The sort of documents that most often require careful storage are those created by hand or using a computer and plotter. In addition to careful storage, consideration needs to be given to security and prompt and precise access. Lockable storage and filing systems or logical arrangement needs to be employed.
By larger documents we mean documents that are A0, A1, A2 and A3 size, remembering that as the number following the A gets smaller the paper size gets bigger.
There are two main ways to store such documents:
* By suspending them and storing the suspended documents in fixed or mobile drawing cabinets
* By storing them in drawers in specially designed drawing cabinets (sometimes called plan chests) or wall mounted and mobile carriers.
Suspending Documents
There are two ways in which documents may be suspended:
* Fixing hanging strips to the document. Hanging strips are normally made of heavy-duty plastic, often polypropylene, to which the document can be attached by adhesive tape built into the strip. The hanging strip contains several holes that line up with the prongs in the storage unit.
* Since the hanging strip is fixed directly to a single document this system is ideal where ready access to an individual document is required.
* Drawing hangers are spring-loaded grips that can hold up to 100 sheets of paper – the number of sheets depending upon the thickness and quality, hence the weight, of the paper. The loaded drawing hanger is suspended in a storage unit.
