Deciding that longspan shelving is the right system for your stock is usually the easy part. The harder part is the order form: frame heights, depths, beam lengths, shelf levels, starter bays and extension bays. Get those details wrong and the shelving quietly works against you for years.
This guide picks up where that decision ends. If you are still weighing up hand-loaded shelving against systems built for full pallets, our comparison of longspan and pallet storage covers that choice in detail. Here, we focus on specifying a run that fits your stock, space and budget.
Where Should You Start When Sizing a Longspan Bay?
Start with your stock, not your building. The most reliable way to specify longspan shelving is to work backwards from what will sit on it. Measure the largest items you plan to store and roughly how heavy a full shelf will be, then build the bay around those figures. Too shallow and items overhang the front; too deep and you waste floor space.
Beam length sets the width of each shelf, while frame height sets how many levels you can fit and how high staff will need to reach. As an example of what is available, the new AR build-your-own system comes in frame heights from 2000mm to 5000mm, depths from 400mm to 1200mm and beam lengths from 950mm to 2700mm. If your top levels will sit above comfortable reach, plan for mobile safety steps from the start.
How Much Weight Can Each Shelf Level Take?
Every shelf level has a UDL (Uniform Distributed Load), the maximum weight the manufacturer rates it to carry when that weight is spread evenly across the whole shelf. It is set for each combination of beam length, depth and decking, so a longer span will not automatically carry the same load as a shorter one. Our guide to why calculating the correct UDL matters explains the principle.
Decking plays its part too. The new AR system is available with 18mm chipboard shelves or galvanised steel shelf panels, while some used lines, such as Link 51, come with mesh shelf levels. Always check the manufacturer’s stated UDL for your exact configuration, keep heavier items low, and have any longspan shelving installed professionally and inspected regularly.
Starter Bays or Extension Bays: What Do You Actually Need?
A starter bay is a complete, freestanding unit with two end frames. An extension bay shares an end frame with the bay beside it, so it must be added to a starter bay or an existing run. A run of five bays therefore needs one starter and four extensions, not five starters.
Every shared frame is one less frame to buy, so sketch the full run before you order, including gaps for doorways, fire exits or pillars. Each break in the run needs its own starter bay.
Which Longspan Shelving Brand Suits Your Stock?
Choosing a brand of longspan shelving often comes down to one question: are you starting fresh or extending something you already have?
AR offers the widest choice of configurations for a bespoke run. Mecalux starter and extension bays come in a standard format of 2000mm high, 1800mm wide and 600mm deep, with four or five shelf levels. Rivet shelving stands 1830mm (6ft) high, with widths from 915mm to 2440mm and depths from 305mm to 1220mm, and comes in eight colours, which helps with zoning stock.
Our used shelving range covers Apex, AR, Link 51, Polypal Minipal and Renolds bays, and sizes vary by brand. Used Apex bays are 870mm deep on 2100mm beams, for example, while Link 51 bays are 1200mm deep. For many buyers, second hand shelving is a cost-effective way to build a longer run on the same budget.
Why Does Matching Your Existing Brand Matter?
If you are extending a run, match the brand and frame depth before anything else. Upright profiles, beam connectors and hole spacings differ between manufacturers, so parts are rarely interchangeable and mixing them can compromise safety. This is a common reason buyers turn to used shelving, as an older run in a hard-to-find line can often be extended with matching bays rather than replaced.
And if you are replacing a run altogether, remember that we buy used shelving too, so your existing longspan shelving could help offset the cost of the new system.
FAQ’S
It is best not to, as components are rarely interchangeable between manufacturers. If you are not sure which brand you have, send our team photos and a few measurements and we can help identify it.
That depends on the height of your stock and how high staff can safely reach. Depending on the brand, our bays are offered with three to seven levels, so measure the tallest item for each level and allow room for handling.
Yes. An extension bay shares an end frame with its neighbour, so it is not freestanding and must connect to a starter bay or an existing run.
It can be, as long as you buy enough matching bays from the same line for the whole run and check their condition before installation. It is a cost-effective option, particularly for larger runs.
Speak to Monarch Shelving About Your Longspan Specification
Whether you need a single bay of longspan shelving for a stockroom or a long run across a busy warehouse, our team can help you measure, specify and source the right system, new or used. With over 20 years of experience and thousands of bays in stock, we can match the brand, size and budget to the way you work.
To find out more or to discuss your storage requirements, contact the Monarch Shelving team today on 0161 627 3444 or email sales@monarchshelving.co.uk.
