[Nhcoll-l] shelving in wet collection

Wed Jan 5 10:48:43 EST 2022

Lennart,
I agree with the comments offered by Dirk and Paul, but there are a few
more things that you need to to consider, based on my experiences working
with an architect to write specifications for the shelving system used at
the Biodiversity Research Center at the University of Kansas in 1996.

1. Load capacity--the amount of weight a shelf can support is calculated as
an evenly distributed load, but of course jars on a shelf are not an even
distribution of weight because some jars are bigger than others. For this
reason, the load bearing capacity of the shelf should be determined by two
factors, the total load and how much the shelf can flex (warp) with an
uneven load. The largest jars we used on the shelves were one gallon jars
(3.8 liters), and they weighed about 8 lbs (3.6 kg) each, depending on the
type of jar and the weight of the specimens they contained. Our
specifications were that the shelves could not flex more than 1/8 of an
inch (0.32 cm) if loaded with gallon jars in the very center. We determined
by experiment that when a 36 inch long shelf (91 cm) flexed more than this,
the jars on it tended to slide to the center. When shelves flex, the jars
on them tend to slide to the center and become unstable, so this is a very
important factor. I have seen shelves in several fluid collections that had
the proper weight bearing capacity but flexed so much that they were not
usable. We required the shelving manufacturer to provide us with a sample
set of shelves to test ourselves.

2. Coating--Keep in mind that the jars do not simply sit on the shelf. As
they are removed and returned, they will slide across the surface and can
scratch through many sorts of coatings. We tested powder coated and plastic
coated metal shelving by simply rubbing a nickel coin (a soft metal) on the
surface, which rapidly cut through both powder coated and plastic covered
shelves, and meant that within a few years of use the shelves would begin
to oxidize. For this reason, we opted to use stainless steel shelving. We
were not allowed to use wooden shelves or wood-product shelves because of
the fire danger they present. If sufficiently strong, wooden shelves are
excellent because jars on them do not slide around as much as on metal
shelves, but our local fire marshall ruled against wood because it easily
burns and because a sprinkler system cannot penetrate through a solid wood
shelf. If you are allowed to use wood, make sure you apply the same rule
about flexing of the shelf.

3. Fire safety--we were required to have shelves that were at least 50%
perforated to allow water from the sprinkle system to penetrate to the
lowest shelf. For this reason, combined with the issues of weight and shelf
flex, we selected stainless steel wire shelves. The problem with wire
shelves, as you know, is that small jars are not stable on them due to the
gaps between the wires. To cope with this issue, we made the decision that
the smallest capacity jar that could sit directly on the shelf was 8 ounces
(237 ml) because smaller jars are less stable. Specimens in smaller jars or
vials had to be placed inside an 8 ounce jar. To make the shelf surface
more even, a galvanized metal mat was placed on each shelf that was drilled
out to 50% perforation. This provided a flat, stable surface from edge to
edge across the shelf.

The system we selected has been in use since 1997 and has proven to be
extremely reliable and study, with no oxidation to the shelving or the
metal mats, and no warping of the shelves when fully loaded. I have
included a photo of a jar on the stainless steel wire shelf with galvanized
mat with a size scale.

--John

[image: image.jpeg]

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
*and*
Associate Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 9:59 AM Lennart Lennuk <
Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee> wrote:

> Hi!
>
>
>
> Now we are back on wire shelving beacause the shelving company says that
>
> the wired ones are actually more stable and do not bend like perforated
> steel shelves.
>
> For me the picture of the shelve looks quite promising and its load-bearing
> capacity is 200kg!
>
> What do you think?
>
>
>
> Best!
> Lennart
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of
> *Lennart Lennuk
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 5, 2022 3:35 PM
> *To:* Callomon,Paul <prc44 at drexel.edu>; neumann at snsb.de
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] shelving in wet collection
>
>
>
> Thank you all.
>
> We are then deciding to use perforated steel plate with powder coating.
>
> Have you any suggestions how the perforation could be done?
>
>
>
> Shelvng company is offering this kind but I am concerned again about the
> stability of little jars
>
> because the holes seem to be quite big
>
> [image: cid:image003.jpg at 01D80254.D5D4EF80]
>
>
>
> Best!
> Lennart
>
>
>
> *From:* Callomon,Paul [mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu <prc44 at drexel.edu>]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 5, 2022 2:54 PM
> *To:* neumann at snsb.de; Lennart Lennuk <Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* RE: [Nhcoll-l] shelving in wet collection
>
>
>
> Another problem with “fridge shelving” is that the plastic coating (which
> is usually not powder coating but hot-dip) can crack and fail in time,
> especially around welded joints that remain rigid while the bars bend
> slightly under the weight of their load. The metal underneath is unprimed
> mild steel, so it rusts fast.
>
> Bear in mind too that shelving made of rods does not bear loads evenly; a
> jar sitting near the edge, for example, will be better supported on one
> side than the other and will thus lean a bit.
>
>
>
> Paul Callomon
>
> Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
> ------------------------------
>
> *Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University*
>
> 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
> *prc44 at drexel.edu* <prc44 at drexel.edu>* Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax
> 215-299-1170*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Dirk
> Neumann
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 5, 2022 7:06 AM
> *To:* Lennart Lennuk <Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] shelving in wet collection
>
>
>
> *External.*
>
> I Lennart,
>
>
>
> I doubt that jars will be stable on this sort of shelves; also, how much
> would be the total allowed weight on such shelves? The design doesn't seem
> to be suited to carry huge weights.
>
>
>
> With best wishes
>
> Dirk
>
>
>
>
>
> Am 05.01.2022 um 12:17 schrieb Lennart Lennuk:
>
> Most of our fluid preserved collection is in 100, 300 and 500ml jars.
>
> This far I have been asking the shelving company for perforated steel
> shelf plates finished with powder coating
>
> but the company is trying to convince me to use the shelving shown on the
> picture in my previous letter.
>
>
>
> Best!
> Lennart
>
>
>
> *From:* Dirk Neumann [mailto:neumann at snsb.de <neumann at snsb.de>]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:17 PM
> *To:* Lennart Lennuk <Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>
> <Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] shelving in wet collection
>
>
>
> Hi Lennart,
>
>
>
> to me this looks like storage for lab consumables, and even for this
> purpose you may need to prefer (closed) chemical cabinets instead of open
> storage (depending on the lab chemicals).
>
>
>
> For ordinary fluid preserved collections, the recommendation is not to go
> below 75 ml fluid volume per container. Depending on the quality of the
> closures and the environmental settings in the storage area, containers
> below 75 ml may dry up fast, if the seal/closure is bad. Depending on the
> number of jars, you would need to adjust your monitoring regime to spot
> evaporation losses and to prevent damage to objects stored in smaller
> containers.
>
>
>
> If you would need or want to store specimens in smaller volumes, it would
> make more sense to use closed cabinets with drawers. Ideally, as Simon
> recommends, the drawers are equipped with grids or boxes that stabilise the
> small vials or tubes. We have equipped our cool and refrigerated storage
> with such drawer-cabinets
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lista.com%2Fen%2Fproducts%2Fdrawer-cabinets%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cprc44%40drexel.edu%7Cd2b76322a298433fb77108d9d044128f%7C3664e6fa47bd45a696708c4f080f8ca6%7C0%7C1%7C637769813076156842%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=ZsQMPfeHyH3uIZyrbzDZ4DkyIpa8AiX15YWiI0f1WDI%3D&reserved=0>
>
>
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Dirk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Am 05.01.2022 um 10:38 schrieb Lennart Lennuk:
>
> Hi
>
>
>
> Do you have any experience using this kind of shelving in wet collections?
>
> I am worried about load-bearing capacity and also the stability of little
> jars.
>
> Is it ok to place a rubber mat under little jars to maintain the stability?
>
>
>
> [image:
> mailbox:///C:/Mail/qk9hn92x.slt/Mail/mailin.lrz-muenchen.de/Inbox?number=336779710&header=quotebody&part=1.2&filename=image001.jpg]
>
>
>
> Best regards!
>
> Lennart Lennuk
>
> Head of collections
>
> Estonian Museum of Natural History
>
> +372 6603404, 56569916
>
>
>
>
>
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> --
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> [image: cid:image002.png at 01D80249.9102FD30]
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>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de
>
> Postanschrift:
>
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
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>
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> ---------
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de
>
> postal address:
>
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
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> 81247 Munich (Germany)
>
> Visit our section at:
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>
>
> --
>
> [image: cid:image003.png at 01D80209.61FC8550]
>
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de
>
> Postanschrift:
>
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
>
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/ichthyologie-home/
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zsm.mwn.de%2Fsektion%2Fichthyologie-home%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cprc44%40drexel.edu%7Cd2b76322a298433fb77108d9d044128f%7C3664e6fa47bd45a696708c4f080f8ca6%7C0%7C1%7C637769813076469307%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=%2FJQQxcGY0m2uHWRnom1ymEMSZitYbOBXRscO9zcXwu4%3D&reserved=0>
>
> ---------
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de
>
> postal address:
>
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
>
> Visit our section at:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/ichthyologie-home/
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zsm.mwn.de%2Fsektion%2Fichthyologie-home%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cprc44%40drexel.edu%7Cd2b76322a298433fb77108d9d044128f%7C3664e6fa47bd45a696708c4f080f8ca6%7C0%7C1%7C637769813076469307%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=%2FJQQxcGY0m2uHWRnom1ymEMSZitYbOBXRscO9zcXwu4%3D&reserved=0>
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