Plan cabinets are critical investments for businesses dealing with large-format documents, such as architectural blueprints, engineering drawings, maps, posters, or artwork. These specialised storage units protect, organise and provide easy access to materials that would otherwise be challenging to store without tearing, creasing or folding. The best products require consideration of several key features that will ensure your storage solution addresses the unique needs of your company.
1. Durability
It is crucial when buying plan cabinets that they are durable. It is likely that standard office storage units are not sturdy enough to withstand the weight and size of large-format documents. In addition, they also have to withstand daily usage without showing signs of degradation.
A high-quality product constructed from heavy-duty steel or industrial-grade metal should be considered. These materials provide the cabinet with a degree of strength, ensuring that it will not buckle when used and will continue to withstand prolonged use. In particular, steel cabinets have proven to be effective for document storage in architecture, engineering and graphic design industries which require the heavy use of these documents.
Beyond construction material, the quality of the cabinet finish is also important. Powder-coated is ideal because it protects against scratches, stains, and corrosion and is beneficial when cabinets are exposed to different temperatures or moisture. Purchasing durable products lessens the need for frequent replacement or repair and saves your business time and money in the long run.
2. Scale and volume
Cabinets are available in various dimensions and drawer configurations, so choose versions which meet your business needs. Consider the size and volume of the documents your team manages frequently. For example, if using blueprints and oversized drawings, cabinets with wide drawers are essential to handle these documents safely.
Standard plan cabinets are most commonly made in A0, A1 and A2 sizes, but special configurations can be ordered for non-standard-sized documents. Note that you should also provision the right number of drawers; if companies deal with a large number of documents, it is advisable to provide multiple drawers to avoid overcrowding.
Also, remember the entire footprint of the cabinet. If you have a tight space in your office, try to identify options that maximise vertical storage. Tall units with stackable drawers provide the ability to store more documents in a restricted area and are ideal for small offices.
3. Lockable drawers
Security is one of the most important things to any business, especially for confidential or high-value documents. Cabinets with lockable drawers guarantee extra security, ensuring that only people with authorised clearance can access sensitive material.
Sometimes, locking mechanisms may be built into cabinets or be provisionally fitted with external locks as per the specific needs of users. Individual drawer locks are often included in advanced models; this is useful to lock up some documents while other drawers remain open. This can be helpful when various employees require access to different resources.
Apart from locking access to documents, secure drawers also safeguard valuable documents from being misplaced or accidentally moved out of their storage location, thereby giving businesses extra control and peace of mind.
4. Documentation security
Plan cabinets are designed to protect large-format documents from the possible damage that may be incurred when they are left improperly in storage. The main aim is to safeguard them from a number of environmental elements, which include dust, light, moisture and physical damage.
High-quality options feature drawers with tightly sealed closures that prevent dust and dirt from entering the cabinet. Some businesses – that store sensitive or delicate documents, such as archival records, artwork or blueprints – will pay particular attention to keeping such items dust-free. Many cabinets can also include moisture-resistant designs to protect against water damage where moisture or accidental spills may be a concern.
Another important factor in constructing a drawer is the protection of documents. The inner surface of a drawer must be smooth and non-abrasive so that the document does not scratch during its storage and retrieval. Anti-sagging qualities in a cabinet ensure that heavy and large documents do not warp or bend over time.
5. Ease of use
Plan cabinets not only provide excellent storage solutions but also optimise your business operations. Ease of use is another important requirement. Look for cabinets with features that allow quick and hassle-free access and organisation of documents.
Full-extension drawers are a necessity as they allow users to access drawers without struggling to reach items in the back. Smooth-glide mechanisms make access easy, with minimum effort open and close, making jamming or misalignment over time unlikely.
Label holders or indexing systems on the drawers are another useful feature that can streamline organisation of documents. They enable employees to quickly identify which drawer holds what they need to find. This is very beneficial in fast paced environments that are pressed for time.
When making an investment in plan cabinets for your business, carefully consider the size, security and ease of use they offer. These cabinets will protect and organise important documents and also work towards efficiency and a well-structured workspace. Whether it is an architectural firm working with big blueprints or a design studio working on artwork and posters, the right plan cabinet will be an asset, providing longer-term benefits. For businesses searching for even more space, longspan shelving in Melbourne offers another great choice, providing flexible and robust storage solutions to complement your office organisation.
