Basically, there are two types of filing cabinets most commonly used around the country. Although there are other types in accordance to their custom uses, but these two are the most used. These are the vertical file cabinet and the lateral file cabinet. Each type has its own unique and distinct advantage over the other type. Vertical types are usually have long length drawers with slender widths. However, one downside of vertical file cabinets is that their drawers tend to open out long enough to making it quite difficult for a short armed person to reach deep into the drawer to get or scan a file….unless he or she has long arms or moves on to the side of the open drawer to reach something (which many people aren’t accustomed to anyway). On the other hand, lateral file cabinets have drawers which have much shorter lengths but much longer widths making them open out just enough for an average individual to reach in and scan for a file. To have a clearer perspective, one could just look at each type’s orientation as a portrait and a landscape. However, the downside of lateral filing cabinets is that they may take up a lot of wall space in an office or in your home room. If you’ve got the luxury of a big office or room where space is no problem, then the lateral file cabinets might be appropriate.

Choosing which type to use highly depends on each individual’s or business’ needs. One type might be favorable over the other. But whatever is chosen, whether the vertical or the lateral type, that cabinet can certainly be a big help when it comes to organizing and keeping important documents and papers safe. There are many brands of filing cabinets that are in the market. Popular ones used are Hon file cabinets and the Bush file cabinet system. In addition, Hon is also renowned for their big line of sleek wood file cabinet systems (either white wood file cabinet or black wood file cabinet). Almost often, these brands are available at major office superstores and even furniture depots in many localities.

With this in mind, it would be a best practice to safeguard our vital papers against fire. We will never know when it will strike destructively. No matter how we come prepared, accidents can happen in a time we least expect it and in the worst possible manner. Hence, the least we can do is to mitigate the effects. Sure, a business entity could always engage the services of a reputable insurance company for a comprehensive fire insurance plan. But then again, they cannot restore your important documents and data. Looking at the brighter side, many important documents can be replaced but the process of doing so can be time consuming, resource draining and may entail tons of costs and lost opportunities. Hence, it may be a sound decision to invest in a sturdy fireproof storage cabinet. Not only that, it would increase the chances of saving those sensitive data and documents.

These types of lateral filing cabinets are insulated with special materials that can shield the papers inside from the intense heat normally generated in a fire. Without proper insulation, things inside the cabinet will just burn spontaneously as they heat up to a temperature suitable for combustion to take place. Keep in mind that, even though papers are shielded from the fire itself, they still can burn inside if the temperature is right for combustion considering the fact that air can still be present inside the cabinet. Generally, what these cabinets do to protect the contents inside is that they prevent the heat buildup inside their insulated compartments from escalating into higher temperatures that might start the combustion process.

Another thing to note is the fact that not all fireproof cabinets are made equal. That is, they may have different insulation ratings; hence, different capabilities. In most cases, the higher the capability, the more expensive they become. Ratings could include the time frame a fire insulated cabinet can protect the documents inside. Some cabinets can give protection ranging from a few minutes for up to an hour. Heavy duty insulation materials used in high rating fire resistant storage cabinets can give protection for hours.