When you’re managing valuable documents, architectural plans, or precious artwork, proper storage isn’t just helpful: it’s absolutely essential. Whether you’re running a busy museum, managing a growing architecture firm, or organising your office’s important documents, plan chest units offer the perfect solution for keeping your materials safe, accessible, and in pristine condition.
Let’s dive into why plan chest units have become the go-to choice for professionals who need to store oversized documents and delicate materials properly.
What Makes Plan Chests So Special?
Plan chests aren’t just oversized filing cabinets: they’re specifically designed storage solutions that keep your documents flat, protected, and easily accessible. Unlike rolling or folding storage methods that can damage papers over time, plan chests store everything horizontally in wide, shallow drawers.
This flat storage method is crucial for preventing creases, tears, and the general wear that comes from repeatedly handling rolled documents. When you’re dealing with original architectural drawings, historical maps, or valuable artwork, this protection becomes absolutely vital.
The beauty of plan chests lies in their simplicity and effectiveness. Each drawer provides a dedicated space for different projects, time periods, or document types, making organisation straightforward and retrieval quick.
Key Benefits That Make the Difference
Protection from damage is the primary advantage you’ll notice immediately. Documents stored flat don’t develop the stress marks and damage that come from rolling and unrolling. This is particularly important for older papers that might be becoming brittle or for documents you need to preserve for decades.
Easy access means you can locate and retrieve specific documents without disturbing others. No more unrolling multiple drawings to find the one you need, or accidentally damaging other documents in the process.
Space efficiency is another major benefit. Plan chests pack a lot of storage into a relatively small footprint, making them perfect for offices where space is at a premium.
Security features include lockable drawers, ensuring your valuable or confidential documents stay protected when you’re not around.
Perfect Applications Across Different Sectors
Architecture Firms and Engineering Consultancies
Architecture firms absolutely love plan chests because they solve the daily challenge of managing hundreds or thousands of technical drawings. When you’re working on multiple projects simultaneously, having each set of plans organised in separate drawers makes project management so much smoother.
Your CAD prints, hand-drawn sketches, site surveys, and client presentations all have their designated spaces. Plus, when clients visit, you can quickly pull out relevant drawings without creating chaos in your storage system.
Museums and Cultural Institutions
Museums face unique challenges when storing historical documents, maps, and artwork. Plan chests provide the museum-quality storage these institutions need, protecting items that might be irreplaceable.
The controlled environment within each drawer helps maintain stable conditions, whilst the flat storage prevents the mechanical stress that causes historical papers to deteriorate. Many museums use plan chests for storing unframed prints, historical maps, and large-format photographs.
Libraries and Educational Institutions
Libraries, particularly those with special collections or local history departments, find plan chests invaluable for storing oversized materials. Historical newspapers, large maps, architectural plans of local buildings, and academic posters all benefit from this type of storage.
Educational institutions also use them for storing student artwork, large-format teaching materials, and research documents that need to be preserved for future reference.
Corporate Offices and Legal Firms
Even modern offices benefit from plan chests, especially when dealing with legal documents, property plans, marketing materials, or corporate archives. Legal firms particularly appreciate the secure storage for property boundaries, planning applications, and court exhibits that need to remain in perfect condition.
Why Metal Construction Matters
When choosing plan chests, the construction material makes a huge difference to both durability and document protection. Metal construction offers several key advantages that you simply can’t get from wooden alternatives.
Durability means your investment lasts decades, not years. Metal drawers won’t warp, crack, or develop gaps that let in dust or moisture.
Fire resistance provides an extra layer of protection for your valuable documents. Whilst not fireproof, metal construction offers better protection than wood or plastic alternatives.
Pest protection keeps insects and rodents away from your documents: something particularly important for long-term storage.
Chemical stability ensures the storage material won’t off-gas chemicals that could damage sensitive papers or artwork over time.
The Rackline Difference: British Quality You Can Trust
At Rackline, we’ve been manufacturing storage solutions right here in the UK for over four decades. Our plan chests reflect this experience, combining robust construction with thoughtful design features that make daily use a pleasure rather than a chore.
Our customisation options mean you can get exactly what you need. Whether you require specific drawer sizes, particular finishes, or special security features, we can adapt our designs to match your requirements perfectly.
British manufacturing ensures quality control at every stage, from the steel selection through to the final assembly. When you choose Rackline, you’re not just buying storage: you’re investing in decades of reliable service.
Practical Features That Make Daily Use Better
Smooth-running drawer slides ensure easy access even when drawers are fully loaded. There’s nothing worse than struggling with a sticky drawer when you’re trying to quickly access documents during a client meeting.
Adjustable dividers let you customise each drawer’s internal layout to match your specific needs. Whether you’re storing A0 architectural plans or smaller A2 prints, you can configure each space perfectly.
Robust handles might seem like a small detail, but when you’re opening and closing drawers multiple times daily, quality hardware makes a real difference to the user experience.
Professional finishes ensure your plan chests look as good as they function, whether they’re in a client-facing reception area or a back-office workspace.
Getting the Size Right
Plan chests come in various sizes, from compact units perfect for small offices through to large-capacity systems suitable for major institutions. Consider both your current needs and future growth when making your choice.
A0 capacity suits most architectural and engineering applications, providing space for the largest standard drawing sizes.
Multi-format flexibility means you can store various document sizes in the same unit, with larger drawers for big plans and smaller compartments for standard documents.
Making Your Investment Work Harder
Think beyond just document storage when considering plan chests. Many organisations use them for storing fabric samples, large photographs, artwork portfolios, and even three-dimensional items like models or samples that need to remain flat.
The key is choosing units with the right internal dimensions and weight capacity for your specific applications. At Rackline, we can guide you through these choices to ensure you get maximum value from your investment.
Maintenance and Longevity
Quality plan chests require minimal maintenance whilst delivering decades of reliable service. Regular cleaning and occasional lubrication of drawer slides keeps everything running smoothly.
Our UK manufacturing means replacement parts and servicing support remain available long after your initial purchase, protecting your investment and ensuring continued reliable operation.
Planning Your Storage Strategy
When implementing plan chests in your workspace, think about workflow and accessibility. Position frequently-accessed drawers at comfortable working heights, and consider how the units integrate with your existing furniture and storage systems.
Consider future expansion needs too. Our modular approach means you can add additional units as your storage requirements grow, maintaining consistency in both appearance and functionality.
Plan chests represent a smart investment in proper document storage, offering the protection, accessibility, and durability that valuable papers and artwork deserve. Whether you’re managing historical archives or contemporary technical drawings, the right plan chest solution transforms storage from a daily frustration into a smooth, efficient process.
If you’re looking for advice on choosing the perfect plan chest for your needs, or want to discuss customisation options, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team on 01782 770144, email us on info@rackline.co.uk or fill in the form below and one of our team will be in touch.