Quality Standards

What is BS5454?

• BS5454 Storage and exhibition of Archival Documents is an advisory document. This guide attempts to help archivists understand what key points to consider when undertaking shelving and storage requirements within a BS5454 repository.
• BS5454 does not examine every issue covered in the standard, and archivists are recommended to contact BSI direct if they wish to examine the complete standard.
• It is advised that this document is used in conjunction with BS5454 and that archivists should contact our distributor for further information.

Why use BS5454?

• It will aid the conservation of your archive material by making you aware of potential hazards to the collection.
• When building an archive to BS544 standards, it has been proved that early and comprehensive planning of your repository will considerably aid success.
• Contact the experts and get specialis

Archivist Sector & Storage Systems BS5454
BS 5454, "Recommendations for the storage and exhibition of archival documents" is a British Standard for the preservation of archival material. Among other things, it specifies temperature and humidity ranges for document storage, shelving schemes, and materials for document container.
Archivists, curators and museum technicians acquire and preserve important documents and other valuable items for permanent storage or display. You may work for a museum, college or university or another institution that requires storage systems to help preserve important records.
Your role may require you to describe, catalogue, analyse, exhibit, and maintain valuable objects and collections for the benefit of researchers and the public. These documents and collections may include works of art, transcripts of meetings, coins and stamps, living and preserved plants and animals, and historic objects, buildings, and sites.
Spaceway understands these requirements and is able to supply, deliver and install a range of storage products to assist your endeavours.. All our shelving systems comply with BS5454 and if required, can be supplied as mobile units thereby making the archiving a high density storage system to ensure the items are not only secure but are also easily accessible.

BS 5454 –Static Shelving Recommendations

• Shelves should possess sufficient load bearing strength for items to be stored
• Whether the shelving is static or mobile, it is important that the mass and distribution of the load is considered when designing the archive system.
• Shelf materials should not emit harmful emissions
• The shelving system should allow sufficient air to be circulated around items being stored
• Shelves should be versatile and adjustable to allow for the varying sizes and items in the collection
• There should be no sharp edges on the shelf
• The shelf clips should not obstruct the withdrawal of documents or items stored
• Items should be stored upright and inboard of the outer edge of the shelf.

We offer a choice of shelving systems, each with their own particular benefits. All systems have the same attention to safety, quality in manufacture, stability, load bearing strength and versatility.

Small Parts Shelving | Standard Shelving | Mobile Shelving | Longspan Shelving | Multi-Tier Shelving | Carton Live | Document/ Archive Shelving

All of our document shelving systems conform to BS5454 standards.



BS 5454 – Mobile Shelving Recommendations:

• A site visit from the manufacturer is essential to assess floor loading requirements and advise on the most suitable storage system
• The mobile system should be installed onto tracks which are levelled to support the mobile bases
• There should be a minimum gap of 25mm between runs to help air circulation
• The smooth movement of bases will ensure items cannot slide or fall off shelves
• Security locking can be incorporated to provide security for a closed mobile system. This will prevent un-authorised movement and enhance user safety
• It is important that the operation of all mobile systems can be undertaken with one hand by operating a geared manual assisted drive system
• The length of the mobile base will be limited by the imposed load on the base
• Mobile systems with a height to depth ratio of between 5:1 and 7.5:1 should be fitted with anti-tip devices. Heights in excess of these measurements require bespoke designs to ensure stability of the units
• All operators should be fully trained before using the equipment
• The cladding of spines at the rear of every 6th run of shelving assists in controlling the spread of fire
• It is recommended that gangways should not be less than 1100mm wide
• Aisles should not be less than 750mm wide

By using a shelving or space efficient mobile system - ergonomically designed and tailored to specific needs - documents, publications, archives, manuscripts, or digital data can be retrieved quickly and easily and returned for safe keeping.

Small Parts Shelving | Standard Shelving | Mobile Shelving | Longspan Shelving | Multi-Tier Shelving | Carton Live | Document/ Archive Shelving

All mobile systems conform to recommended BS5454 standards.

If you need the right answer to a growing archive storage problem then we are certain our high-density mobile shelving systems will completely meet your requirements. .

Each installation is tailor-made to maximise storage capacity and provide fast access to stored archive material..

Call us free on 0808 144 2233 for a free site survey and competitive quotation.