Multipurpose metal lockers

What’s the best locker for multipurpose use?

Posted by Kamile Speteliunaite on
Multipurpose metal lockers

The locker industry has come a long way, but it all began in ancient Greece approximately 2500 years ago. Back in those days, changing room and the locker room was an essential part of competition and training centres for athletes. Even then lockers had a multipurpose and multi-user functionality. We all know that a locker is a unit, usually with narrow storage compartments available in changing rooms, locker rooms or dressing rooms. Some facilities may have a locker room attendant who can look after your belongings until you come back to take them. Since the conceptualisation of lockers, they have always been used to store valuable personal items.

Today’s lockers can be found in many different locations, not just changing rooms or specific locker rooms. They can also be in shopping malls, hospitals, and offices. Lockers can have many purposes, storage still being the main function but with additional purposes of charging sockets for smart devices, drying clothing, and distributing items such as uniforms.

Helmsman has been manufacturing lockers for over 40 years. We define ourselves as are bespoke manufacture of lockers and cubicles. Even the standard metal lockers can be modified to specific and bespoke sizes to fit any environment and project.

Multipurpose Metal Lockers

Our Essential Metal Lockers are the lockers that can do the job in any environment or location. These multipurpose lockers are suitable for schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and workplaces. We offer a safe and secure storage solution for personal possessions, tools, books, gym bags and other valuables.

Helmsman essential range can use different locking systems for multipurpose use. For example, the KL1000 locking system is one of the most innovative ideas to surface in access control for a while. This allows the lock to operate with a single-use code. The guest enters a personal four-digit code twice to confirm the correct entry. Anyone could use these lockers, staff, or customers.

For more information about our Essential Metal Lockers range contact us today.

Refurbishing lockers and cubicles

Prime Time for Refurbishment

Posted by Kamile Speteliunaite on
Refurbishing lockers and cubicles

Summer months can be the perfect opportunity to schedule projects to upgrade and refurbish changing areas and locker rooms in schools and sports facilities. Security and durability are highly important when refurbishing your lockers and cubicles. At Helmsman, we can replace locks, keys, locker doors and cubicle locks if needed. We can even add more security to your changing room cubicles with anti-peep rails and anti-finger trap solutions. We have a variety of cost-effective options.

School Sector

School lockers see a lot of action. Vandalism issues aside, school lockers need to withstand daily use. Metal lockers have been a favourite of schools; however, we have noticed a new trend from schools using laminate lockers. Laminate lockers are aesthetically pleasing, and more so are incredibly durable.

Many schools are still favouring cam locks and swivel locks as a locking system. These locking systems are easily interchangeable and Helmsman can offer swivel locks and padlocks as a pair for your school lockers. Locker keys and master keys are also easily replaceable. We manufacture keys in-house.

Helmsman can provide metal and laminate colour samples for large projects if doors need to be replaced because of damage or wear and tear. Changing locker doors is a hassle-free job, and depending on the number of lockers, our installation and service team can have it in place in no time. Summer holidays are the perfect time to renew and replace lockers and cubicles. During this time, schools are empty, and maintenance work can without any disturbance.

Leisure Sector

Leisure facilities, gyms and spa health centres are oozing luxury as they mostly use digital locks for smart-looking lockers. We can replace digital locks or can replace doors and upgrade your lockers with digital locks. The advantages of having leisure lockers with digital locks are endless. Security and convenience is a top priority for the customer.

Helmsman can easily replace your old wrist straps if you still choose to use the reliable key and strap. Master key or locker key replacements are easily achievable and will be with you in no time by post. Other replacement and refurbishment services, including cubicles, can be assessed by a site survey and replaced by our installation and maintenance team.

We offer free consultation about the services you may require and help you decide what is best for your site. Helmsman specialists would be happy to do a site survey for large projects before refurbishing your lockers and cubicles. Our service goes beyond the leisure and school industries too. We can refurbish offices and other commercial sites.

For more information, get in touch with us today! Email service@helmsman.co.uk or fill in our contact form here.

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Education lockers

An Education on Lockers

Posted by Kamile Speteliunaite on

When we think about school lockers, those of us of a certain age remember banks of grey metal lockers in changing rooms or small compartment storage in hallways where you swapped out your books for whatever classes were in. They were loud, uninspiring and unattractive.

Today, lockers are an integral part of everyday school life and increasingly form an essential part of the design of the school. The addition of colour, either as part of the school’s identity or to delineate different age groups and areas, has transformed the appearance of lockers, while their use has changed over the years.

Evolution

Locker manufacturers are constantly developing their products to adapt to modern life. From student lockers to staff lockers, uniform lockers and now PPE, manufacturers such as Helmsman Lockers and Cubicles are always innovating to create the best fit for purpose equipment.

Student lockers

From giving students a sense of identity and ‘contributing’ to health and safety and security, lockers are a way of life for them and form an integral part of the performance of the school. They often provide the school equivalent of a watercooler area where students meet and socialise with those, not in their classes. Functionally they reduce loss and crime allowing for the safe storage of personal items, expensive smartphones and electronics while psychologically they offer so much more.

Teacher lockers

It is amazing how often schools have lockers for students while leaving no provision for other people by offering them mere pigeonholes. Often overlooked as part of the design process, lockers are just as important to staff and teachers as they are to students. The ability to lock away personal items and have the facility for storing uniforms is important. Staff charging compartment lockers are ideal for storing personal bags and items and charging personal phones and other electronic equipment. Modern compartment lockers now come complete with plugs and USB sockets to store phones, tablets and laptops safely, while charging them at the same time and in between their busy schedules.

Post Pandemic teaching

Over the coming years, ‘pandemic’ lockers will be needed to allow for the regular changing of clothes, storage of PPE and other items designed to minimise cross-contamination and infection.

The latest Government guidelines on operation guidance for schools gives best practice advice for schools and colleges and encourages storing as much personal equipment as possible, including bags and coats, to minimise transmission.

More information on lockers and their specification, as well as about cubicles, vanity units and seating, is available from Helmsman on 01284 727626 or email sales@helmsman.co.uk 

Heavy Duty Primary School 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