shelves. Pipe shelving can also be modified to be used as retail clothing displays and wall shelves. Pipe shelving supports rest on the floor with floor flanges (these need not be attached) and attaches to the wall with flanges that are directed backwards. Many different designs exist and some companies make these shelves for commercial and residential applications and others make these shelves as DIY projects. [6]

Pipe shelving is mainly attached to a wall but some companies have designed free standing units. Pipe shelving has even been used in reclamation projects such as shipping container architecture and was used by Marriott Hotels & Resorts in a bar project. [7]

Proportions for hanging on a wall

Two stainless steel shelf supports placed relatively far apart. Two stainless steel shelf supports 2017.jpg
Two stainless steel shelf supports placed relatively far apart.

When hanging shelves on a wall, home designers generally try to ensure that the shelf should be no wider than 1.4 x bracket's width and no wider than 1.2 x bracket's height.[ citation needed ] Spacing brackets for a long shelf should be no more than 4 x shelf-breadth between each bracket - this holds true for normal materials used at home. [8]

Length and size of screws holding the shelf to the wall differ depending on the material of the wall. A good rule of thumb for concrete walls is that the screw should go into the wall at least as far as one-tenth the width of the shelf. But there are shelf systems where a brace is hung on the wall, onto which brackets are attached without screws.

Etymology

The word shelf originates in late 14th century Middle English. [1] The word is from the Old English scylfe; similar to Low German schelf meaning shelf and Old Norse -skjalf meaning bench. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19-inch rack</span> Standard width frame for C&N equipment

A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple electronic equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is 19 inches (482.6 mm) wide. The 19 inch dimension includes the edges or ears that protrude from each side of the equipment, allowing the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws or bolts. Common uses include computer servers, telecommunications equipment and networking hardware, audiovisual production gear, music production equipment, and scientific equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Closet</span> Enclosed space used for storage, particularly that of clothes

A closet is an enclosed space, with a door, used for storage, particularly that of clothes. Fitted closets are built into the walls of the house so that they take up no apparent space in the room. Closets are often built under stairs, thereby using awkward space that would otherwise go unused.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scaffolding</span> Temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials

Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other human-made structures. Scaffolds are widely used on site to get access to heights and areas that would be otherwise hard to get to. Unsafe scaffolding has the potential to result in death or serious injury. Scaffolding is also used in adapted forms for formwork and shoring, grandstand seating, concert stages, access/viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, half pipes and art projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottom bracket</span> Bicycle component

The bottom bracket on a bicycle connects the crankset (chainset) to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. It contains a spindle to which the crankset attaches, and the bearings that allow the spindle and crankset to rotate. The chainrings and pedals attach to the cranks. Bottom bracket bearings fit inside the bottom bracket shell, which connects the seat tube, down tube and chain stays as part of the bicycle frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bookcase</span> Furniture used to store books

A bookcase, or bookshelf, is a piece of furniture with horizontal shelves, often in a cabinet, used to store books or other printed materials. Bookcases are used in private homes, public and university libraries, offices, schools, and bookstores. Bookcases range from small, low models the height of a table to high models reaching up to ceiling height. Shelves may be fixed or adjustable to different positions in the case. In rooms entirely devoted to the storage of books, such as libraries, they may be permanently fixed to the walls and/or floor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piping and plumbing fitting</span> Connecting pieces in pipe systems

A fitting or adapter is used in pipe systems to connect sections of pipe or tube, adapt to different sizes or shapes, and for other purposes such as regulating fluid flow. These fittings are used in plumbing to manipulate the conveyance of fluids such as water for potatory, irrigational, sanitary, and refrigerative purposes, gas, petroleum, liquid waste, or any other liquid or gaseous substances required in domestic or commercial environments, within a system of pipes or tubes, connected by various methods, as dictated by the material of which these are made, the material being conveyed, and the particular environmental context in which they will be used, such as soldering, mortaring, caulking, plastic welding, welding, friction fittings, threaded fittings, and compression fittings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bracket (architecture)</span> Architectural element

A bracket is a structural or decorative architectural element that projects from a wall, usually to carry weight and sometimes to "strengthen an angle". It can be made of wood, stone, plaster, metal, or other media. A corbel or console are types of brackets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pallet racking</span> Material handling storage aid system designed to store materials on pallets

Pallet rack is a material handling storage aid system designed to store materials on pallets. Although there are many varieties of pallet racking, all types allow for the storage of palletized materials in horizontal rows with multiple levels. Forklift trucks are usually required to place the loaded pallets onto the racks for storage. Since the Second World War, pallet racks have become a ubiquitous element of most modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail centers, and other storage and distribution facilities. All types of pallet racking increase storage density of the stored goods. Costs associated with the racking increases with increasing storage density.

Wire Shelving is commonly used in industrial and commercial platforms, and more recently in residential use. It is also known as wire decking or ventilated shelving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drum hardware</span>

Drum hardware is the set of parts of a drum or drum kit that are used to tension, position, and otherwise support the instruments themselves.

Spine shelving is a book-shelving technique. Books are usually shelved upright with the spines facing out. When a book is taller than the distance between shelves, it is usually placed sideways or shelved horizontally i.e., flat. Putting a book with the spine down resting on the shelf is called spine shelving. The opposite, with the spine facing inwards, is called foredge shelving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floating shelf</span> Style of furniture shelf

A floating shelf is a form of shelf with its wall fixings hidden within the shelf board, with no visible supporting brackets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adjustable shelving</span>

An adjustable shelf is a shelf that can be adjusted according to needs. The most common variant is that the height intervals can be adjusted to accommodate various items. This allows more flexible use to hold items of value for storage, display or sale. Like fixed shelves, the horizontal planes are normally made of strong materials such as wood or steel, but their exact vertical positioning can be varied - usually through the use of uprights into which supporting brackets or the shelves themselves can be fixed at different heights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinetry</span> Box-shaped piece of furniture with doors

A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying items. Some cabinets are stand alone while others are built in to a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood, coated steel, or synthetic materials. Commercial grade cabinets usually have a melamine-particleboard substrate and are covered in a high-pressure decorative laminate, commonly referred to as Wilsonart or Formica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French cleat</span> Molding used to secure an object to a wall

A French cleat is a way of securing a cabinet, mirror, tools, artwork or other objects to a wall. It is a molding with a 45 degree slope used to hang cabinets or other objects. The method has been described as simple and strong, but also elegant since it often can be mounted hidden behind a cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Library stack</span>

In library science and architecture, a stack or bookstack is a book storage area, as opposed to a reading area. More specifically, this term refers to a narrow-aisled, multilevel system of iron or steel shelving that evolved in the 19th century to meet increasing demands for storage space. An "open-stack" library allows its patrons to enter the stacks to browse for themselves; "closed stacks" means library staff retrieve books for patrons on request.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural property storage</span>

The cultural property storage typically falls to the responsibility of cultural heritage institutions, or individuals. The proper storage of these objects can help to ensure a longer lifespan for the object with minimal damage or degradation. With so many different types of artifacts, materials, and combinations of materials, keepers of these artifacts often have considerable knowledge of the best practices in storing these objects to preserve their original state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelf support</span>

A shelf support is a fastener used to hang a shelf from a wall. It can be an alternative to built-in shelving or adjustable shelving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32 mm cabinetmaking system</span>

The 32 mm cabinetmaking system is a furniture construction and manufacturing principle used in the production of ready-to-assemble and European-style, frameless construction custom cabinets and other furniture. The system is in wide use globally, partly owing to IKEA using some of its elements in its furniture. Characteristics are the columns of 5 mm holes on 32 mm centers. In addition to the 32 mm standard, there are other but less frequently used systems. The system allows reconfigurable shelf placement and spacing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Shelf". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  2. "How To Build Shelves". Do it Yourself. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  3. "DIY Door Shelf Tutorial". Craftaholics anonymous. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  4. "Day 27: Pencil shelf". Variations on Normal. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  5. "Book Shelf Made From Books". inhabitat. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  6. "HomeMade Modern DIY Pipe Shelves" . Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  7. "Marriott unveils hotel room, bar made from shipping containers | Real Estate Weekly". rew-online.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  8. "EWPAA Shelving Design Manual" (PDF). Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-19.