A contractor is at the counter before the first delivery is put away. Behind the counter, staff pull wire connectors, fuses, devices and fittings while someone else stages a will-call order. If those parts sit in mixed cartons or deep shelves, every pick takes longer and every count is harder.
Flexi Bin shelving for Utah electrical wholesalers works best when it is planned around that daily counter workflow. This guide covers what Borroughs Flexi-Bin shelving is, which electrical parts belong in it, how to pick a starting configuration, the Utah safety and code checks to make, and what to send for a layout and quote.
Quick answer
- Use Flexi-Bin for small, boxed or bagged parts picked many times a day. Store wire reels, conduit and big cartons elsewhere.
- Give every part number its own compartment and its own label.
- Put fast movers at waist to shoulder height, closest to the counter.
- Keep dense parts low. Borroughs lists 150 lb per Flexi-Bin shelf.
- Keep electrical panel working space, sprinkler clearance and exit paths clear, and plan floor anchoring.
Why Utah Electrical Branches Need a Smarter Bin System
A Wasatch Front electrical branch may serve residential electricians, commercial crews, industrial plants and utility contractors from one stockroom. Each group buys a different mix of parts, and most of those parts are small. A counter can carry hundreds of connector, terminal, fuse and device SKUs that look alike at a glance.
That is where general-purpose shelving breaks down. Deep shelves hide stock behind the front row. Mixed cartons let two similar connectors end up in the same spot. One part ends up with three unofficial homes. For local context, see Crescent Electric's Salt Lake City location, one of the electrical branches that serve contractors along the Wasatch Front. Branches like this run on fast, accurate counter picks.
Practical rule: Put the fastest counter-pick items where staff can see, reach and restock them without crossing the staging area.
Your product mix also changes. New devices and fittings come in, and slow movers stay on hand as spares. Adjustable shelves and sliding dividers let a manager change slot sizes without buying new frames. Before you change anything, walk the room with our parts room organization checklist.
What Borroughs Flexi-Bin Shelving Is
Flexi-Bin is a steel parts shelving system made by Borroughs. The name is spelled many ways online (Flexi Bin, Flexi-Bins, FlexiBin), but it is one product line. Borroughs built it for automotive parts rooms and also lists electrical components among the small inventory it suits. Here is what the published literature says:
- Frame size: 38 inches wide and 12 inches deep, in 84 inch and 96 inch heights.
- Shelves: slide-in shelves that adjust in 1-1/2 inch steps and lock in place. Borroughs lists 150 lb per shelf.
- Sliding dividers: 1-1/2, 3, 4-1/2 and 6 inch heights. Each divider has a formed-in label holder.
- Drawers: drawers with a backstop, plus optional drawer dividers for very small parts.
- Finish options: several frame colors with white back panels standard, plus trim panels for the end of a run.
- Anchoring: a post foot angle for fastening posts to the floor.
The shallow 12 inch depth is the point. Small parts stay in sight at the front of the shelf instead of getting lost behind a carton. Units stand alone against a wall or run back to back down the middle of a room. For the full model list and component details, see our Borroughs Flexi-Bin shelving guide. For Utah projects, start with Flexi-Bin shelving in Utah.
What Electrical Wholesalers Store on Flexi-Bin Shelving
Start with the parts that cause the most picking mistakes. Small electrical parts often share packaging and similar names, so each SKU needs one defined slot and a clear label. Sort the stock into groups like these:
| Part group | Typical items | Flexi-Bin setup that works | Shelf height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose small parts | Wire nuts, push-in connectors, ring and spade terminals, wire markers | Narrow compartments with short dividers, or drawers for very small loose items | Middle shelves near the counter |
| Protection | Cartridge and plug fuses, fuse blocks, small surge devices | One fuse size and type per compartment | Middle shelves |
| Devices and plates | Receptacles, switches, dimmers, wall plates, GFCI and AFCI devices | Wider compartments sized to the carton, taller dividers for boxed items | Waist to shoulder height |
| Breakers | Plug-on and bolt-on breakers by brand and amp rating | Compartments sized to the box, grouped by panel brand | Waist to shoulder height |
| Conduit fittings | Connectors, couplings, straps, locknuts, bushings | Deeper or taller compartments so round parts do not roll out | Lower middle shelves (dense) |
| Reserve cartons | Case quantities of fast movers | Open shelves with no dividers | Bottom or top shelves |
Use a mixed bay rather than forcing every part into one compartment size. Light, slow spares go up top. Fast counter items sit in the middle with clear front labels. Dense fittings and replenishment cases go low. For more ways to divide a shelf, compare plastic shelf bins and our bin shelving options in Utah. Industry small-parts systems use shelf bins with lengthwise and crosswise dividers for the same reason. BITO's small-parts bin guidance also covers placing bins for easy, ergonomic picking.
What does not belong in Flexi-Bin
A 12 inch deep shelf is not the answer for everything in an electrical branch. Wire and cable reels need reel racks or a carousel. Conduit sticks and strut need cantilever rack or a conduit rack. Light fixtures, panels and transformers are bulky and usually live on pallet rack. Our guides to wire reel storage for electrical supply warehouses and wire spool carousels vs reel racks cover those zones. You can also see a vertical cable drum carousel at an electrical supply house. The best branch layouts combine bin shelving for small parts with the right storage for everything else.
Pick a Starting Flexi-Bin Configuration
Borroughs publishes eight preconfigured units. All use the same 38 inch wide, 12 inch deep, 84 inch high frame. Most projects start from one or two of these and add parts where the stock calls for it. The right column is our planning suggestion for electrical stock, not a manufacturer rule.
| Model | Shelves | Published layout | Where it can fit an electrical branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| FB101 | 6 | 7 adjustable openings | Reserve cartons, boxed fixtures parts, larger device cases |
| FB102 | 8 | 9 adjustable openings | Boxed devices and wall plates by the case |
| FB103 | 10 | 11 adjustable openings | Small boxed items in short stacks |
| FB104 | 6 | 21 openings, 14 sliding dividers (6 in) | Breakers and boxed devices sorted by type |
| FB105 | 8 | 41 openings, 32 sliding dividers (3 in) | Connectors, terminals and fuses by size |
| FB106 | 10 | 51 openings, 40 sliding dividers (3 in) | High-SKU counter runs of small bagged parts |
| FB107 | 10 | 43 openings plus 12 drawers | Mixed run: divided shelves plus drawers for tiny loose parts |
| FB108 | 17 | 108 drawers | Very small loose items such as screws, lugs and markers |
More openings only help if the openings fit the parts. Check the largest package and the normal restock quantity for each slot. A compartment that barely fits one carton becomes a problem the day a full case arrives. Source: Borroughs Flexi-Bin product literature. Confirm current models and contents in your quote.
Flexi-Bin compared with other options
| Option | Pick speed | Protection | Best fit in an electrical branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Flexi-Bin units with dividers | Fast, every slot visible | Basic | High-velocity connectors, fuses, devices and breakers at the counter |
| Flexi-Bin units with drawers | Moderate | Good for tiny parts | Very small loose parts that roll or spill |
| Enclosed bin cabinets | Slower, doors add a step | Strong, can lock | High-value or controlled stock, dusty areas |
| Mobile shelving | Depends on which aisle is open | Good | Dense reserve stock with planned access, not the main counter run |
| Reel racks or carousels | Fast for cut-to-length wire | Good | Wire and cable on reels |
Flexi-Bin is a fixed, open-front system. If floor space is the main limit, mobile shelving can work for reserve stock, but it needs a suitable floor and a clear plan for who opens which aisle. Keep the busy counter run on fixed shelving so staff never wait for an aisle.
Not sure how many units or dividers you need?
Upload a parts list to our SKU upload analyzer or map your counter run in the Parts & Kitting Storage Planner. Prefer to talk it through? Call (800) 326-4403 for a free layout review.
Sizing and Layout Decisions for a Real Utah Building
Start every layout with a tape measure, not a catalog page. Walk the branch with a floor plan and mark columns, door swings, the dock, electrical panels, HVAC units, sprinkler heads and staging areas before you place a single unit.
Each Flexi-Bin frame takes about 38 inches of wall and 12 inches of depth, so a run is easy to count once you know the usable wall length. The space a working system needs is bigger than the shelving itself. Leave room for staff, carts, open drawers and restock cartons in the aisle. Make aisles wide enough for the largest cart or pallet jack the team uses, and confirm required exit widths with your building or fire official.
Counter distance matters most. Put the fastest counter picks closest to the counter, but do not block customer flow or will-call staging. Keep reserve stock farther back so restock traffic does not cross the main pick path. The 96 inch frame adds storage height, but use the top levels only for light, slow stock that staff can reach safely.
Finish with a simple sketch that shows bin runs, the counter, dock, staging, returns and will-call. We can quote accurately from that drawing. See how a Utah parts department came together in our Young Subaru Flexi-Bin case study, or send your plan through our floor plan review.
Safety, Load and Code Checks in Utah
Shelving safety starts with the real load. Borroughs lists 150 lb per Flexi-Bin shelf. That number is for the whole shelf, not for each compartment, and you cannot add up shelf ratings to get a bay or floor rating. Boxes of brass or steel fittings get heavy fast, so put them on lower shelves. KAYOU's safe working load explanation shows why a rating always belongs to a specific setup.
Ratings also vary a lot across bin shelving products, which is why you should never borrow a number from a different unit. Grainger's bin shelving reference shows how widely listed specs differ. Use the rating for the exact Flexi-Bin assembly in your quote.
| Check | What the rule says | What to do in an electrical branch |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf load | Borroughs lists 150 lb per Flexi-Bin shelf | Keep dense fittings and full cases low. Do not treat the rating as per compartment. |
| Stable storage | OSHA 1910.176(b): stored material must be secure against sliding, falling or collapse | Use dividers and drawers with backstops. Do not stack cartons above the shelf above. |
| Electrical panel space | OSHA 1910.303(g): working space at electrical equipment cannot be used for storage | Mark every panel and disconnect on the plan. Keep shelving and staging out of that space. |
| Sprinklers | NFPA 13 sets clearance below sprinkler deflectors, commonly 18 inches | Leave clear space above the top shelf. Confirm with your fire marshal. |
| Seismic anchoring | Your local building official decides what is required | Plan for floor anchoring with the post foot angle and overhead ties on tall runs. |
| Shelving standard | SMA publishes ANSI MH28.2 for industrial steel shelving | Ask for load information to post on the units for the people who stock them. |
Much of Utah, including the Wasatch Front, sits in a high seismic area. That makes anchoring a design question, not an afterthought. Our parts room shelving anchoring and seismic guide covers the usual questions. Note that ANSI MH16.1 load plaques apply to steel storage racks such as pallet rack, not to shelving units like Flexi-Bin.
Labels, Location IDs and Your ERP
Shelving alone will not fix bad inventory data. The win comes from giving every compartment a unique location ID and using it in your system. Most distributor ERPs have a bin or slot location field. When the label on the shelf matches that field, receiving, picking, cycle counts and restocking all get easier.
- Use one format. For example: run, bay, shelf, then compartment. Print it the same way on every label.
- Use the divider label holders. On Flexi-Bin, the label rides on the divider, so it stays with the part when you re-space a shelf.
- Test barcodes first. Try them with your own scanners, lighting and reading distance before you print the whole set.
- Set an empty-slot rule. An empty compartment may still belong to a part on backorder. Do not let staff fill it with something else.
- Keep open capacity. Leave some slots open for new and seasonal items instead of filling every opening on day one.
Assigned locations are the base of good bin storage, as this warehouse bin storage guidance explains. If you are also changing how orders flow between counter, web and warehouse, broader ERP integration for wholesalers can tie purchasing and orders to those locations. Ask your software provider how location IDs map before go-live.
Installation and Changeover Planning
A good quote covers more than frames and dividers. Ask who handles delivery, unloading, assembly, anchoring, labels, damaged parts and future add-ons. Confirm timing for your exact models, colors and accessories at quote time.
Most electrical branches cannot close the counter for a changeover. Plan the work in phases: install one run, move stock and labels into it, then free up the next wall. Pick a staging area for the shipment before it arrives. A walk-through before install should confirm anchor points, floor condition, clearances and crew access.
After install, count the units, check dividers and drawers, confirm labels match the location list and walk the pick route with counter staff. Keep the final component list and photos. That record makes future additions easy to match.
Choosing the Right Setup for Your Branch
The best setup depends on SKU count, pick volume, part weight and floor space. Do not buy by compartment count alone. A dense layout can add walking if fast movers end up far from the counter.
| Branch type | Main goal | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Large Salt Lake Valley branch with heavy contractor traffic | Speed at the counter | Long open Flexi-Bin runs near the counter, divided units for connectors and fuses, reserve cartons farther back, a clear will-call zone |
| Smaller branch in a market like St. George, Cedar City or Logan | Visibility in a compact space | One or two short Flexi-Bin runs, drawers for tiny parts, enclosed cabinets for controlled stock |
| Regional branch serving several trades | Clear zones | Flexi-Bin for small parts, reel storage for wire, rack for bulky stock, mobile shelving for dense reserve if the floor allows |
Whatever the branch type, ask for a drawing that shows the counter, staging, doors and restock route before you approve the order.
How to Plan Flexi-Bin Shelving for an Electrical Branch
- Measure the branch. Record wall lengths, clear height, doors, columns, electrical panels, sprinkler heads, the dock and the counter. Mark staging, returns and will-call areas.
- Export and sort the SKU list. Pull active small-part SKUs from your ERP. Mark fast movers, slow spares, heavy items and anything that belongs on reel, cantilever or pallet storage instead.
- Group parts by size and pick speed. Put look-alike parts in separate compartments. Plan fast movers for waist to shoulder height closest to the counter.
- Choose starting unit types. Match each group to a preconfigured Flexi-Bin unit, such as an open-shelf unit for boxes or a divided unit for connectors. Add drawers only where tiny loose parts need them.
- Draw the layout. Place runs, aisles and back-to-back rows. Keep panel working space, sprinkler clearance and exit paths clear. Keep replenishment traffic out of the counter pick path.
- Plan labels and location IDs. Give every compartment a unique location ID that matches the slot field in your ERP. Test barcode labels with your own scanners.
- Review with counter staff, then request a complete quote. Walk the drawing with your counter leads. Then ask for units, dividers, drawers, labels, anchoring, freight and installation in one written scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flexi-Bin shelving?
Flexi-Bin is a Borroughs steel shelving system built for small parts. Frames are 38 inches wide and 12 inches deep, in 84 or 96 inch heights. Slide-in shelves and sliding dividers turn each shelf into compartments, and drawers can be added for very small items.
How much weight can a Flexi-Bin shelf hold?
The Borroughs brochure lists 150 pounds per shelf. That is a per-shelf figure, not a per-compartment allowance, so keep dense fittings and full cartons on lower shelves and confirm the rating for your exact assembly in the quote.
Which electrical parts fit best in Flexi-Bin compartments?
Small, boxed or bagged items that are picked often: wire connectors, push-in connectors, terminals, fuses, devices, wall plates, plug-on breakers and small conduit fittings. Wire reels, conduit sticks, light fixtures and large cartons belong on reel racks, cantilever rack or pallet rack.
Can we change compartment sizes when our product mix changes?
Yes. Sliding dividers move along the shelf, and shelves adjust in 1-1/2 inch steps. Each divider has a formed-in label holder, so the label moves with the divider. Update the location record in your ERP at the same time you move stock.
Should we buy open Flexi-Bin units or enclosed bin cabinets?
Open Flexi-Bin units are usually faster for counter picks because staff can see every slot. Enclosed bin cabinets fit stock that needs more protection or control, such as high-value items or parts kept in a dusty area. Many branches use both.
Do Flexi-Bin units need to be anchored in Utah?
Plan on it. Much of Utah sits in a high seismic area. Borroughs offers a post foot angle for floor anchoring, and tall runs are often tied together overhead. Your local building official decides what is required for your building.
Can shelving go in front of an electrical panel in our stockroom?
No. OSHA 1910.303(g) requires a clear working space in front of electrical equipment, and that space cannot be used for storage. Mark every panel and disconnect on the floor plan before you place shelving runs.
What should I send Material Handling USA for a Flexi-Bin layout and quote?
Send a measured floor plan or sketch, ceiling height, photos, your SKU list with rough package sizes, and your timing. Call (800) 326-4403 or email Sales@MH-USA.com. Design and quotes are free with no obligation.
Get a Free Flexi-Bin Layout for Your Branch
Material Handling USA plans, quotes and delivers Borroughs Flexi-Bin shelving for electrical branches across Utah from our Salt Lake City office. Send your floor plan, SKU list and timing, and we will map units, dividers, drawers and labels to your counter and stockroom. Designs and quotes are free with no obligation. Request a layout review, email Sales@MH-USA.com, or call (800) 326-4403.
Design it yourself, then get a quote
Use our free online planning tools to work through the setup this article describes, then send it to our team for pricing:
- Parts & Kitting Storage Planner for counter and parts room layouts
- SKU upload analyzer to turn a parts list into shelf and divider counts
- shelving designer for general-purpose shelving
- pallet rack designer for bulky stock and reserve pallets
Related reading: small parts bin shelving for Utah HVAC and plumbing contractors, how to store and dispense wire reels in electrical wholesale, and automated wire carousels for electrical wholesalers.
