Purchasing guide: Choosing your work lockers with Manutan

For some professions, the cloakroom is an essential space. This is where employees change out of their regular clothes into their work garment. In the workplace, workshop or office lockers contribute to ‘well-working’. These secure storage lockers keep employees’ personal effects safe.  

Many options and accessories are available, so what should you consider when purchasing staff lockers? This purchasing guide has been designed to help you make the right choice from a wide range of lockers. 

Choose your workplace lockers based on your line of business 

Before purchasing staff lockers, it is important to identify the characteristics of the premises where the lockers will be installed. Legislation imposes standards on the employer such as the European regulation (EC) N° 852/2004 for agribusinesses.  

Depending on the country, the Labour Code defines when the provision of a cloakroom is mandatory. The layout of the space also contributes to ‘well-working’ in warehouses and in offices. 

Dirty industry lockers 

Dirty industry refers to workplaces exposed to dirty or hazardous materials (catering, construction industry, factories, workshops, etc.). Dirty industry lockers contribute to maintaining good hygiene and safety conditions. They contain partitions to separate dirty clothes from clean clothes.  

Clean industry lockers 

Clean industry lockers have only one compartment, with the option of adding shelving to create compartments. They are suitable for areas where there is no risk of getting dirty. They are suitable for clean industry and local communities, for example: 

• Administrative buildings; 
• Establishments open to the public (swimming pools, museums, shopping centres, etc.); 

• Health establishments (hospitals, health centres, pharmacies, etc.); 
• Schools. 

Specific use lockers 

Manutan offers a wide range of specific use lockers for many lines of business. For impeccable storage in the cleaning sector, it is best to opt for a cleaning cabinet and a dirty linen cabinet with a trap door. 

Workers who operate in a wet area need to dry their work clothes. As the name suggests, drying lockers dry work clothes, shoes, and gloves without damaging them.  

The Manutan locker range includes storage units designed for the security industry. Police-security lockers are equipped with a safe for handguns. Janitorial cupboards contain a wardrobe for professional garments and shelving to store equipment. 

Technical characteristics of work lockers 

The choice of lockers should be based on its intended use and the layout of the workplace. Find all the information to consider before purchasing a work locker below. 

Which material to choose according to the working environment? 

The Manutan range is composed mainly of steel sheet metal lockers. This material is both strong and light and is also easy to maintain. It is suitable for most working environments: dirty industry or clean industry.  

In the food-processing, medical and pharmaceutical industries, it is necessary to ensure a hygienic environment. Stainless steel lockers should therefore be chosen. These models are resistant to impact and corrosive environments. They do not rust in damp environments. Stainless steel is very easy to clean. This smooth material prevents the growth of micro-organisms (bacteria, mould, etc.). 

Polyethylene plastic lockers are suitable for use in harsh environments. Their plastic frames and doors are impact resistant. This type of locker is suitable for damp and saline environments. They are sometimes finished with an anti-UV treatment. 

The Manutan range of office lockers is made of recycled and fully recyclable materials. Silent thanks to their plastic door stops, they are ideal for quiet working environments. 

Delivery service: One-piece locker or as a kit? 

The work lockers are delivered in two different ways: as a single unit or for assembly. One-piece lockers are welded directly in the factory. They are delivered ready for installation.  

The lockers for assembly are delivered as a kit. The products are stored completely flat, disassembled. Manutan offers the option of assembly when purchasing. This type of locker is practical when the premises are difficult to access. 

Cube locker or multi-compartment locker? 

If the number of items to be stored is small, a column, multi-compartment locker is ideal. Similarly, a cube locker is enough to store a briefcase. A column locker is needed when employees are required to change into their work clothes. Assemble the compartments and choose dimensions and colours to design your custom-made locker. 

Other categories of lockers 

If the working environment requires to be able to get a view of what is inside the locker, notably for security reasons, perforated or wire mesh lockers are ideal. They also provide excellent ventilation which makes them useful to store protective workwear (PPE, helmets, boots). Industrial settings can also benefit from using laminate lockers as they are resistant to dents and scratches. The laminate coat on the doors is very protective. 

Durability is essential but sometimes, looks are just as important. Executive lockers offer an additional aesthetic touch to standard storage which can make all the difference in some workplaces. 

Technology plays a central role in many industries. To safely keep electronic devices, charging and laptop lockers are available. On top of storage, they also provide a charging option for your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. 

The Manutan range of professional lockers also includes post lockers, leisure centres lockers, school lockers, and personal effects lockers. 

What kind of locks to secure the lockers? 

When purchasing Manutan brand lockers, you have the option of choosing padlocks or key locks. 

Lockers with key locks are the traditional model. This solution is ideal when each employee has an assigned locker. In the event of loss of keys, a master key can be used to open all the lockers. 

The lockers in the Manutan range can be fitted with padlock hasps. These consist of a slot where the user can insert their own padlock. This solution avoids having to manage the keys. It is suitable for use in establishments open to the public. 

Manutan locking systems can be purchased separately. A wide choice of designs is available: Key locks for assembled lockers, key locks for lockers for assembly, padlock hasps for lockers for assembly, padlock hasps for assembled lockers and padlock hasps for lockers and compartments. 

Should the locker be elevated with a base or feet? 

Bases elevate the lockers. Cabinets are more ventilated because they are not in contact with the floor.  

A steel compartment base prevents the storage of objects underneath the locker. It is designed to support the weight of the lockers. You simply need to place the locker correctly on the base. 

A bench base provides practical seating, for example, for changing shoes. Manutan offers a wide range of models adapted to the size and height of your lockers. This type of base takes up a little more space than a simple locker. If the premises are too small to fit bench bases, it is possible to install a bench with hooks in the changing room. 

Lockers with feet make it easy to clean the floor. All Manutan lockers for assembly can be fitted with a set of metal feet. This makes it possible to quickly convert base-mounted lockers into lockers with feet. 

How to prevent the risk of items falling with a sloping top? 

The lockers in the Manutan range can be finished with a sloping top. This offers a combination of advantages: 

• Easier maintenance; 
• A tidier space, with no overhead storage; 
• A reduction in the risk of heaving objects falling. 

This feature helps to make communal areas safer. Employees tend to store their personal effects or work tools in the lockers. With a sloping top, it is impossible to store equipment high up. 

How to install a work locker? 

To ensure the safety of your premises when installing a locker, you must follow these four basic rules: 

• Install the lockers on a flat surface; 
• Fix each locker to a wall or partition with a suitable fixing; 
• Observe the maximum load advised on the product sheet; 
• Ensure that loads are well distributed in the locker. 

Do you need professional help in installing your lockers? Choose the installation option when you order. 

Make sure to optimise the space in the cloakroom. This means considering the layout of the furniture and the circulation of staff before purchasing. The lockers must be accessible and adapted to the number of users. The size of the cabinets will depend on the size of the space you have available. A cloakroom where everyone can change comfortably contributes to well-being at work. 

Although it is a collective space, the men’s and women’s changing rooms should be separated. 

The Manutan locker range has a wide variety of products of all sizes, from free standing units and 1 to 8 door lockers to workshop and office lockers. Each locker is tested and approved by our teams. The Manutan lockers come with a 10-year warranty. They combine quality and a competitive price.