Calgary, Alberta

Secure Evidence Warehouse Design

Rapid growing town plans for an agile property and evidence storage facility with automated badge-swap security.
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Calgary, Alberta is home to over 1.2 million residents and is the fastest growing city in Canada. Rapid growth often stresses public services, and this was the case with the Calgary Police Service, which was struggling with evidence storage issues. The department was renting an evidence storage warehouse that held property and evidence for all districts. Although the evidence storage warehouse was accredited, it was relatively distant from police headquarters, and the rent added up to a significant long-term cost.

In 2013, CPS leadership decided it was time to start looking for a solution that was suited to their specific needs and that could accommodate future growth. A team consisting of personnel from property and evidence, finance, and infrastructure services began researching new options for evidence storage. They decided that a vacant property adjacent to headquarters provided the ideal opportunity to create a centralized, purpose-built facility for property and evidence storage.

The lot had significant space restrictions, and there were concerns about whether the space would have the capacity they needed. That’s when the infrastructure services team introduced the group to the concept of Spacesaver’s ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System and XTend® Mobile High-Bay Storage System. These solutions would allow them to use the vertical space in the warehouse and compact aisles to maximize capacity. They knew this was the best option for their location and needs.

The new warehouse was up and running in January 2017. It has a variety of space-saving features that improve organization and ensure a secure chain of custody.

high-density compact evidence storage

ActivRAC eliminates wasted aisle space by mounting pallet racking on a carriage-and-rail system. The rows of racking sit side-by-side until evidence warehouse staff open an aisle to store or retrieve evidence. The aisles open wide enough to allow forklifts to operate.

Spacesaver’s ActivRAC system is ideal for evidence that is large and / or heavy. The most robust version ActivRAC can bear loads of up to 30,000 per carriage section.

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ActivRAC Mobilized Storage System Brochure

Product Information

Heavy-duty Mobile Storage Racking is ideal for any location that requires a compact storage solution for heavy items. Its space-saving features make it ideal for long-term evidence storage. Learn more about this product by downloading a brochure or checking out the product page.

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ActivRAC Industrial Storage Product Comparison

badge id secure lock high-bay storage
Secure Access - Badge-swipe access provides an additional layer of security to specified aisles, such as this one, which stores evidentiary weapons.

Evidence that can be stored in standard-sized boxes is stored on the XTend® Mobile High-Bay Storage System. These systems move along rails and extend toward the ceiling to make the most efficient use of horizontal and vertical space.

Evidence warehouse staff use lifts to gain access to the upper reaches of the XTend system. These compact storage solutions for property and evidence allowed the department to maintain their accreditation while maximizing the available space in the new evidence storage warehouse. This in turn allowed the department to locate the warehouse on a small lot adjacent to headquarters.

Product Information

High-Bay Storage
Spacesaver high-bay shelving maximizes storage space while also providing accessibility and security. Its configurable shelves make it ideal for storing boxed evidence of various sizes. Learn more about this product by downloading a brochure, scheduling a virtual presentation, or checking out the product page.

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Xtend Mobile High-bay Storage System Brochure