Dear all,
I have been asked by colleagues to investigate the possible pitfalls in
different types of floors for mobile shelving.
Our repository (The Suffolk Record Office) will soon be installing a
replacement mobile shelving system at one of the branches. Some potential
contractors have discussed the possibility of installing a false raised
floor, on top of the existing flooring, to accommodate the metal running
rails of the new system. This would be an alternative to taking out all
existing flooring and installing the metal rails as part of a new concrete /
screed floor in the present rooms. We feel that this second option is likely
to be a better choice, giving we suspect a longer life and being
maintenance-free. We feel an 'infill' or overlay floor may be prone to
faults and may require maintenance in the future.
However, because it is probable that a new 'infill' / overlay flooring
system will be a cheaper option, it is quite possible that our finance
section would prefer us to choose that option. Do any list members have
experience of a false overlay floor - does it perform well? Has it ever
given trouble? If the system is fine then perhaps we are worrying
needlessly. I have noticed that the recent new County Record Offices that I
know of have all had rails laid integral with a new concrete / screed floor-
as indeed we did when our new Ipswich branch was built in 1989.
If we did have a false raised floor installed, we have decided that at the
very least the floor level will be consistent throughout the room to aid in
the use of trolleys etc., instead of being raised only in the area of the
mobile shelving itself.
I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who can help me with this
regard, and please contact me on- or off- list. I will compile a summary of
comments of any responses I get and send it to the list for the interest of
all.
Thanking you for any help you can give in advance,
sincerely,
Dominic Wall
Acting Conservation Manager
Suffolk Record Office, Gatacre Rd. IPSWICH IP1 2LQ
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1473 584547
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http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/sro/
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