Most schools have lockers in their hallways as well as in their athletic areas. Lockers can prove to be very useful to safely store clothing, books, and equipment, but they are frequently at risk of damage. It is important for every high school to have lockers designed to withstand student use on a regular basis.
High school locker units are often abused, overfilled, slammed shut, and even bumped into by students in crowded halls. Wet raincoats and sweaty sports attire can contribute to rusting the interiors of student lockers. Hinges, latches, and hangers must be designed to withstand frequent use throughout the day.
So what can be done to make sure they are designed to have adequate durability? High schools should try to choose corridor lockers that are well-made and have features like sloped tops and angle iron construction. An included long-term warranty often indicates that the manufacturer is confident in their product's quality.
Sloped tops reinforce locker units and prevent items from being left on top of them, which could leak inside or cause rusting. Dark colored high school locker doors don't show rust, dirt, or graffiti as much as white or beige units; lighter colored floors and walls can help prevent rooms and hallways from appearing dark.
It is important to not only consider how well they are designed, but the size of the school locker units. If they are too small for the items students want to put in them, more stress will be put on each locker by students overfilling them and squeezing large objects through the doorway. This also reduces airflow and promotes rust.
There are some corridor lockers that are designed with vents, or louvers, on the doors. Others remain completely solid. In most ways it is better to use doors with vents, because they increase airflow between the hallway and locker interior. This ventilation helps to prevent rusting and reduce odors.
In addition to lockers for sports and academic purposes, many schools also have classroom project lockers. Students do not use the individual units as frequently. Wider, stacked lockers may be best in this situation, so they are wide enough for projects. Sloped tops aren't desirable if surface space in the classroom is a concern.
The type of latches and locks used on high school lockers are also an important consideration. Their durability, ease of use, and replacement process should be taken into account. Locking options include built-in combination locks, separate padlocks, and key-locks.
Even if a high school locker is well designed to withstand student use, damage can be further prevented by putting it in a desirable location. Schools should avoid placing student lockers where they are susceptible to graffiti or exposure to moisture from opening doors. It's also good to keep them away from the most heavily crowded areas.
Overall, choosing well designed student lockers and installing them in good locations makes them a better investment for the school by reducing repair, maintenance, and replacement costs in the future. School locker units not only provide better convenience to students, but reduce clutter and wet clothing within classrooms.
--------
Scott Duglase works for a small sports agency as well as being a part time author. He is active in local basketball, football, and softball leagues aroung Atlanta. When his leagues were looking for new lockers he visited DeBourgh. He found they are a great source of high-quality athletic and corridor lockers.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
tweet this!