Aug 26
Secure Document Storage
posted by: admin in Fire Proof Document Storage on 08 26th, 2009 | | No Comments »

[Editor's Note: For businesses, secure document storage is critically important. The best thing you can do is get yourself a fireproof file cabinet that can keep your documents secure in case of a fire. Check out Office Depot for a huge selection of fire safe file cabinets.]

document storage south africaIf you run a business, even a small one from home then you need to ensure you look after and keep all of your critical documents such as invoices and bills in a safe place. Not only that, UK law states that some documents need to be kept for up to six years.

Many people, however, when asked where their last year’s accounts are will happily just point to a shelve, take you to their garage or simply ruffle through their drawers to get you the information you need. Put simply, they’re not stored anywhere safe and could be lost or stolen very easily.

Company documents are important and storing them safely is a legal requirement, not just a good idea. You should, the, consider putting them somewhere safe so that they cannot be simply picked up and taken out of the building, lost when someone decides to tidy up and burned to a crisp in a freak accident.

Here are some options to keep your documents safe:

  • Off-site storage – For larger companies this can be a great option. Very often a local storage company will offer a weekly or monthly pick-up service. You provide all your documents in a set format and they will take them to their secure storage facility.
  • Digital storage – This is becoming ever more popular, although the legality of digital-only documents is still in some doubt. A ‘belts and braces’ option would be to store your paper documents somewhere after first digitising them in some way. If you do this then you should really store your digital versions in a different place to the paper ones – spread the risk.
  • On-site storage – Realistically, this is the most common and cost effective way of storing your document. Simply keep them in one place in a secure position in the building. But don’t just leave them in a simple filing cabinet, make sure you put them where they cannot be found easily and is secure.

Obviously there are greater risks to your paper documents than theft – the most common being fire. You should therefore consider a robust fire safe. You should also consider the possibility of heat damage and choose your safe accordingly.

Author: Alan Trescott

Alan Trescott is the marketing manager at The Safe Supermarket. He helps businesses looking to secure their valuable documents and important information. If you have a document storage need and want to discuss it with them, check out the website which has many examples of the Phoenix Safe range.

Alan also deals with more specialised requirements for example high rated fire safes for more robust storage of documents and important paperwork.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Trescott

Ubiquitous Secure Document Storage and Sharing

Our first major initiative was transitioning from local LAN-based systems to a Web-based system with document storage and sharing capabilities. We selected Xythos because it met our need for a flexible, secure system.

Secure Document Storage For A Safer Business

In an age when personal security seems to be constantly under siege while more and more of our personal information is stored electronically, it’s more important than ever to protect this information.

Secure Document Storage?

Who are you trying to secure the documents from? Depending on the nature of what you’re storing, I wouldn’t trust the company where you’re storing your documents. So yes, I’d encrypt them first.

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Aug 18
Lateral Filing Cabinet
posted by: admin in Fire Proof Document Storage on 08 18th, 2009 | | No Comments »

[Editor's Note: A lateral filing cabinet can end up costing a fortune if you don't know where to look. To get a great price on one, why not try Office Depot? Not only do they have a great selection, but they also offer free next day shipping on orders over $50.]

metal lateral file cabinetsFiling cabinets are now very common and are to be found in almost every office. Their use is to store paper documents in different file folders. They are normally found in two different forms: lateral files and vertical files. The vertical file cabinet has drawers which extend from the short side, and the lateral file cabinet has drawers which extend from the long side. These highly popular filing cabinets are generally made of metal sheets and use sliding drawers. This facilitates easy opening of the drawers; again, they cannot be pulled out of the cabinet completely.

The first and foremost task is to analyse the need for filing cabinets since there are a variety of them available out there in the market. You must ask yourself the following questions: what type of files will you be storing? What is amount of file storage that your will require? What is the size of the documents that you work with? – before you go and get yourself one. It should also be borne in mind that the size and appearance of the filing cabinets should be complimentary to the rest of the office furniture. Generally made of steel or wood, some of the leading manufacturers of filing cabinets are Bush, Bestar, Safco, Leda, O’Sullivan, Sauder, Eurostyle, Mayline, Kathy Ireland and Azura.

The number of drawers in a vertical file cabinet range normally ranges from two to five. Vertical file cabinets seem to be a more popular choice now as they cover less area and space is an issue these days. Vertical cabinets are available in different sizes and made of different materials. Lateral file cabinets, on the other hand, are wider and hence cover much space. Unlike vertical cabinets, where the drawer size remains constant, in case of lateral file cabinets you fit in two different sizes of paper in a single drawer. The bigger drawers of lateral cabinets’ enables high volumes of file and paper storage.

Steel file cabinets are the best choice these days because they are strong and of excellent quality. Provisions such as suspension bars, lift-up doors and roll-out shelves facilitate easy access of files. In spite of this, the amount of space, height and the volume of data required to store in them, should be properly analysed before buying a steel file cabinet of a particular size. Employers also prefer fireproof and water resistant file cabinets owing to the fact that they protect from getting destroyed.

Another type of filing cabinets is the media protected file cabinets. They protect sensitive data and computer disks from fire, and hence, are gaining in popularity. Another type is the impact resistant file cabinets. These ones protect files from getting destroyed in case a roof collapses during fire. They are a good choice as well. The constant use of filing cabinets make it mandatory to purchase good quality ones as they should be able to withstand constant usage.

By: Ken Walden

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

A wide range of attractive and affordable, used and unused, home and office furniture is offered by Superior Office Services. superiorofficeservices.net was started by Ken Walden to help everyone by offering furniture which suits all pockets with FREE space planning and design services.

Mobile Lateral Filing Cabinet

Chart storage carts need to be durable yet lightweight and easy to maneuver in patient care areas as well as on outdoor surfaces if there is a need to transport charts between buildings.

Hon Series Lateral Cabinets

Read Hon Storage Cabinet Reviews. nextag.com/hon-storage-cabinet/search-htmlHon 800 Series 36 inch Wide Lateral File Cabinet – at Bean BagsHon 800 Series 36 inch Wide Lateral File Cabinet.

Filing Cabinets are Office Furniture Organization Heroes

A lateral file cabinet can hold all types of files and can serve double duty as another work surface or storage space. Limit the number of interior folders within hanging folders to four or five folders.

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Aug 17

[Editor's Note: Mobile filing and storage cabinets can be easily moved around. You can find a huge selection over at Office Depot, and if you order over $50, you can get free next day shipping.]

alchemy document storageBuying a functional home office desk for your particular requirements is very important and requires careful consideration. There are vital things to consider which will affect your productivity and well being.

Nothing is sacred to little children! So, how do you set up a home office that will meet your professional requirements, but still stand up to the ordeals of a home with children? Well, there’s no easy answer, but the following tips may help you. First of all, here’s some home office furniture tips you may want to consider.

You should only pick a desk that has rounded edges as well as sturdy drawers that can be locked; particularly since there will be documents that children should not get into. It doesn’t matter whether your home office desk is in the corner of a room or has its own room; please don’t think that your home office will be "off limits" actually working, especially if you have small, curious children.

The same can be said for filing cabinets. Even more so, as heavy cabinet drawers can be pulled out and actually crush a small child, so ensure you have locks that work, or have latches that are difficult to open. Again, make absolutely certain that your business computer is kept where little children can’t get into it. Lock it away into an armoire desk or perhaps even consider locking up your office at night.

Another wise investment is a solid home office chair that youngsters would have a difficult time tumbling over. My advice is to be wary of regular office chairs as kids love chairs that spin -it’s a simple fact. However, you’ll be very angry if they go round and round and you find they actually stop after knocking your coffee over a stack of important papers! As you go about building your own home office don’t forget that childproofing your office is important. But expect a problem from time to time and be proactive by keeping items they shouldn’t’ touch out of sight – and mind!

Probably the two most important pieces of home office furniture you will purchase will be your home office desk and chair. These days there is are a variety of different types of home office desks, chairs and other home office accessories available on the market.

Whether you are looking for a Computer Armoire to help conserve space, a Corner Desk to maximize space, a Computer Desk, or a U-Shaped Desk to spread out on, there’s a variety of styles and finishes available online that will suit your needs and dcor.

For example, a computer armoire is an elegant looking large cabinet that has a desk that holds a computer and its peripherals. If you don’t have a separate room to set up a home office then a computer armoire may be just the thing you need. You can create a mini office in practically any location in your home with a computer armoire.

Then there’s the home office corner desk, which makes great use of space. The computer desk with hutches will also provide the extra space you need for home office supplies. L shaped desks give you plenty of work surface and sometimes accommodate a guest on the other side of the desk as well. On offer these days are numerous executive U shape desks and peninsula desks for your home office. There’s also a broad selection of affordable mobile computer carts available online that are both ergonomic and stylish.

For additional information on home office desks, including computer desks, corner desks, computer armoires, L shaped desks, desks with hutches, computer carts and U shaped desks, please visit: Home Office Desk Tips

By Ken MacKenzie

Cabinets

Mobile filing cabinets are easy to move. One can easily change the place of cabinets as per the requirements. Different types of compartments are being made available in stores along with different shaped files.

Waste Container for Mobile Filing Cabinet

For the temporary deletion of a computer file see Recycle bin (computing). A circle of bins A waste container is a container for temporarily storing waste, which is usually made out of metal or plastic. 

On Time Mobile Filing

Mobile storage which can be brought easily to the desk is provided by On Time a series of mobile caddies with a crisp clean aesthetic and mobile functionality.

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Aug 10
Used Filing Cabinets
posted by: admin in Fire Proof Document Storage on 08 10th, 2009 | | No Comments »

[Editor's Choice: If you want to save big bucks by buying a used filing cabinet, by far the best place to look for one is eBay. They have hundreds of listings for all types of filing cabinets, including fireproof!]

used filing cabinetOffice furniture will usually form a significant part of your overall budget for setting up an office. It makes sense to try to minimize what you spend in this area while getting the functionality you need.

The first thing you must do is to determine needs precisely. What items of furniture can’t be avoided? What is nice to have but not essential? Plan to cut out the latter if you’re on a tight budget.

Here are ideas for saving on each of several types of office furniture.

Storage

Having some form of organized storage is usually essential. However, it can be quite expensive. Brand new filing cabinets can cost you several hundred dollars apiece. Buy used filing cabinets from surplus stores, auctions and so on.

Alternatively, try using those storage boxes meant for keeping hanging files in. You can get them from office supply for as little as ten or fifteen dollars. There are also stackable storage drawers made of steel and fiberboard. They are quite inexpensive when compared to traditional filing cabinets.

Desks

You can get office desks in a very wide price range. If you want to save money, emphasize functionality over style. Avoid buying those computer desks. They are often fragile and way too small if you want to do any sort of paperwork.

Here’s an idea — why not use a kitchen table as a desk? You can get a rectangular kitchen table at a far lower price than traditional office desks. You get a large desktop area that partly compensates for lack of storage space. Plus, you can add a filing cabinet or other storage under it.

Chairs

This is one piece of office furniture worth spending money on. Buy an ergonomically designed chair that offers good back support. That way, you can work for long periods of time without fatigue.

You can often find used office chairs in good condition. Be sure to check for wear and tear or damage that might affect the comfort and support you get.

Desk storage

There are good shelving units available at office supply stores. Plus of course, you can get used ones to save money.

Another way to save money on desk storage is to use storage cubes. You can usually find them in the kitchen sections of department stores. They are very cheap and give you the storage space you need.

Computers and software

When buying a computer, buy one with the configuration you need rather than go for the highest-end configuration available. You are looking for the functionality you need at the lowest possible price. Keep an eye open for sales. Once you know what you want, try to buy at a sale.

Look for deals where essential software like the operating system and office software suite are bundled along with the hardware. It usually pays to shop around when buying computers.

Stand for printers and other equipment

Using a separate stand for your printer and other equipment can free up space on your desk. While you can get a good printer stand fairly cheaply, you can also be creative and think of other options. For instance, use a drawer or an end table as a printer stand.

Use the simple ideas above and you will save money while having the office furniture you really need.

About The Author

Mary West writes on workspace design. Her articles on office furniture at http://www.guide-to-office-furniture.info/ and http://www.guide-to-office-furniture.info/furniture-buying-tips.html include ideas on how to buy on a budget and other money saving tips.

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Aug 10
Document Storage Boxes
posted by: admin in Fire Proof Document Storage on 08 10th, 2009 | | No Comments »

[Editor's Note: When you need to store documents, you are going to need some good quality document storage boxes to make sure that your documents are kept safe and dry. Office Depot offers a large selection of document storage boxes for sale in all shapes and sizes. Pick up $50 worth and have your order delivered to you the next day for free!]

document archival storage boxHow much paper work is lying around your home? How much is taking up office space in your business? Have you got university or college paper over taking your life? You need not worry because help really is at hand to ease the mountain of papers and documents that are slowly getting on top of you.

Thankfully there are now many companies opening up whose primary job is to look after your documents. Storage facilities exist which allow you to store all of your documents in the most safe and secure way.

Document Storage companies offer a variety of container sizes for all of your document needs. The size of the container that you choose depends on what and how much you are going to be storing as some of your documents may be small but others may be bulky. With many storage companies they offer you storage units in sizes such as a standard unit, which will hold up to 70 boxes, a large unit, which will hold a maximum of 148 documents. Whichever container you choose they are all checked on a regular basis, giving you the peace of mind that all of your documentation is as safe as it could be. With any document storage solution the containers should always be clean, secure, dry and safe. You also should be given the peace of mind that all of the documents are sealed and stored in humidity controlled warehouses, which are protected by intruder alarms as well as smoke detectors.

The way in which document storage works is that you simple rent out a storage unit at a size that suits your requirements, this unit is then yours to use for however long you require it. During this rental period you are allowed free easy access to your documents and you get a fully managed service as your boxes are logged into a database, holding the details of your location and date and retrieval status.

As well as choosing the correct document storage space you also need to make sure that you pack your documents in the correct way as to not cause damage to them and to also maximise the space within your document storage unit. Examples of some of things that you could do to ensure this include:

  • Make sure you use good quality storage boxes such as cardboard and plastic boxes as these provide the best document storage
  • Ensure that you always fill boxes to capacity, as partially full or bulging boxes may tip or collapse, which could potentially damage your papers and files
  • Heavy items should always be packed into small boxes so that they are easy to lift when you are placing them into the storage unit and taking them out again
  • Label or number boxes for easy reference for when you need to locate your goods
  • Make up an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place at home

Plan your storage space – put the items that you need to get to most often near the front, close to the storage unit door.

Author: Helen Cox

Helen is the web master of Keep Safe Storage, specialists in all aspects of Document Storage

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Cox

Archival Storage Boxes

Our Archival Storage Boxes offer solutions for Document Storage, Media Storage, Packaging and Filing needs. These Cartons, Folders Boxes and Magazine Holders are structurally reinforced for added durability.

The Path to Storing Boxes

Their pricing for businesses with fewer than 50 or more than 500 boxes is highly competitive, but I have not found any other document storage company out there who can touch them in the 50-500 box range. 

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Aug 6
Cheap Filing Cabinets
posted by: admin in Fire Proof Document Storage on 08 6th, 2009 | | No Comments »

[Editor's Note: For cheap filing cabinets, eBay is actually a great place to start looking. There are a ton of file cabinets available for sale, and you can conduct your search based on brand, size, or even color!] 

used fire proof file cabinetsJust as the name suggests, filing cabinets are special furniture units designed for filing important papers, storing files and documents in a methodical manner and keeping them secure under lock and key. A neatly organised filing system creates a positive feeling about any organisation.

Unlike other office furniture, filing cabinets come in very few styles. The two main types of filing cabinets offered by most office supplies companies in the UK are:

1. Vertical Filing Cabinets:

This is the traditional filing cabinet designed with two to ten drawers for storing letter or legal sized files. Here, the files are stored facing the front of the drawers. The drawers have depths ranging from 12 to 30 inches, while the width is usually 18 inches. For offices with little space, vertical filing cabinets are a better choice as they take less floor and wall space.

2. Lateral Filing Cabinets:

These filing cabinets come with much wider drawers as compared to the vertical ones, up to 42 inches. Here, files can be stored from front to back or side-to-side depending upon the filing structure. In a lateral filing cabinet, one can store files of both legal and letter size in the same drawer.

One more advantage of lateral cabinets is that one can easily access and view the stored files. Moreover, the storage capacity is about one third more as compared to the vertical filing cabinets. This filing cabinet is a better option for offices where limited wall space is not an issue.

Apart from the two types of filing cabinet mentioned above, there are two more popular furniture units that are used in offices for storing files and important documents. These are rolling cabinets and open shelving units.

A rolling cabinet has sturdy castors providing you with the option to move your files to wherever they are required. This is very useful if yours files are required in more than one location, or you wish to easily change your workspace.

On the other hand, open shelving systems have open shelves placed side by side and on top of one another. These open front shelves are simple in design and less expensive.

Things to consider before buying a filing cabinet

Before buying an appropriate filing cabinet for your office, it is essential to know a few essential things like:

  • The number of drawers of the cabinet, and their width and depth.
  • The floor space where you want to place the filing cabinet.
  • The overall size of the cabinet, you don’t want to buy something that might look lot out of place.
  • Enquire about the maximum weight capacity per drawer before selecting the cabinet.
  • Check the internal drawer width to ensure that it meets your storage requirements.
  • If buying for security reasons, look for a fire or impact-resistant filing cabinet.
  • Buy a filing system with a quality suspension mechanism so that you can open and close the drawers without any hassle.
  • Look for filing cabinets with counter weighted drawers to ensure that the cabinet never tips over while accessing the top drawers.
  • While buying a filing cabinet, it is essential to give importance to the material used in manufacturing it, as that will give a good indication as to its durability.
  • Last but not the least, buy a cabinet that blends well with the rest of your office furniture.

Keep this checklist in mind while placing your order for a high quality filing cabinet from an Office Supplies Company in the UK, the USA or any other country in the world. For top quality filing cabinets you can rely on, choose Bisley Filing Cabinets or Triumph Filing Cabinets, they are amongst the best on the market.

Author: Tony Chalmers

Tony Chalmers has worked for a reputable Office Supplies Company in the UK in various capacities. He is also an amateur writer and has written various articles related to office supplies and furniture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Chalmers

File, Files and Filing Cabinets

I’ve noticed the new cheap under $200 filing cabinets are mostly designed with the hanging file in mind. I have some older filing cabinets at work that were originally a high quality type from 20+ years ago. 

Turn your Old File Cabinet into a Garden

How many times have you come across an old file cabinet that is just a bit *too* rusty, gunky, or broken to use in your home or office? I see them all the time and never thought twice. 

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Aug 5

4 shelf open metal filing cabinetAre you looking for fire protection for your documents or computer records? Whether it is for the home or business there are safes of all sizes that can keep your documents safe from the flames of a fire. They usually provide a limited amount of protection.

There are Fire safes which are so called because they have the ability to keep the interior of the safe at less than 350 degrees for the stated period of time. This allows the contents to remain protected from the actual flames. Most manufacturers will not call them "fireproof" but "fire resistant" instead. In order for a safe to resist heat, the special composite material sandwiched between the outer and inner metal walls gives off moisture. This creates steam inside of the safe. The steam will not exceed 350 degrees fahrenheit. The manufacturer has to insure that the "steam" created by the composite fire retardant material will be released from the safe. So these safes are not air tight. They must release the steam created inside while the fire is red-hot outside.

The labels on all fire safes state the length of time tested and that the safe will maintain a temperature of 350 degrees fahrenheit or less during that time. There are ones available that can withstand flames for 1 hour, 1-1/2 hours and up to 3 hours. When purchasing a fire safe, take into account how far you are from the fire department responding to a fire at your location to determine how much protection you will need.

The safe will still protect your paper documents, however, when the fire retardant, composite material runs out of moisture the safe will no longer resist the fire.

The mixed media file cabinet is a great choice for both paper and computer media safety. Available in 2,3, or 4 drawer models, they resemble regular file cabinets. You can choose to have media protection drawers or fire rated drawers for paper records, or both. The paper record storage drawers are tested and rated by UL to be Class 350 – 1 Hour., where internal temperatures stay below 350F when exterior temperatures reach 1700F. During the same 1700F test, media drawers were able to maintain an internal temperature below 125F without exceeding the 80 percent humidity level. This drastic standard is required to protect computer media like DVDs. The construction of each file protects against magnetic interference as well.

Another less expensive option is the fire and impact file cabinets that are for paper records only. They can have 2 or 4 drawers and are about 1/2 the price of the models mentioned above, and still provide the 350 degree security needed for paper files.

So called Burglar and fire safes are another much smaller option and provide both fire and burglary safety. They are usually 20" to 30" square, with the interior being even smaller. They come with UL 350 protection for 1 to 1.5 hours. There usually is 2" of concrete between the steel inner & outer walls which provdes the needed burglary and flame safety, unlike the steam method above.

Whichever one you choose, all of these and many more can be found at the Safe and Vault Store.com

By: suzik

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

fire filing cabinets, www.safeandvaultstore.com 

Filing Cabinet Redo

Some people prize the hospital-green look of vintage steel filing cabinets and office furniture. Other people don’t. Some people just get tired of after a while, which is what happened to ReadyMade reader Seth Greenia.

1960s Metal Filing Cabinet

Adding a touch of retro to otherwise drab office furniture might be just what you need to give you motivation during the coming summer months. Today’s Daily eBay find is a 1960s retro looking French metal office filing cabinet.


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