Slatwall Resources

Spacewall Panels are Easy to Attach

Slatwall panels are marked at the factory with directional arrows on the back side indicating the top edge of the panel. During installation, special care should be taken to make sure all panels are oriented with directional arrows in the "up" position. This will help to ensure optimal slot alignment from panel to panel.

Spacewall panels are easy to attach with the right tools and our suggested techniques. Our panels can be fitted to finished or unfinished walls with several types of fasteners including Drywall, sheet metal, and trim screws. (It's important not to have the screw heads protruding into the channels because this could inhibit the movement of hardware.) Countersunk flat-head screws work best for this purpose. Attachment should always be made through the channels and never through the slats.

Construction adhesive may be used as a supplementary attachment medium to form a more secure bond with the wall, or when two horizontal panels are butted together. Horizontal panels provide a longer, more seamless appearance than vertical slatwall because they are installed in pairs with the seam hidden in the channel where the panels are butted together.

Level All Panels Before Installing

When installing horizontal panels always level the bottom panel first.

Vertical panels are designed to be fitted to walls by butting each panel against the preceding one. The joining point between panels is more obvious than with horizontal panels, so we suggest placing a piece of trim over the joint to give it a more decorative appearance. Trim can also be inserted between adjoining panels and painted with matching or contrasting colors for a more dramatic effect.

Additional Installation Methods

• Attaching with Screws Attaching panels with the screws and adhesives, butting the top and bottom edges in the channels.
• Attaching to Masonry Attaching panels to masonry walls using furring strips and screws.
• Attaching to Metal Studs Attaching to metal studs with screws, using no less than 16" centers between studs.
• Attaching to Wood Studs Attaching panels to wood studs with screws, using 16" centers between studs
• Attaching to Drywall Attaching to drywall with plastic anchors, countersinking screw or nut in channel.

Panels can be cut with either a skill saw or a table saw. A good quality carbide trim blade with 60-80 teeth is recommended. If using a skill saw, cut the panel face down to protect the face. You can cut the panel face up with a panel saw. Even though the Omniwall and J-Metal wall products incorporate aluminum extrusions in the panel, they require no special handling, and can be cut using the above procedures. For acrylic mirror panels, follow the above instructions; however use a blade with at least 80 teeth and a very slow rate of feed.

All panels are manufactured with a mark along one side to indicate the factory edge. To ensure best fit, please be sure to orient boards with marks in the same position, typically up. Occasionally, it may be necessary to reverse a board for better alignment.

Panels can be mounted over existing walls (such as sheet rock); or in a new construction site, can be mounted directly to the studs if local codes allow. If attaching to concrete walls, use furring strips. In any application, a panel adhesive is strongly recommended. To secure panels to the wall, use #6 or #7, 1-1/2” sheet rock screws through the grooves. Use approximately 24 screws per panel. Use a row of four screws in each stud. For a more secure fit, alternate the screw pattern on every other stud.

To mount panels with metal inserts, the most common application is to drill a pilot hole with a counter sinking bit, and use 1-1/2” sheet rock screws or self-drilling sheet metal screws. For maximum hanging strength, always screw through the metal insert into the wall.

Important note: When installing J-metal boards (or boards where the slot is not symmetrical) the lip of the slot MUST be oriented up for display hardware to fit.

Never install screws or drill holes through the panel face, only the grooves.

Weight Capabilities

Weight Bearing Capabilities

While we endeavor to manufacture a high quality slatwall panel using high grade materials, because of factors occurring in installation and display applications beyond our control, we do not warranty our product to hold specific weights. It is up to the consumer to determine the suitability of our products for their application.

The following are some basic guidelines for the weight bearing capabilities of Spacewall slatwall paneling.

Unsupported Slatwall, manufactured out of MDF, will support 10-15 pounds per bracket. Unsupported slatwall includes all panels having no insert, as well as plastic channelwall, ColorGrooove or laminate strips in the grooves.

Omniwall and J-Metal support 50-60 pounds per bracket. Omniwall is Spacewall's trade name for a T-metal insert in the groove. J-metal is our trade name for a J-metal insert in the groove.

Keep in mind the center of gravity. An article on a shelf that is 12" deep, will have a load center 6" out from the wall, or at the center of the shelf. Hardware should be no greater than 12" from the wall and should be spaced ever 12" apart. A four foot shelf should have brackets on both ends, and two brackets in the middle for a total of four brackets. To enhance performance capacity, consider using 6" oc slats rather than 3" oc. Take care not to overload the top, bottom and side edges of the panels. Un-reinforced slatwall is not suitable for hangrail applications, regardless of the weight on the hangrail. To enhance performance consider using shorter brackets. Faceouts that slant down have all of the weight at the end of the waterfall. Take care to use a minimal amount of merchandise on waterfalls. Do not overload any single groove.

If certain parts of your store encounter heavier customer contact, or more frequently changed displays, consider using reinforced slatwall.

Slatwall Panel Board Specifications

Panels are typically manufactured using a 3/4" thick MDF core material. MDF (medium density fiberboard) is 120-130 psi IB (Internal Bond) and 48# pcf average density. According to our wood manufacturers, the screw holding capacity for the face is 325 lbs and 250 lbs for the edge. The tolerance on the squareness of the board is 1/8" when measured across the diagonals of the board. Other plywoods, veneers, fire-rated, and higher psi grade boards are available upon request. The boards can be surfaced in a variety of finishes including: HPL (high pressure laminates), LPL (low pressure laminates), veneer, plexi-mirror, or used as a raw paintable surface.

Slatwall is generally machined by cutting T-slots (grooves) at intervals of 3" on center. Other sizes are available. The grooves on a standard 4 x 8 panel can run the 8ft length (horizontal panels) or the 4ft length (vertical panels). Panels typically are 4 x 8, but can be ordered in various sizes.

All Spacewall panels comply with CARB Phase 2 Formaldehyde emission standards in CCR93120.2(a)

• 3/4" thick
• 48.5 lbs. per sq. foot target density
• 120 target IB (psi)
• 325 faces screw holding (lbs.)
• 250 edge screw holding (lbs.)

Types of Slatwall

Paintable MDF slatwall, an industry standard, is easy on the budget and has a surface that is especially well suited for painting. Panels do not come pre-finished. For best results apply a minimum of two coats to each panel.

Spacewall’s melamine is pre or post-impregnated melamine paper adhered under high heat and pressure directly to the MDF board. LPL is a very popular and cost effective board that comes in a wide variety of different colors.

Wilsonart, Formica, Nevamar, Pionite, and other brands of high-pressure laminates are available. These products come in vertical (.030") thickness and standard (.050") thickness.

Our wood veneers are rotary cut in a .035" thickness and have a veneer backer to achieve balance. Red Oak & Maple are in stock, other species and special cuts are available on request.

Spacewall's Plexi-Mirror is a .080" thick acrylic polymer sheet with a silver colored backer and adhered with a polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue to a MDF board. IT comes with a clear protective film to prevent surface scratching.

Formaldehyde Panels

All Spacewall panels comply with CARB Phase 2 Formaldehyde emission standards in CCR93120.2(a). By special order, no added urea formaldehyde MDF boards are available upon request.

Inserts

The aluminum inserts used in slatwall are aluminum with a silver mill finish. The aluminum inserts more than double the strength of the panel. Load limits vary according to the specific hardware being used. Aluminum inserts are also available in black and gold anodized finishes. Aluminum insert painted finishes can be ordered on a special request basis with applicable minimums.

The vinyl inserts are HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) - and are PVC Free. They are available in 4 colors (white, gray, black, almond). The vinyl inserts are for cosmetic enhancement - adding no noticeable strength to the grooves.

The PVC accent strips (Color Groove) – are solid color PVC (polyvinyl chloride) strips for covering the backs of the grooves – available in 6 colors (white, red, gray, blue, black, gold and silver mirror). PVC accent strips come available as a 130’ roll, covering 1 – 3” oc panel. The PVC accent strips are for cosmetic purpose only- adding no strength to the grooves.

Fire Ratings

Spacewall panels carry a standard fire rating of Class C or Class 3. Method of testing is ASTM-E-84 Tunnel Furnace.

Class A fire rated panels are available on request.

LEED Credits

Upon request Spacewall can obtain products designed to contribute to LEED Credits, including:

• ARRIES™ sustainable design fiberboard (SDF)
• Medex®, Medite® II and Medite® FR medium density fiberboard (MDF) Specs: provided upon request.

Manufacturing Specifications

Board length and width + or - .0625", squareness + or - .125" diagonally

Maximum Load Level Capacities

This chart is based on 3" o.c. or greater grooves using a single bracket on properly installed panels over drywall and studs. For maximum holding capacity, use panel adhesive and put screws in each slot on every stud. Typically putting screws into every 2nd slot is sufficient for light to medium loads.

We strongly recommend:

• Not to overload any single bracket or groove.
• Not to overload hang-rails and waterfall type brackets.
• Using panel adhesive and enough screws to secure the panel.

Load limits vary according to the specific hardware being used.

Note: Metal inserts add approximately double the holding strength of plain groove slatwall. For maximum holding strength screw through the metal inserts into the stud-wall.

Adhesives

The adhesive used in our laminating process is a water based PVA adhesive with low VOC’s that meet all EPA requirements. The hot melt adhesive used with the LPL line has no ingredients listed as carcinogens or potential carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program.

Crating

Panels are placed on a skid, secured with metal banding. Corner coverings are applied to all corners and edges. The packaged is then shrink-wrapped and ready for shipment.

CornerForm Disassembly Instructions

Firmly grip "free panel" #B Lift upward and walk panel in the direction to increase(open) the angle of the "free panel". The panel will disengage from the "mouth" of the form.

Note: As panel rotates, edgecap may catch main form's interior ridge. If this situation occurs DO NOT continue because staples may be pulled from panel. To rectify, insert a standard screwdriver at problem point and run the length of the form.