How do I calculate the required load capacity of shelf supports?

Calculating the required load-bearing capacity of shelf brackets requires a few basic steps. First, you must estimate or actually measure the weight of each item you want to place on the shelf. This weight is given in kilograms.

• First, take the total weight of the items to be stored and divide it by the number of shelves. This gives you the weight load per shelf.
• Now you need to consider the load-bearing capacity of each shelf bracket. Accordingly, each bracket should be able to carry at least half of the weight load per shelf, since usually two brackets are installed on each shelf.
• If you want to be extra safe, allow for a buffer by choosing shelf brackets with a slightly higher load-bearing capacity than you actually need. In this way, you can be sure that the shelf will also withstand an uneven load distribution.

Always reinforce safety-conscious thinking, and when determining the required load-bearing capacity of your shelves, always keep the maximum weight of the entire shelving unit in mind.