The CSIRO consolidated its library collections into a new National Storage Facility. It selected Dexion to provide 11 km of mobile shelving for the facility. Dexion worked with architects to transform an old workshop building, installing tracks for its Spacesaver Eclipse powered Compactus mobile shelving. The Compactus provides safe, efficient storage and access to CSIRO's vast collection of printed materials.

1. CSIRO.
Library services national storage facility.

3. “After an extensive evaluation process we selected
Dexion as offering the CSIRO the best value for
money - with all the features we were looking for.”
Australia’s premier scientific research Property Services, was tasked with
agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and managing the conversion of the building to
Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), its new role as a National Storage facility.
commands a vast reserve of printed Not only did the internal layout of the
information. Located around the country, building need a complete overhaul to
the separate libraries that make up CSIRO accommodate the required amount of
Library Services support more than 740 shelving, but it also had to be done in a
activities in thirteen CSIRO research way that would take care of Occupational
divisions. In addition to servicing internal Health and Safety (OH&S) concerns that
needs, CSIRO Library Services is an had been identified with earlier equipment.
invaluable resource available to ordinary “The library people had experience with
Australians and overseas scientific other [mobile storage] shelving on Black
communities alike. Mountain and found that the mechanically
assisted, hand wound model was
In 2009 in order to streamline operations,
presenting health and safety concerns for
the CSIRO began consolidating its library
staff,” said Collin. “They requested
collections and relocating material to a
consideration of an electrically operated
National Storage facility in the ACT.
Compactus to avoid these concerns.”
Seeking a new, secure, high capacity
library storage location, the organisation The open tender process, which called for
identified an old workshop building at the installation of no less than eleven
Black Mountain on Canberra’s picturesque kilometres of mobile shelving, attracted
western city edge, which offered sufficient submissions from major office and storage
floor space and adequate internal height equipment manufacturers.
to handle the consolidated library.
Dexion, offering it’s high-tech, safety first,
Graeme Collin, Project Director at CSIRO electrically driven, Spacesaver Eclipse
Dexion Case Study – CSIRO

4. “It’s a really nice conversion of what was a really
old workshop into this nice new storage facility.”
Powered Compactus was recommended installation of an advanced VESDA fire
as the preferred supplier. protection system. An important part of
the process involved preparation of the
“After an extensive evaluation process we
floors, where Dexion laid tracks for the
selected Dexion as offering the CSIRO the
Spacesaver Compactus prior to the
best value for money - with all the features concrete being poured. Rails were installed
we were looking for,” said Collin. onto the existing floor, laser levelled, then
Before the building could become a home a unique cover strip was used to protect
for state-of-the-art document storage the rails during the concrete pour. nice new storage facility,” he said. the architects came up with looked just
equipment, however, it would need to be The result: a rail mechanism perfectly brilliant,” added Piskulich.
“We enjoyed working with Dexion and
transformed from a substantially different blended into the new floor, ensuring the would be very happy working with them In all, the CSIRO requirement was for a
earlier role as a machinery and automotive highest standards in OH&S. again in the future.” total of 11,367 linear metres of storage
workshop. Dexion worked closely with space, to be built in three stages. Work on
“We worked in closely with Dexion,” said Storage on a scale of the CSIRO’s Black
leading ACT architects Daryl Jackson the first stage, consisting of 4,531 L/metres
Beatman. “Once they had laid their rails Mountain facility required special attention
Alastair Swayn, (DJAS) and fit-out experts of storage, began in February 2010 and
we came along and topped up and levelled to detail. As CSIRO had stated that its first
SMI Project Solutions, whose job it was to was followed shortly after by the second
the concrete. A nice, beautifully level floor
fully refurbish the building. “There were oil priority was to maximise capacity, DJAS
to meet their track.” stage, consisting of 3,313 L/metres.
sumps in the floor… internal brick walls collaborated closely with Dexion to achieve
Completing the building’s makeover, SMI an efficient use of the space. “A lot of time A comprehensive storage project by any
and a mezzanine floor, which all had to be
clad its front and sides with ALUCOBOND, was spent with the architects,” said Dexion standard!
demolished,” said Gus Beatman, Project
a proprietary aluminium composite material. Office State Manager and Specialist
Manager at SMI Project Solutions. “We
Describing the refurbished building and Systems consultant Brett Piskulich, The new gear.
completely gutted the inside of the building.”
the strong camaraderie between contractors “We worked closely with them to resolve Compactus equipment at the CSIRO’s
The work carried out by SMI included a full on the project, Beatman’s enthusiasm was the final details.” In the end though, it Black Mountain, off-site storage facility is
upgrade of electrical and mechanical obvious. “It’s a really nice conversion of wasn’t only technical features that made Dexion Spacesaver Eclipse powered
services, insulation, lighting, and the what was a really old workshop into this for the winning design: “The colour scheme carriages fitted with safety sweeps.
Dexion Case Study – CSIRO

5. “We enjoyed working with Dexion
and would be very happy working
with them again in the future.”
The innovative ‘safety sweep’ concept mounted on front panels, enable staff to
stops or prevents movement of the carriage operate the Compactus with minimal
whenever an object or person breaks a training. Ensuring that material is always
safety beam. If for any reason a carriage accessible, each system is supplied with a
starts moving while a person is within an portable battery pack to activate carriages
aisle, placing a foot against the carriage in the event of a power failure.
can instantly halt the system. Likewise,
Finally, an aesthetic touch of class - in the
any objects such as boxes, ladders or other
form of laminated end panels - brought to
items that are within an aisle when the
life the architectural vision of DJAS.
drive units are activated, will cut the beam
“The alternating colour panels they came
and immediately deactivate the unit.
up with liven up the space. We’re very
But Spacesaver’s unique features are not pleased with the result - the appearance;
just designed to benefit librarians. At CSIRO and the staff are very happy with the ease
Library Services, technical maintenance is of operation,” said Collin.
made safe and easy by the Spacesaver’s
“It was a significant contract to win to
“Works In A Drawer” concept, allowing
showcase the Dexion Eclipse powered
access to electrical components without
Compactus systems,” said Piskulich.
the need to climb inside, on top of, or
“And it was a good site to operate in
around the carriages.
because we had plenty of storage and
During the first and second construction access. We also had a great relationship
phase, more than 8000 shelves of with the builder and a great relationship
Dexion Ultima CI-80 Roll Post Shelving, with CSIRO. It all worked very well.”
manufactured at Dexion Melbourne plant,
were provided and fitted to the Spacesaver
carriages. Simple, colour coded keypads,
Dexion Case Study – CSIRO