ᐅ How can I secure Malm furniture against earthquakes or vibrations?

Hello everyone, I have a rather specific question: How can I effectively secure my IKEA Malm furniture against damage from earthquakes or severe vibrations?

I’m not just looking for simple fastening methods, but a permanent, secure, and as space-friendly as possible solution that can withstand stronger movements.

Unfortunately, the Malm dressers are quite bulky and tend to tip over easily during sudden movements, which can be dangerous.

Does anyone have experience with suitable methods or products to prevent Malm furniture from falling or getting damaged during ground shaking? Are there specific brackets that are easy to install? Are additional base anchors advisable?

Thanks for your insights!

I would secure the furniture to the wall. IKEA offers appropriate wall anchors for the Malm series. These effectively prevent tipping during vibrations.

To secure Malm furniture against earthquakes, the first step should be to install wall anchors using IKEA-specific floor brackets or universal wall brackets. Additionally, anchoring the furniture to the floor is recommended to reduce tipping forces during strong shaking.

Using non-slip mats under the furniture feet also helps prevent sliding during vibrations. It is also important to store heavy items as low as possible to lower the center of gravity and improve stability.

minKarson schrieb:
IKEA offers suitable wall anchors for the Malm series.

I did the same, and it really gives you a better feeling when you think about some preparation.

I was also unsure because I was worried the furniture might be damaged over time, but so far no issues at all. Since then, my family also feels safer in the earthquake zone.

It’s not a guarantee against everything, but I think it’s worth it, especially for well-known and moveable furniture like Malm.

I am more interested in how reliable the wall anchors offered by IKEA really are, especially during a stronger earthquake.

ladali schrieb:
Anchoring the furniture to the floor is recommended to reduce tipping forces.

That actually seems more sensible to me than just attaching it to the wall, because with a horizontal impact the wall fasteners can fail if only the top edge is fixed. A floor anchor might distribute the forces better. Are there any experiences or studies on this topic regarding Malm furniture?

I ask because many people only use the IKEA wall anchors and do not secure the furniture to the floor.

Floor anchors are often better but not always necessary.

It is important that the furniture is firmly secured against the wall and does not move. Non-slip mats help with vibrations on smooth floors.

With Malm furniture, the wall attachment can be effectively combined with anti-slip pads.