Rapid 1 – an introduction

Rapid 1 is the original boltless shelving introduced to the UK shelving market by Rapid Racking over 30 years ago. This industrial shelving is ideal for use in various environments such as warehouses, factories, and stockrooms.  The structure of Rapid 1 shelving is based on common components, which means the heavy-duty shelving unit can be fully adapted in terms of size, weight loading, and function. Whether you require an upgrade in shelf capacity, product-specific storage such as tyres or archives, or a complete adaptation into workbenches and workstations, Rapid 1 is completely customisable to your requirements.

Benefits of using Rapid 1 shelving

Strength – Renowned for its durability and strength, it is our strongest boltless shelving system out of all our commercial shelving holding up to 800kg per shelf.

Boltless – Rapid 1 heavy-duty shelving is a boltless product, which makes assembly quick and easy and requires only a rubber mallet. The heavy-duty shelves can be adjusted according to the size of the items you’re storing, or additional shelves can be fitted if required. 

Versatility – Rapid 1 is our bestselling boltless shelving system thanks to its versatility, whether, for production areas, archive storage, or damp environments, Rapid 1 shelving has a variety of finishes to suit its application. From standard powder-coated steel to a galvanised finish.

Shelf materials – Our wide selection of shelf materials provides a variety of benefits to suit specific requirements, choose from:

Chipboard—the most popular choice and fitted as standard with our heavy-duty shelving units, our 16mm chipboard provides an economical solution. It is designed for dry goods storage and can hold up to 800kg UDL per shelf.

Melamine – Melamine shelving is a durable and cost-effective option, especially in moisture-prone areas. Its scratch, moisture, and stain-resistant surface is easy to wipe clean, ensuring quick maintenance.

Steel panels –   offer exceptional strength and durability in industrial environments. The solid surface of steel panels provides stability for smaller items, preventing them from falling through gaps. Steel panel shelves are resistant to wear, impact, and corrosion, ensuring a long lifespan even in harsh or high-traffic settings. Easy to clean and maintain, they are ideal for oily or damp working environments.

Wire mesh – Wire mesh shelves allow air circulation, which helps prevent moisture buildup and reduces the risk of rust or mould. This makes them ideal for environments where airflow is essential, such as cold storage, industrial settings, or warehouses. Wire mesh also prevents dust accumulation, keeping stored items clean.

FEM Standards – As a hand-loaded system designed to withstand frequent daily use, Rapid 1 shelving is tested to FEM standards. This is a comprehensive load-testing process on shelving bays and racking runs to replicate heavy industrial use in a variety of environments including warehouses, factories, and stockrooms.

Customise your shelving

We supply a huge range of shelving accessories to fully customise your shelving including cantilever shelves which are ideal for end-of-aisle temporary storage, retainer hoops for storage of awkward-shaped items such as ladders, brooms, and tubes as well as mesh cladding, which provides an extra level of security as well as ventilation.  Finally, if you need to create a run of shelving bays, you can safely join bays together with tie plates or add extra stability to your shelving with our floor fixings.

Rapid 1 and Rapid 2 – a comparison

Rapid 1 Heavy Duty Shelving, Rapid 1 Standard Duty Shelving, and Rapid 2 Medium Duty Shelving are all robust and versatile shelving options, but they differ in strength, design, and intended use.

  • Rapid 1 Heavy Duty Shelving: This is the most robust of the three, designed for heavy industrial use. It can support extremely heavy loads, with each shelf holding up to 800kg UDL, making it ideal for storing bulky items. Manufactured from 2mm thick heavy-duty steel with a powder-coated paint finish for added durability this shelving unit is suitable for environments such as warehouses, workshops, and factories.
  • Rapid 1 Standard Duty Shelving: While still strong, the standard duty version of Rapid 1 is designed for moderate to heavy loads, with a shelf capacity of between 420kg – 600kg UDL. It is a versatile option for environments that don’t require extreme weight capacity such as workshops, offices, or light industrial areas.
  • Rapid 2 Shelving: Rapid 2 is a more lightweight shelving system compared to both versions of Rapid 1. It is designed for lighter loads with each shelf holding up to 340kg UDL.  This makes it ideal for general-purpose use in environments like offices, storerooms, or smaller workshops where heavy-duty shelving isn’t necessary. While it offers lower weight capacity, Rapid 2 shelving is easy to assemble and rearrange, providing a more flexible solution for less demanding storage needs.

More Rapid 1 Products

We offer a range of Rapid 1 products designed to meet various industrial and commercial needs. These include workbenches, packing stations, workstations, and trolley shelving. All Rapid 1 products share the same high-quality steel construction and boltless assembly design, ensuring easy setup and long-lasting durability. Shop the range here.

We hope this guide has been helpful and given you more insight into Rapid 1 heavy duty shelving. If you have any questions or need help placing an order our customer service team will be happy to help, please call 08000 147 444.