How to Remove Steelcase Lateral File Drawers

Clear contents before removing file drawers.

Reorganizing your office? Moving? Cleaning? Any of these scenarios may involve the removal of drawers from a lateral file cabinet. How you take out the drawers may depend on who made your file. Steelcase, a manufacturer of office furniture and equipment for nearly 100 years, uses a safety mechanism that consists of a tape and an interlocking cam that prevents drawers from spilling open all at once.

1. Start at the top and work your way down. Empty the file drawers. Remove all papers and folders.

2. Pull open the empty top drawer to its full length.

3. With a flat-tip screwdriver, remove the screws on each side of the drawer body at the back that connect it to its suspensions.

4. Use the screwdriver to pry the drawer body barbs from the suspensions, then lift the drawer out.

5. Before removing the next drawer, deactivate the interlock mechanism in the opening where the previous drawer was removed by turning the interlock cam lever upward so it engages with the tape.

6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 with each successive drawer.

Tip

To put the drawers back, start from the bottom up. Make certain to align the drawers in their original spots.