ᐅ How can I secure MALM furniture against earthquakes?

Hello everyone,

I am currently looking into the safety of my furniture concerning potential earthquakes. I am especially concerned about my IKEA Malm furniture series, as they are quite tall and narrow. Could you please recommend the best ways to secure Malm dressers and shelves to prevent them from tipping over or sliding during an earthquake? What fastening methods are effective and safe without damaging the furniture?

I am looking for solutions ranging from wall mounting to possible anti-slip measures. Thank you very much!

MALM furniture should always be secured to the wall using the included metal brackets. Additionally, non-slip rubber pads can be placed underneath to prevent any movement.

It is essential to secure the furniture using the wall anchors included in the delivery. Although the MALM series from IKEA comes with mounting hardware, I recommend double wall fastening, for example, using high-quality wall plugs and metal brackets suitable for drywall.

Additionally, anti-slip pads under the feet reduce the risk of sliding during ground tremors. For tall dressers, the weight on top should be minimized to prevent tipping. For wooden walls or drywall, reinforcements can also be beneficial.

Secure wall anchors with metal brackets, use anti-slip pads, and avoid stacking too high. Done.

Thank you for the quick responses.

@Bautau, could you please explain in more detail which anchors are especially suitable for secure mounting on drywall? And what is the recommended procedure if the dresser is not placed directly against a load-bearing wall?

I am also interested in your advice regarding weight distribution on top of MALM furniture – is there a guideline on the maximum load that should be placed on top, or how to manage this properly?

antun65 schrieb:
Could you explain in more detail which anchors are especially suitable for secure fixing in drywall?

For drywall, I recommend special hollow wall anchors, so-called toggle anchors, as they expand behind the wallboard to provide a stable hold. Alternatively, metal expansion anchors with high load capacity are also suitable.

antun65 schrieb:
And how exactly should you proceed if the dresser is not placed directly against a load-bearing wall?

In cases where there is no solid wall, furniture can be secured with floor anchors. These are screwed to the floor and connected to the furniture, effectively preventing tipping, though they are more visually noticeable.

antun65 schrieb:
Is there a rule about how much weight should be placed at the top or how to implement this properly?

There is no exact rule, but heavier items should always be placed at the bottom. It is advisable to avoid storing heavy decorations on the top drawers or shelves, as this significantly increases the risk of tipping during earthquakes.