Selecting the right school lockers is a profound decision that must be made to ensure the safety and security of assets and equipment on the campus. From saving corridor trip hazards to reducing classroom clutter, the best school locker encourages students to manage safety guidelines. Now, which is the best school locker in Australia? Most administrations got stuck between selecting the right material - plastic or metal lockers for schools.
If you are also struggling with picking a metal or plastic locker for school, here is a guide blog to share the right comparison between materials based on different considerations.
Both plastic and metal lockers have their benefits and purposes, and the decision depends on your school’s budget, needs, and space. Based on the complexity factors like school areas, security, maintenance, weather resistance, and many more. Here we are sharing a detailed overview of both the lockers:
Plastic school lockers are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and durable plastic. It can come with a range of benefits, including resistance to corrosion, rust, and moisture.
Metal lockers for schools are made with core materials like aluminum and steel. These are commonly used across Australian schools due to their durability, strength, and ability with a powder-coated finish for more resistance.
Plastic lockers are highly durable, dent-resistant, and less fire-resistant, lightweight, and come in multiple color options and style varieties. Also, it is made from recyclable plastic materials that fit well for multiple purposes.
Metal lockers are composed of materials of aluminum and steel that create strong resistance but are prone to dents. It is heavier in weight, not fit for humid or wet areas, and might require rust treatment and repainting. This has limited color options but a variety for styling.
Unlike metal, plastic school lockers are more durable and easier to handle without any risk of denting. Due to its resistance, this makes it ideal for the humid and wet weather of Australia. It has a longer shelf life of an average of 15 to 20 years and requires low maintenance.
Metal lockers are less durable and are more at risk of damage, can bend under force, and rust during humid weather. It requires more maintenance, oiling, and is suitable for an indoor setting only; this has an average span of 5 to 10 years.
Metal and plastic lockers come in multiple categories depending on materials, design, size, and purpose. Schools often explore to find the right fit that can ensure functionalities, user convenience, and longevity. Here are listed types of metal and plastic school lockers:
| Metal Lockers | Plastic Locker |
|---|---|
| Single-tier locker | Single Tier Plastic Locker |
| Double-tier locker | Multi-tier plastic locker |
| Triple-tier locker | Z-Locker |
| Multiple-tier locker | Waterproof Locker |
| Ventilated locker | Antimicrobial Locker |
| See-through locker | UV-resistant locker |
| Wardrobe locker | Modular Locker System |
| Device locker | Digital smart locker |
In comparison, metal lockers have relatively low upfront costs and standard installation, while plastic lockers have a high investment and installation cost. Also, the maintenance cost for a metal school locker will be high as it is more prone to dents, rust, and paint touch-ups; on the other hand, a plastic locker has a low cost due to resistance to moisture and corrosion.
Plastic school lockers are built smoothly, have round edges, and do not easily get splinted over. Due to its lightweight, this can significantly reduce injury risk during installation inside the school. Metal school lockers are heavier and sharper in appearance and can be damaging if exposed to rust. However, it provides more security with unbreakable capacity.
If you are someone thoughtful about designs, plastic lockers have more variety from a shape perspective. It comes in a range of colours or shades moulded into the material. Also, these lockers have a glossy, smooth, and blended texture that creates the perfect finish. For customisation, it can easily convert into multiple shapes, sizes and curved designs.
Metal Lockers are designed in limited colour options like blue or grey shades, and provide a matte texture and powder coating to preserve scratches and rust. It has more modern flexibility that comes along with standard sizes and layouts.
School should be a calm and peaceful place, and noisy lockers might be annoying and distract students from focusing on their studies. Metal school lockers create loud sounds while banging over the door, and it might get echoed around places like corridors.
Plastic lockers are less noisy due to their lightweight and soft surface, which does not create an absurd sound due to banging on doors, also while closing. As the sound frequency is too low, there is also no risk of echo.
Depending on the climatic conditions of Australian regions, you can consider school locker Loganholme, school locker Maroochydore, school locker North Lakes, school locker Townsville, school locker Blacktown. Metal lockers can be prone to rust due to humid weather, while plastic works for Australia’s coastal and tropical zones.
Metal lockers are ideal for indoor use only due to their limitation of rusting, but plastic lockers can be placed for both indoor and outdoor use without any damage.
Metal school lockers can easily accommodate wiring and mounts like digital lockers, also they can also integrate with school-issued smart systems. With the help of surface integration, schools can also turn into biometric lockers.
Plastic lockers for schools are also compatible with digital lockers that come with surface-mount options. Modern, designed plastic lockers can work for mobile app integration. Due to its non-conductive material, it is safer for internal wiring and integrates with a smart system.
Australian schools require the best lockers to secure students’ lockers to reduce their physical load. It helps create their personal secure storage, protecting items from loss and damage for valuable assets. So, ideally, the administration can choose between plastic or metal lockers, considering factors such as long-term or short-term usage, durability, safety, noise control, and environmental resistance.
Want to explore more designs for lockers? Check the interesting options available for metal and plastic lockers at EasyMart!
