Yes, you can mount a shelf above a three compartment sink, and many kitchens do, but what goes on it matters. Clean items stored there must be protected from splash, food should not be stored there at all, and sanitizers and detergents can sit above the dish area only under a specific Food Code exception.
Shop the equipment in this article: three compartment sinks, slanted drying rack shelf and wall mounted pot racks. Freight is included on every order.
A sink wall is often the only free wall space, so it is a natural place for commercial kitchen wall shelving. The questions are what you put on the shelf and how high it sits.
What the Food Code says
- Clean equipment and utensils must be stored in a clean, dry location where they are not exposed to splash, dust or other contamination, at least 6 inches above the floor (FDA Food Code 4-903.11).
- Food must be protected from splash in the same way (3-305.11). A shelf directly over a working sink is a poor place for food.
- Poisonous or toxic materials must be stored so they cannot contaminate food, equipment, utensils, linens and single-service items, and not above them (7-201.11). The same section makes an exception for equipment and utensil cleaners and sanitizers kept in warewashing areas for availability, as long as they are stored to prevent contamination.
Your local health department has the final say on how these rules apply in your kitchen.
What can go on the shelf
- Clean dish racks or pans, if the shelf is high enough and out of the spray zone of the faucet and pre-rinse.
- Detergent and sanitizer used at that sink, under the warewashing exception, in labeled containers and placed so they cannot drip into the bowls or onto clean items.
- Test strips and a sanitizer log.
What should not go on the shelf
- Food, including boxed or canned goods.
- Clean single-use items such as to-go containers and cups, which should not be exposed to splash.
- Other chemicals not used at that sink, such as oven cleaner or degreaser.
Drying shelves and slanted racks
Clean dishes must air dry (Food Code 4-901.11). A slanted wall rack lets plates and pans drain back into the sink area. Our WS-SGR-2263 is a 63 inch wall-mounted slanted rack shelf in 304 stainless with a 65 degree slant and 2 drain outlets. A flat shelf above a sink is better for dry storage than for wet dishes.
How high to mount it
There is no Food Code height for a shelf over a sink. Common practice is to mount it high enough that the tallest pot can be lifted out of the bowl without hitting the shelf and that faucet spray does not reach it, while staff can still reach it without a step. Check the backsplash first: our S3C-242414-NF has a 10 inch backsplash, and the shelf goes above it. Our article on wall shelf height above a prep table covers reach and clearance.
Which shelf to choose
| Shelf | What the page lists |
|---|---|
| Solid stainless wall shelf | 49 sizes, 10 to 96 in. long and 6 to 24 in. deep, 18 gauge |
| Wall shelf with side guards | 18 gauge 430, 24 x 12 to 48 x 12 in. |
| Tubular wall shelf | 18 in. deep, 48 or 60 in. long |
| Slanted drying rack | 63 in., 304 stainless, 2 drain outlets |
A solid shelf keeps drips from falling through onto the sink area; a tubular shelf lets air reach the bottom of racks. Near water, 304 stainless resists corrosion better than 430.
What to buy
Measure the sink length and backsplash height, decide whether the shelf is for clean racks, chemicals or drying, then pick a solid shelf, a tubular shelf or the slanted rack. Our solid wall shelves come in 49 sizes so you can match the sink length. Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price, and non-powered items have a 14 day return window from delivery.