What makes a metal TV unit different
Weld quality, coating thickness, adhesion and rust are covered on the metal furniture page. Top load, glass type, latches and anchor kits are on the TV units page. A metal TV unit adds its own problems because of how it is built.
Most are one of two designs. The first is an open frame: four or more tube legs, rails top and bottom, and shelves dropped in, with no back or sides. The second is a sheet-steel box: folded sheet for the top, shelves and sometimes doors, on a tube or plinth base. Many ranges mix both and add a wood or glass shelf for contrast.
That gives four things to look at that a wooden unit does not have. An open frame has nothing stopping it leaning sideways unless it is braced. A folded sheet shelf is only as stiff as its gauge and the depth of its folded edge. Cable holes are punched or cut in steel, which leaves a sharp edge. And when glass, wood and steel meet, each part is made in a different workshop and only meets the others at final assembly.
What we check on metal TV units
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet shelf gauge and fold | Sheet thickness measured at an edge with a calliper; folded edge depth measured; shelf loaded at mid-span to your instruction | Thinner sheet or shallower fold than drawn, visible dip under load |
| Racking of open frames | Unit pushed sideways at the top on a flat floor; braces and gussets checked against the drawing | Frame leans or springs back visibly, missing cross-brace |
| Shelf and bracket welds | Welds where shelves meet legs, and mid-span supports under the top | Tack welds where full welds were drawn, unsupported long spans |
| Punched cable holes | Finger and cable test round each hole; grommet fitted | Burr or sharp edge, coating missing inside the hole, no grommet |
| Glass on steel | Pads or clips present on every support, glass seated flat, no steel touching glass | Missing pads, glass rocking, glass resting on a weld bead |
| Wood shelf on steel | Fixing method, colour against the frame sample, gap at the frame | Wood screwed tight through round holes, shelf colour off, shelf proud of the frame |
| Steel doors and mesh | Doors opened and closed, hinge welds, magnetic catch; mesh panels checked at every wire end | Doors that rattle or drop, sharp wire ends, mesh weld points broken |
| Levellers | Each foot wound in and out; threaded insert inspected | Insert not welded square, thread full of powder coat, foot missing |
Common metal TV unit defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Class |
|---|---|
| Broken or missing weld on a shelf support | Critical |
| Glass resting directly on steel with no pads | Critical |
| Sharp burr in a cable hole or at a mesh wire end | Major |
| Open frame racks visibly, brace missing | Major |
| Sheet shelf dips under the specified load | Major |
| Leveller insert blocked with powder coat | Major |
| Wood shelf colour does not match the approved sample | Major |
| Steel door rattles but closes | Minor |
| Coating thin inside a cable hole, no bare metal | Minor |
These are our default classes. You can set your own in the specification; agree them before the visit.
Market rules that apply
The coating rules for steel (16 CFR 1303 lead in paint in the US, REACH in the EU, Prop 65 warnings) and the TV unit rules (the Australian toppling label for every entertainment unit) both apply. What the combination adds:
- Wood or MDF shelves. An MDF shelf on a steel frame brings the unit under TSCA Title VI for the US, and any wood must be declared under the Lacey Act.
- EUDR depends on the customs code. The EUDR covers furniture under the wooden lines of heading 9403. A steel unit with a wood shelf may be classed as metal furniture or not; confirm the code with your broker before you decide what due diligence is needed.
- Several colours, several tests. A lead or REACH test covers one coating. Each powder colour, and the wood shelf finish, needs its own report.
We do not run chemical tests at the factory. We pull and seal samples for an accredited lab and check the report against the colours on your order.
Packing, transit and loading risks
- Knock-down frames. Many open-frame units ship flat. Check the bolt count, that bolt holes line up on a trial assembly, and that powder coat has not filled the threads.
- Glass in its own sleeve. Glass shelves travel in a separate padded sleeve or carton, never against a steel rail.
- Sheet shelves nest and scratch. Folded shelves stacked inside each other rub through the coating. A sheet of foam between each one prevents it.
- Wood shelf next to steel. A wood shelf packed against bare frame corners dents. It needs its own wrap and corner guards.
A carton drop test followed by a trial assembly shows most of these problems at once.
What to put in your purchase order
- Sheet thickness and folded edge depth for every shelf, with the test load and allowed dip.
- Bracing for open frames: where cross-braces or gussets go.
- Cable holes: size, position, deburring and grommet type.
- Glass: support pads or clips at every contact point.
- Wood shelf: material, finish, colour sample and fixing (slotted holes so the wood can move).
- Door catch type and mesh specification, with wire ends turned in or capped.
- Leveller thread size and that inserts are masked before coating.
For the timber version, see wooden TV units. For another steel-and-wood pairing, see metal and wood dining tables.