Take two wire shelving units, put them side by side, and there’s a good chance they’ll look almost identical. Both have that familiar shiny, silver finish. Both appear to be chrome. Both might even be described as “chrome shelving” on a quote.
But one could cost considerably less than the other.
So what’s the difference? And more importantly, does it matter? In a hospital environment, it certainly can.
Not all chrome is created equal
Here’s where we’re going to nerd out a little. Bear with us.
There are several ways manufacturers achieve that familiar shiny, metallic appearance on wire shelving. Two common approaches are zinc plating with a chromate treatment and genuine nickel-chrome plating. They can look remarkably similar, but beneath the surface things are quite different.
Zinc plating with chromate treatment
This is generally the more economical approach.
The steel wire is coated with a layer of zinc, which helps protect the underlying steel from corrosion. A chromate conversion treatment is then applied to improve corrosion resistance and create a bright, attractive finish. Some manufacturers add a protective lacquer or sealer as well.
The result is a shelf that can look very much like chrome, but isn’t actually chrome-plated.
And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. For dry environments with relatively modest cleaning requirements, these finishes can provide a perfectly practical, cost-effective solution. The important thing is understanding that beyond dry environments, zinc plating is not the best solution, and if cleaning frequency is high, it probably isn’t well suited due to the lack of durability and protection against abrasion.
Nickel-chrome plating
Genuine nickel-chrome plating involves a different process.
The steel receives a layer of nickel, followed by a layer of chromium. The nickel contributes corrosion protection, while the chromium provides a hard, smooth surface that helps resist abrasion and everyday wear. Depending on the manufacturer, additional protective coatings may also be applied.
It’s a more involved finishing process, often with a higher price. And there can be a catch..
Many conventional nickel-chrome shelving products are designed primarily for dry, low-humidity environments. Paying more for real chrome doesn’t automatically mean you’ve purchased something suitable for every hospital application.
Now let’s put that shelving in a hospital
This is where things get interesting.
Think about how wire shelving and carts are actually used in healthcare facilities. They get loaded and unloaded. Bins slide across the shelves. Equipment gets bumped. Carts are moved between departments.
And, of course, they get cleaned.
Sometimes frequently. Sometimes with fairly aggressive disinfectants. Depending on the department, equipment may be exposed to repeated chemical cleaning or even automated cart-washing systems.
This is a distinct environment from a dry warehouse or general storage room.
Over time, repeated cleaning and physical wear can affect protective finishes. Once a coating becomes scratched, chipped or otherwise compromised, the underlying metal can become more vulnerable to corrosion. The result might begin as discolouration or surface deterioration. Eventually, corrosion can develop.
Damaged surfaces can become more difficult to clean and disinfect effectively. Equipment that can no longer be properly cleaned may need to be repaired or replaced.
IPAC teams have good reason to pay attention to the materials and finishes being brought into their facilities.
It’s also important to be clear about where conventional chrome finishes don’t belong. Chrome finishes aren’t appropriate for areas exposed to moisture or automated cart-washing systems. Those environments require other types of finishes, like specialized epoxy coatings, stainless steel or polymer-based systems, selected according to the cleaning process and level of exposure.
We’ll take a closer look at those options in a future post.
Does that mean you should always buy the most expensive finish?
Absolutely not.
We’re big believers in matching the product to the application. A wire shelving unit sitting in a dry supply room, holding packaged consumables, may not need the same finish as a mobile cart being disinfected several times a day. And neither application necessarily calls for the most expensive option available.
In more demanding environments, a specialized epoxy-coated finish, stainless steel or a polymer-based system might be a better choice than either conventional chromate or nickel-chrome. It depends on the environment, the cleaning products being used, how frequently the equipment is cleaned and even what is being stored.
That’s why we always encourage clients to look beyond the product photograph. Just because something looks suitable for a hospital doesn’t necessarily mean its finish is designed for the conditions it will encounter there.
So, what should you be asking?
When comparing quotations for wire shelving or carts, here are a few questions worth asking:
- What’s the actual finish? Is it genuine nickel-chrome plating, zinc with a chromate treatment, or something else?
- What environment is it rated for? Dry storage, wet environments, frequent cleaning or something more demanding?
- What cleaning products can be used? Does the manufacturer confirm compatibility with your facility’s disinfectants?
- How will it hold up over time? Consider abrasion, moisture, cleaning frequency and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Are we comparing the same thing? Two products that appear identical in a photograph may have very different specifications.
That last question is particularly important.
The lowest price isn’t always the best value
We’ve never positioned Forsyth as the cheapest supplier. And that’s not because we think everyone needs the most expensive products. Quite the opposite, actually.
We work with multiple manufacturers because we believe there’s rarely just one right solution for every application. Sometimes the more economical product is absolutely the right choice. Other times, spending a little more upfront can save a lot of frustration, maintenance and replacement costs down the road.
But you need to understand what you’re buying to make that decision.
