Environmental
Factors
- Relative Humidity:
acceptable range is a stable 30% to 50% RH, though 30-35% is recommended.
Above 60% or below 20% is unacceptable.
- Temperature:
B/w
prints and negs: 65 - 70F / 18 - 21C; Colour prints and negs: 40 - 65F / 4 -
18C (or, ideally in
cold storage: 25 - 40F / -4 - +4C)
- Air pollution:
Peroxides
from untreated wood, paints, and varnishes;
poor quality paper
or plastic products in close proximity to photos;
fumes
from common cleaning solvents; photocopiers
emit ozone; air
entering the storage area should ideally
be filtered and purified to remove gaseous and
particulate matter; recommendations
include the use of cellulose or fiberglass filters and a charcoal absorption
system that filters out gaseous pollutants.
- Light:
Damage
caused by light is cumulative and depends on the intensity and length of
exposure. Both visible light and UV (sunlight and fluorescent) are damaging.
- Pests:
Insects
(silverfish, cockroaches, beetles); Rodents (rats, mice, squirrels);
Eating and drinking should be prohibited where collections are stored
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