6. STORAGE National Film Preservation （6。）.pdf

6. STORAGE Improving storage is the single most important step that institutions can take to protect their film collections. This chapter outlines the benefits brought by cold and dry storage and suggests options available to cultural repositories. It also dis- cusses film containers, nitrate segregation, and other storage issues particular to the motion picture. Cold and dry storage wins preservationists a measure of control over the film decay process and buys time for preservation copying.1 6.1 IPI RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FILM MATERIALS Temperature and moisture are the two key factors affecting the rate of film deteri- oration. Fresh acetate film stored at a temperature of 65°F and 50% RH (relative humidity) will last approximately 50 years before the onset of vinegar syndrome. Just reducing the temperature 15°, while keeping the humidity at the same level, delays the first signs by 150 years.2 Low temperature and low relative humidity lev- els slow chemical decay and increase the stability of motion picture film. For nearly two decades the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) at the Rochester Insti- tute of Technology has studied the effect of light, heat, pollutants, and humidity on film and paper decay and developed tools to diagnose and measure these problems. In conjunction with this guide, IPI has produced the IPI Media Storage Quick Ref- erence, a publication bringing together information on storing photographs, audio- tapes, videotapes, CDs, and DVDs, as well as motion picture film. Recognizing that many repositories house these media together, IPI has developed climate condition charts to enable preservationists to choose storage solutions that maximize benefits to a fuller range of their collections. This section distills some of the key recom- mendations for motion picture materials. Consult the IPI Web site (/ ipi) and the IPI Media Storage Quick Reference for more detailed information. The IPI charts reflect the recommendat