What Does Locker Nesting Mean?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Introduction

You could come across the term locker nesting, especially when you have a quote for metal lockers that mentions ‘Nest of 1, Nest of 2 or Nest of 3.’ When we talk about Nest 1, Nest 2 and Nest 3, we’re diving into a more specialized aspect of locker configuration when lockers are manufactured and installed, for any sector such as schools, leisure centres, offices and many more. In this blog, we will explain what locker nesting means.

The solution lies in efficiency, both in terms of material use and cost-effectiveness. The approach to nesting lockers reduces the quantity of materials that are required for fabrication. At Helmsman we provide our customers with a reduced overall price when the metal lockers are nested making it more cost effective.

The ‘nest’ represents the number of lockers that are connected side by side.

Nesting:

Nest of 1 usually refers to the single locker manufactured not attached to other lockers which allows the lockers to be installed in different designated areas.

A nest of 2 refers to when two lockers are manufactured together, the lockers are connected. When lockers are nested, it has fewer visible ridges and hinges between them, which creates a more aesthetic environment.

A nest of 3 indicates when three lockers are constructed together.

Grouping lockers together can save total manufacturing and installation costs. Shared walls and structural supports may need less materials to be used. This not only reduces the cost of materials, but it also reduces labour costs but also minimises disruption to the facility during installation.

Overall, locker nesting, either in 1, 2, or 3, is an efficient method when manufacturing lockers as there are fewer materials used and it is more cost-effective for the customers and the manufacturer. When lockers are nested, it provides a more seamless appearance.

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The Guide to Choosing the Perfect Lockers for Your School

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Introduction

As a leading manufacturer of lockers, we understand how important it is to provide students with secure, functional and aesthetically pleasing storage solutions. Choosing the right locker for your school can significantly impact student organization, security and the general school atmosphere. In this blog, we’ll explore nine different types of lockers suitable for school premises and outline each one’s special qualities and advantages.

1. Metal lockers

Traditional lockers are manufactured with metal, and many individuals associate the sounds of a banging metal locker door with their early school years. Even if alternative materials are now widely utilized, there are still many schools where metal lockers are still the preferred choice for storage solutions for students and staff.

Benefits:

  • Durability: Can withstand high traffic.
  • Security: Supplied with robust locking systems, such as Lowe and Fletcher.
  • Variety: Available in various sizes and configurations.
  • Available as a Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 for younger students.

Ideal for: High School/Secondary schools and middle schools where durability is crucial.

2. Laminate Lockers

A robust storage option manufactured with a metal frame and laminate door. At Helmsman we only use the best laminate, so it will resist years of usage and wear & tear. We provide lockers for both dry and wet environments as we have a variety of materials accessible.

Benefits:

  • Hygiene: Easy to sanitize and maintain.
  • Durability: Resistant to scratches and dents.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: Available in various colours and woodgrain finishes.
  • Available as a Z-shaped locker, allowing two people to store their belongings in the footprint of one locker.
  • Also accessible as Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 for younger students.

Ideal for: High School/Secondary schools and middle schools, colleges, and universities where durability is crucial.

3. Mini Minder Lockers

A small but essential locker where students and staff are available to store mobile phones and small personal items. There are a variety of compartment quantities available for mini minders, ranging from 12 to 40. Mini minders can be manufactured as charging lockers. Every locker is equipped with a plug socket and an extra USB port, allowing you to charge phones while keeping them secure during school hours.

Benefits:

  • Space-saving: ideal for schools with limited space.
  • Security: Secure storage for personal items.
  • Learning: Reduces distractions for students.

Conclusion

When choosing a locker type for your school, it’s important to consider things such as durability, security, style and specific requirements of the staff and students. Whether you’re looking for an advanced smart locker or a traditional metal locker, our range guarantees that you’ll find the ideal option for your school premises. Investing in high-quality lockers not only improves your school’s overall functionality but also contributes to a safer and more organised learning environment.

Ready to upgrade your school lockers just before summer is over? Contact us today at 01284 727626 or get your quote here.

Discover the Best Golf Club Storage Solutions

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

When it comes to golf, organisation is essential. The significance of properly storing your clubs cannot be emphasized, no matter your level of experience, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just started playing. The unsung heroes of every golfer’s toolbox, Golf Lockers, come into play. These robust compartments are generally disregarded, although they have several advantages over regular storage. Let’s explore some creative solutions for golf club storage that can improve your game and guarantee the security of your equipment with Helmsman.

Personalised Space

Golf lockers are more than simply a place to store items, your locker represents who you are as a golfer. Many golfers take great pleasure in personalizing their lockers, adorning them with personalised memorabilia and previous wins. It’s a place where you can express your passion for the game and recognise your progress.

Organisation and Convenience

Golf lockers provide organisation and convenience. The lockers provide each player with a dedicated space, and their equipment securely. You will no longer need to worry about your clubs cluttering your car or getting damaged in transport. Having a locker keeps your equipment secure and ready to play.

Golf lockers are available in a range of shapes and sizes to meet your requirements from small units such as Golf foursome which is four equal-sized compartments for the storage of smaller items to lockers for larger items; Classic is designed to store golf bags and is intended to be fitted with a seating unit. Similarly, size Club can be stacked on top of the Classic as a space-saving measure. And final is the professional which is primarily used for clothing storage and fitted with a shelf unit.

Community

Golf lockers have advantages beyond utility, they help golfers to form a community. Golfers create lifelong connections and share experiences and advice in the locker rooms, which turn into a social hub. Because of their shared passion for the game, people from diverse backgrounds congregate there.

Conclusion

The simple golf club storage stands out as a sign of structure, organisation, and community in the vast tapestry of the golfing experience. It’s where equipment finds security, convenience meets companionship, and where the players come together to share their passion for the sport.

Have you been thinking about getting golf lockers? Contact Helmsman today to find help.

Why You should Choose Heated Lockers?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Helmsman Heated Lockers

Heated lockers are becoming more relevant than ever as it has become more important for employees and employers to be more sustainable by the way we travel to work, so we can protect the environment in the long term.

Nonetheless, one of the most important things is having sustainable facilities. Instead of having damp clothes in the office, employees and employers can dry their belongings instantly and easily. For this purpose, we manufacture and supply heated lockers.

In this blog, we will be discussing about Helmsman’s heated lockers in further detail.

Aesthetic

Heated lockers at Helmsman are available in a variety of sizes from our standard sizes and compartments as well as Z-shaped lockers, as well as being a manufacturing company we can provide bespoke sizes.

With metal or laminate doors are available depending on your aesthetic needs. Here at Helmsman, we have a wide range of colors.

Sustainability

At Helmsman, we supply our clients with the highest quality products by forming reliable relationships with suppliers who share our commitment to environmental responsibility. We also provide our customers with eco-friendly heating solutions.

We would want to concur that environmental concerns and world events have raised our awareness of environmental issues and allowed us to make eco-friendly decisions.

Function

We provide heaters with single and twin tubes. Depending on your location, these lockers can be connected to a fused switch or a UK three-pin power outlet via wires. It is advised to wire lockers into a fused switch if there is a long run of lockers.

We manufacture the heated lockers to have a perforated base which allows the warm air to circulate inside the locker and perforated slots at the top which allows the damp air to flow out.

The heated lockers have an optional thermostat, 24-hour time control, and 3 different programmable time periods which allows you to control when the heating is being used within the lockers.

Security

Here at Helmsman, we have an excellent range of locks. We have standard Camlock and Hasp locks to smart locks by Lowe & Fletcher as well as Ojmar, which are a fantastic choice of locks as they assure the users feel secure that their personal belongings are all safe, as well as smart locks can be in a public or private user mode, which means they can be set up for day use or permanently with one code.

Conclusion

Helmsman heated lockers are an excellent choice for sectors that have employees who commute to work, providing heated lockers, it is an ideal solution for when the environment is damp, and employees and employers are available to dry clothes in a secure environment.

Why do schools have lockers?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Introduction

For many years, lockers have been widely seen in the educational sector, giving students a dedicated area to keep their belongings. Though they can appear to be straightforward metal or laminate storage spaces, lockers have several uses in schools other than just holding bags and books. We’ll consider the reasons why schools have lockers and how important these seemingly overlooked storage systems are to the educational process in the blog.

Organisation and efficience

Lockers provide the students an individual space to store their personal belongings and books, which helps them to maintain their organisation skills. This improves the efficiency of the learning environment as well as their daily routine. With students having a designated area for their belongings, students can efficiently and rapidly collect what they need for each lesson, reducing interruptions and extending the amount of time they spend learning.

Security for belongings

Students carry a range of personal belongings such as lunch, electronics, and PE (sports) uniforms. Lockers provide them with a safe space to keep their items during class hours, reducing the risk of loss or damage. This maintains the school community with security and trust while safeguarding the belongings of the pupils.

 Alleviating the burden of heavy backpacks

Throughout the day students who carry heavy backpacks full of textbooks, notebooks, and personal items, may cause students to experience back pains and discomfort. A solution for that would be provided by lockers, which give students a space to keep their stuff in between classes.

Preparing for future independence

The students that use lockers are better prepared for future events where organisation skills are essential. The capacity to manage one’s own area and possessions becomes more crucial as one may be heading to university or employment. These are vital life skills that are regularly practiced in lockers.

Conclusion

Lockers are more than just a basic storage space in schools, they are an essential part of establishing a welcoming and encouraging learning atmosphere. The provision of lockers enhances kids’ overall development by encouraging responsibility and organisation as well as a sense of safety and community.

Bespoke Project on Locker Fans

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Here at Helmsman, our team manufactured and installed Locker Fans for a bespoke project at SSE Thermal.

Beginning of the Bespoke Project

As we are a manufacturer, we can offer design and creative help for the locker styles that our customers want to create.

Our design team at Helmsman developed a CAD drawing at the start of the project that was a plan view for the architects to approve and their ideas to be satisfied.

A power system was also created by the design team to demonstrate how the power system is environmentally efficient as it powers numerous locker fans at once rather than individually.

Specifications

As it was all approved, we began the process of manufacturing wet specification Metal Lockers, which is a great choice for an environment that has high humidity and moisture. For the metal lockers to be suitable for wet environments the electro-zinc plates were used for the doors of the lockers,  whereas the frame was stainless steel, and the body of the lockers was aluminum.

The locker doors were powder-coated in the shade ‘Smoke’ and the body was powder-coated in our standard colour of ‘Ice’ and was finished with our Camlocks. Which is a great lock to keep the employees assured that their belonging is all safe.

The Lockers have seat stands attached, which is advantageous since it allows customers to sit down and change their shoes rather than having to balance.

It was great working with Premier Modular on this bespoke project!

CAD Drawing

Power System

guidance on cleaning

Guidance on Cleaning Your Lockers

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Whether it’s at school, at the gym, or even at work, lockers are a fundamental part of our everyday life. Lockers may gather relentless stains and smudges over time, not only making the environment unpleasant but also making it unsanitary. In this blog, we’ll give you guidance through the locker cleaning procedure and provide you with practical advice for removing all types of stains and smudges.

Guidance for Cleaning your lockers

Step 1. Use a damp cloth or sponge and a little soap or detergent for a general cleaning. After finishing, rinse and dry the panels.

Step 2: For tough strains apply a gentle home cleanser or detergent and a soft-bristled brush.

Step 3: If tough stains remain the same, apply a non-scratch cleanser like Cif or Flash while softly scrubbing the stain for 10 to 20 seconds.

Step 4: If the stain still exists, use household bleach that has not been diluted, let it sit for no more than two minutes, and then thoroughly rinse with warm water. Do not expose laminate to household bleach and it may result in irreversible discoloration.

Step 5: Use a mildly abrasive cream cleanser to gently scrub the surface if it has been discoloured due to prolonged contact with industrial grime.

Do and Do Not

  • Do not use acidic or abrasive cleaners.
  • DO always rinse thoroughly after cleaning (residue from cleaning solutions is
  • the single greatest cause of damage to glass and laminate surfaces).
  • Do wipe up spills immediately and rinse thoroughly.
  • DO NOT use acidic or abrasive cleaners, expose the glass or laminate to household bleach for prolonged periods of time, or apply excessive scrubbing.

Laminate and Glass Locker Doors.

With the Laminate and Glass locker doors always start by trying the gentlest method of cleaning. If a stain persists work through the following steps, repeating each step several times if the stain seems to be disappearing.

Metal Lockers

For metal lockers and lockers with metal bodies, it is essential to lubricate the hinges and locks on occasion. This will mostly rely on the location of the lockers and how often their owners use them. If they are used frequently, it is wise to routinely inspect the hinges and locks, which should be greased or repaired as necessary.

Conclusion

Cleaning lockers may be difficult, especially when dealing with stains and smudges that won’t go away. However, by the instructions provided you can successfully get rid of those undesirable markings and keep your lockers clean and sanitary. To keep your Locker looking good for a long time, keep in mind to use the appropriate cleaning solutions, be patient with difficult stains, and take preventative actions. With these suggestions, you can make your locker maintain a neat environment that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

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rental lockers

Why buy school lockers instead of renting?

Posted by Jess Fry on

With the modern schooling world providing students with more, and often heavier items to carry around during the school day, the benefits of school lockers are clear. Of course, with many locker providers around the UK, and both purchase and rental options, it can be overwhelming to think about where to get your school lockers from.

Of course, whilst renting lockers can have its positives, there are also lots of benefits to purchasing lockers instead of renting.

Access

Firstly, should you purchase your own lockers, you can also buy a master key for the locks. This can be kept on-site, perhaps in the reception or office area of the school, and allows easy, immediate access to the lockers. This is particularly handy if a student misplaces their school locker key, or if access is needed to the lockers for security purposes by the school.

Security

On the subject of keys, many rental locker companies can require students to return their keys at the end of the school year, so that the lockers can be reallocated to students the following year. This can pose a security risk if keys are not returned or could mean that the rental company requires access to the lockers during the school holidays to replace locks. This could pose an inconvenience as staff members would be required to come in during the summer break.

Repair

A common problem with school lockers is that they can be broken by students, whether this be with graffiti, dents, marks, or other damage. Should you rent your lockers, you’ll need to arrange for an engineer or service member from the rental company to come in to fix them. This can mean lockers are out of action for extended periods of time. Your own lockers can be maintained by yourselves, most damage caused by students could be fixed by your own caretakers and the lockers be useable much quicker.

Cost

Rental lockers might seem like a financial benefit for schools, particularly with budgets being cut and pennies being saved. However, rental lockers aren’t free. The parents of school children pay a yearly fee for the lockers, and in the current cost of living crisis, this may well be another thing parents just cannot afford. This can mean some students end up carrying around heavy bags all day simply because their families cannot afford to pay for a locker.

Of course, if you do decide to go down the route of purchasing lockers for your school, this can be costly. Whether you’re planning on purchasing metal lockers, laminate lockers, or something else entirely, it’s important to make sure you are buying lockers of high quality and from the right supplier. There are a lot of locker companies in the UK, many of which claim to be the UK’s leading suppliers. We at Helmsman are one of the UK’s largest manufacturers, meaning many of these suppliers will purchase their lockers from us to sell on. By coming directly to the manufacturers, you can avoid the extra margin charged by the suppliers and get the best price for your lockers.

Want to know more, or are thinking about replacing your school lockers? Contact our helpful Sales Team today on 01284 727626 or fill in our contact form here.

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Blue and Orange Metal Lockers
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Choosing lockers for your project

Choosing Lockers for your Project

Posted by Kamile Speteliunaite on
Choosing lockers for your project

Looking into Lockers

With so many different styles of lockers out there in different combinations and finishes, we thought it would be useful to explain the different types and uses to help you choose the best lockers for your project.

Gone are the days of rows upon rows of metal school lockers in drab metallic grey and padlock clasps. The choices now for locker specifications are almost limitless giving architects and designers plenty of the scope to realise their creative schemes.

Material: Aluminium, Laminate, Glass – the list is endless.

Locker carcasses are traditionally manufactured from aluminium, galvanised steel or stainless steel depending on the area of usage. This is then coupled with a door made from the same material or with compact grade laminate or glass. Banks of lockers are manufactured together with shared side walls and are frequently manufactured with a sloped top to stop the accumulation of litter or clutter and to aid cleaning.

The configuration of the lockers can be incredibly varied as can be the locking systems they employ. They can be full height, Z Lockers or multi-compartment with other options such as charging lockers and garment dispensers. Vents and vision panels can also be incorporated to encourage airflow or for areas at high risk such as museums and stations where visual inspection is needed.

Full height lockers are exactly that, lockers that have one opening the entire height of the locker bank. Internal compartments can be added as well as shelves and hanging ability and these are lockers in the purest form. Z Lockers are designed where space is an issue as they maximise capacity in the most efficient way. Each has a garment hanging sector and space for bags or personal items.

Size

Most people don’t realise lockers are designed around the user and the application. Standard lockers are 1775mm high while in schools, for example, lockers tend to be 1 to 3 compartments and are manufactured to different sizes depending on the age. Key Stage 1 lockers are 1250mm high while Key Stage 2 lockers are 1600mm high. Other factors such as height, width and depth are determined by the alcove or space where they’re going to be situated. Helmsman manufactures most of its lockers to size and exact specification.

A Splash of Colour

Lockers can be manufactured from metal, laminate or glass depending on their use. If you’re looking for clean-cut lines and a contemporary look then glass lockers may be the solution. A relatively new concept, they comprise an aluminium locker body with solid grade laminate door and then over-clad with tempered glass. Alternatively, RAL coloured glass is used for the doors.

Laminate lockers offer unparalleled options in terms of colours, designs and styles. Compact grade high-pressure laminate is incredibly robust, strong and secure and is a perfect choice for areas prone to high moisture and humidity as there is no risk of peeling, cracking or delamination. They are fully self-supporting, are easy to work with for cutting and fabrication and have resistance to wear, impact and scratching. See our colour options here. 

Usage

From schools, universities, leisure centres, wet area changing rooms and retail parks through to staff rooms, emergency services and prisons, lockers are unique to their use.

For example, charging lockers are becoming more commonplace. These small lockers are manufactured with various compartment doors i.e. 5, 10, 12, 15, 20, 28, 30 and 40 and come complete with plugs and USB sockets to safely store phones, tablets and laptops or power tools while charging them at the same time.

Anti-bacterial and anti-microbial lockers are popular in areas at risk from cross-contamination and for clean rooms; while food processing plants often also include perforated shelves means they can be hosed down at the end of each shift.

In the pharmaceutical industry, stainless steel lockers are popular as they can withstand almost any cleaning solution and chemicals that are used for sanitisation and therefore is used as their preferred material for lockers.

Garment Dispensers and Collectors are lockers designed to allow employees to collect clean garments while soiled clothing is collected centrally through another locker into a serviced laundry bag. This system ensures that clean laundry for the individual employee is secure and ready for collection at any time of the day or night and not compromised by soiled clothing.

More information on lockers and specification as well as cubicles, vanity units and seating are available from Helmsman, please contact us.

In the meantime, keep an eye on LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest projects, news and updates.

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Installation of metal lockers

How To Install Metal Lockers The Right Way

Posted by Daniel Gormley on

Installing lockers may be easy for Helmsman professionals, but can be a tricky job for anyone doing it for the first time. This is why we want to provide you with the essential tips on how to install metal lockers safely.

There are some things that you should consider before starting the installation. Firstly the size of the room, ceiling height, fixtures, fittings and location, as this will affect the positioning and layout of your lockers. Measurements of the area need to be specific and you have to allow approximately 4mm extra at the sides of each locker. Allow corridor widths of approximately 1000mm minimum especially in schools and consider the space for when opening doors.

You also need to consider the position of any windows or doors. Make sure your lockers will not block access to any windows or doors which still need to be opened. Take note of things like skirting boards, radiators, heating pipes, light switches, and sockets etc.

Make sure you install on a strong, level and even surface, are the floors level? If there is a slope to the floor, you will need to position them on locker stands with adjustable feet, stands can be ordered alongside your lockers. Check the suitability of the wall before fitting, is the area suitable to be drilled into? If that is a ‘yes’ you are ready to go.

Let’s install your lockers

For your locker installation, you will need a spirit level, spanner, drill and handling equipment. Fixings, nesting nuts and bolts will be provided. Ideally, two people are required to do an installation especially if the lockers are front heavy such as glass or laminate lockers. Suitable PPE may be required for safety reasons. When and if offloading the lockers, do it front faced as they are heavy and could tip over and get damaged.

Most lockers are tall and thin, depending on your requirements and specifications but they could be unstable if they are not fixed to the wall or each other. A single run of lockers must be secured to a suitable anchor point with a suitable bracing mechanism. Lockers on stands or seat/stands should be fixed down to the stand or seat/stand as well as side to side and back to a wall or run of lockers. It is really important that lockers placed back to back are bolted together securely because the lockers industry has had fatalities in the past.

Upkeep of your lockers

Cleaning lockers is easy; simply use a duster or soft cloth. It is recommended that all locks and hinges are regularly maintained with a suitable lubricant. If any doors or locks become damaged, we recommend replacing these as soon as possible so security is not compromised. Helmsman offer replacement doors and parts.

Please note this only applies to metal and heavy-duty lockers. For further guidance or to find out more please call us on 01284 727626 or email hello@helmsman.co.uk