What Are Lateral Files?
A filing cabinet is a piece of office furniture that contains drawers for storing papers, documents and files. The most common types are vertical and lateral file cabinets. Vertical files were developed in 1898; lateral files appeared much later. The vertical file cabinet's drawers pull out about 15 inches, and the cabinet contains two to five drawers. Having an appropriate file cabinet at work or in a home office is important for an orderly system of maintaining papers and records.
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Description
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Vertical file cabinet drawers extend out farther than lateral file cabinet drawers. A lateral file looks like a utility cabinet or dresser, with long, horizontal drawers that pull out. Some drawers are divided vertically down the middle, creating two sections where the user can place 8-by-12 hanging files side by side and running front to back. Some lateral file cabinets have the length to hang two sections of legal files, side by side, front to back.
Construction and Measurements
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Vertical file cabinets have been used for over 100 years. Most lateral files are made of wood or steel and are sturdy and durable. They have a double-walled, reinforced construction that ensures the cabinet will stay square over time. The drawers have steel ball bearings on the roller mechanism, allowing them to open and close easily and smoothly. Some cabinets have a top drawer where the door flips up to open and a shelf that pulls out, ideal for storing miscellaneous office supplies. Tall lateral files may have a flip-down drawer front that allows access to files without having to climb onto a stool.
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Measurements
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Two-drawer lateral file cabinets fit well into cubicle work spaces. Most lateral files are 20 inches deep; they are manufactured in widths of 30, 36 and 42 inches and with two, three, four or five drawers. The 30-inch, two-drawer cabinet is popular for use in cubicle workstations because it fits under or alongside the desk work surface. A low two-drawer cabinet of wood makes a useful table for a fax machine, office manuals or reference books.
Advantages of Lateral Files
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Lateral file cabinets are ideal for businesses that handle many files and documents. Unlike vertical files, a lateral file gives users a choice of side-by-side or front-to-back filing systems. Filing systems easily can be alternated drawer to drawer. All files can be seen and accessed easily because the drawers are not very deep. Lateral files take up less space than vertical files, which is important when several people are working in a small space. The cabinet drawer doesn't need to be pulled out as far, which saves space, and the cabinet isn't bulky or unstable. Most models have a counterbalance feature so the cabinet will not fall over if more than one drawer is opened at the same time. As an additional safety feature, tall models are made so only one drawer at a time can be opened.
Who Can Benefit
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The lateral file fits well in a home office. Lateral files can hold a great number of records, making them ideal for businesses with a high volume of papers, records and documents. Lateral files are common in medical offices, law enforcement agencies, and legal and real estate offices that require space for 8-by-14-inch legal documents. Schools, colleges and hospitals have found lateral files can store more records but take up less space than vertical files.
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References
- Photo Credit Hospital Files image by PinkSony from Fotolia.com file image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com red office #2 image by Val Thoermer from Fotolia.com preparing the file image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com file folders image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com Interior of the cabinet image by Andytani from Fotolia.com
