How to assemble boltless metal shelving

• Rubber mallet
• Work gloves
• Spirit level
• Wall fixings (for tall units)

Before you start, lay everything out on a soft surface (the flattened box works) and check it against the parts list in your manual.

• Four uprights (often in two halves)
• Long and short beams
• Shelf boards (MDF or wire)
• Centre supports for long shelves
• Plastic feet

1. 1

   Step 1: Join the upright halves if needed and fit the plastic feet.

2. 2

   Step 2: Stand two uprights and fit the lowest short beam between them, rivets into the keyholes, a few holes above the floor.

3. 3

   Step 3: Repeat for the other pair of uprights, then join the two ends with the long beams at the same level.

4. 4

   Step 4: Tap each beam down firmly with the rubber mallet until the rivets are fully seated.

5. 5

   Step 5: Add the other beam levels, working upwards, and check the unit is level and square.

6. 6

   Step 6: Lay in the shelf boards, with centre supports where the manual shows, and fix tall units to the wall.

• Leaving beams half-seated, which lets a shelf collapse under load.
• Hitting beams with a metal hammer, which chips the paint and can bend the rivets.
• Loading shelves beyond their rating or loading the top shelves heaviest.