If you want your firm to grow and succeed, you must operate in a quiet, uncluttered environment, which is only feasible when everyone in the organization stays out of the mess. It is likely possible that critical documents and files are piled high on desks and in cabinets, and when you need them, you can’t find your specific file. Here, filing cabinets come to the rescue.
We have filing cabinets because it is crucial to preserve confidential documents in a secure location where they can be accessed and located when needed. These are not only a piece of furniture but also helps in creating an ordered workplace by organizing files, folders, and crucial documents.
We know choosing a filing cabinet that keeps your documents safe and complements workplace furnishings takes time. Therefore, various filing cabinets are described here to make your duty easier.
2 Drawer File Cabinet
A vertical file cabinet with two small drawers stacked one on top of the other is known as a 2 drawer file cabinet. They are simple to set up next to your workstation and provide you with convenient access to your files.
These filing cabinets are helpful for people who don’t have much wall space to place the furniture. You can quickly move it wherever you are nearby by pushing and tugging it.
Features:
- Vertical file cabinet with 2 drawers
- Simple to set up
- Convenient access to files
Lateral File Cabinet
Lateral file cabinets are also known as horizontal file cabinets. If you have a specific area in your office and cabins, these file cabinets will complete your work. They are more comprehensive and have a lower height. They may easily accommodate twice as many files as a vertical file cabinet. Yet, they require extra space to adjust because they are relatively wide. You can place the plants and other objects on top to enhance the elegance of the cabin.
Features:
- Horizontal file cabinets
- Requires large space to be placed
- Accommodate more files than a vertical filing cabinet.
4 Drawer File Cabinet
As its name suggests, a 4 drawer file cabinet provides additional room to store essential items because the four drawers are placed one on top of the other. In addition to holding files and folders, these drawers can store stationery and other private belongings. Letter-sized folders work best because the cabinets are not deep enough to hold large, hefty folders. As a result, they function well in offices with limited space but lots of paperwork.
Features:
- Vertical filing cabinet with 4 drawers
- Can hold the other essential items
- Letter-sized folders are best to keep inside.
3 Drawer File Cabinet
Three drawers stacked on each other provide storage in a 3 drawer file cabinet. Arranging the documents in different levels of the filing cabinet helps to keep them organized. Their sizes range from long to short. A long drawer would be appropriate for the workplace, which is much bigger, and a short one may be conveniently positioned next to or under the desk so that all the files are within easy reach.
Features:
- Vertical filing cabinet with 3 drawers
- Keeps the files organized
- Can be put under the desk
Small filing Cabinet
Small filing cabinets are specifically made to fit in a smaller space, such as one beneath a desk or a cubicle. They are relatively small and have two or three drawers to conveniently store vital documents. There are a few variations on these cabinets, one of which has a cushioned seat you can sit upon and access the files easily. The items that are frequently required are kept in the higher storage, while folders that are occasionally needed are placed in the lower one.
Features:
- Fits in smaller places
- Have two or three drawers
- Lower drawers keep the files that are occasionally used
Flat File Cabinet
A flat file cabinet is something you should think about when you can not find a space to store your oversized documents, maps, blueprints, and other massive files. This file cabinet has several streamlined and narrow drawers to hold essential papers and folders. Most of these cabinets have two handles attached to a single drawer because of their greater width, making it simple to pull when needed.
Features:
- Suitable for oversized documents
- It has streamlined drawers
- It has a greater width.
Vertical File Cabinet
Vertical file cabinets are ideal in a cabin that is not big enough for massive furniture. You can always choose these file cabinets to take up the least floor space. In this cabinet, the files are arranged vertically. They are available with 2 to 10 drawers, depending on the variety. Placing them in a chronological sequence is helpful for rapid access and easy reference. If more space is needed, these file cabinets can easily be expanded.
Features:
- Ideal for small office space
- Files are arranged vertically in this cabinet
- Files are easily accessible
Tall Filing Cabinet
A tall filing cabinet is helpful for a person with a sizable collection of documents, files, and folders. This filing cabinet has a longer length but a narrower width. As a result, it is pretty deep and offers plenty of space for storing several files and folders in a drawer. It is typically viewed as a vertical file cabinet with several drawers. It can be installed in your cabin for confidential documents or used as a standard filing cabinet for all departments in the office, allowing everyone to readily access and consult the records maintained there.
Features:
- Helpful for a sizeable collection of documents
- It has a narrower width.
- It is quite deep to hold the files
Mobile File Cabinet
A mobile file cabinet is a filing cabinet that has wheels underneath. It. It is also known as a rolling file cabinet. If you don’t have a lot of space in your office, this cabinet will suffice. Small rolling cabinets can be placed under your desk or wheeled to any corner of your office space. As they can move from one place to another on their wheels, carrying much weight becomes difficult. So, it is ideal for keeping letter-sized documents inside this filing cabinet.
Features:
- It has wheels underneath
- Suitable for small office space
- Ideal for keeping lightweight files
Conclusion
To summarize, filing cabinets in an office will undoubtedly increase space while also improving the overall appearance of the cabin. These cabinets will keep your files safe and organized, allowing you to access and refer to them quickly. Two or three-drawer filing cabinets are ideal if you want to keep documents at hand under your desk. Large and oversized documents are best stored in a flat filing cabinet. Filing cabinets will keep your cabins neat and mind-free from the chaos created by seeing scattered, piled-up files.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What are the different types of cabinets in an office?
The different types of cabinets in an office are:
1. Vertical Filing Cabinet: These cabinets take up the little floor space and come in a variety of two to ten drawers that can easily accommodate different files and papers inside.
2. Flat File Cabinet: These cabinets are ideal for placing oversized documents such as blueprints and maps. This cabinet has a lot of drawers attached to it where the papers can be kept.
3. Mobile File Cabinet: This cabinet has wheels beneath it and carries lightweight papers such as letter-sized documents.
What are secure filing cabinets?
Secure filing cabinets are those that have a locking system installed in them to prevent unauthorized access. The office documents contain confidential information that can be misused if not cared for properly. So, most filing cabinets nowadays have a lock system inside them, like a plunger lock which requires a key to open and gets closed by just pushing the cabinet door.
Why do you need a filing cabinet?
We need a filing cabinet to manage the crucial documents, files, and folders. The filing cabinets accommodate many files and paperwork without occupying much floor space and also help keep the table in the office away from the scattered paperwork. In addition, a vertical filing system is excellent when there is less space in the office, whereas a lateral filing cabinet requires extra space to place.
Do filing cabinets protect from fire?
Yes, the filing cabinets protect from fire. A variety of filing cabinets is called fire-resistant or fireproof filing cabinets. These cabinets are specially designed and prepared by applying a layer of inflammable insulation which protects the essential files from getting burnt and withstand a fire. However, the metal filing cabinets are not fire-resistant and thus do not protect confidential belongings.
How deep are lateral file cabinets?
Lateral file cabinets are typically 20 to 28 inches deep, which provides ample space to keep the files and folders safe. These file cabinets take up much floor space and are ideal for placing in a pretty spacious office. You can also put some plants and objects on its surface to give your cabin a more fantastic look.
What is the purpose of a vertical filing cabinet?
The purpose of a vertical filing cabinet is to store files and access them easily. These cabinets are ideal for offices with little space to hold the furniture. It comes in 2, 3, or 4 drawers, providing enough space to arrange the files vertically in chronological order.
Armed with a PGDM in Marketing from the International School of Business & Media, Pune, Neha has more than 9 years of experience in this field. Her speciality lies in strategic planning, branding, social media, brand communication, and market research to name a few. Being an avid reader, she is always looking forward to learning new things and loves to explore new places. You can contact her at hello@arcedior.com
image sources
- 2-Drawers-Filing-Cabinet: Castellani
- Jet Evo Storage: Bralco
- OS 1902G: My Idea
- 3-Drawer-Filing-Cabinet: Cuf Milano