Summer 2023: Storage Tips and Ideas
Paper Documents and Archival Storage Solutions
Temperature and Humidity Control
If your organisation stores paper documents, it’s vital to consider how seasonal humidity and temperature fluctuations can affect document preservation. Without proper climate control, ambient temperature can negatively affect and damage documents and with the humid 2023 summer around the corner, it may be time to look into your indoor humidity control options.
Damaging Effects of Humidity in Paper Storage
Many materials are more susceptible to moisture than they are to temperature. There is a direct correlation between high relative humidity (RH) and moisture damage to stored products.
Australia’s High Humidity
A large portion of Australia experiences high humidity in summer. When we measure humidity, we are talking about relative humidity (RH). In a nutshell RH refers to the amount of moisture in the air. The hotter the air, the more water it can contain.
Sometimes indoor humidity is higher than it is outside. This increased indoor humidity can be caused by a variety of, or culmination of several factors. Poor ventilation, overworking AC with an inadequate outlet, walls or windows not properly sealed allowing moisture to invade.
Specialised climate conditions are required when storing organic materials. Humidity, temperature, and pollutants are important factors to consider when archiving.
Things to Consider when Storing Paper Documents
Maintaining a constant temperature and relative humidity level is important. However not having the ideal level is better than allowing the environmental conditions to vary and fluctuate.
Temperature and Humidity
The lower the temperature the longer your items will last, because cooler temperatures slow the rate of chemical decay and reduce insect activity. Keep the temperature below 22° C.
Keep the RH below 55% to prevent mould growth and reduce insect activity. Avoid very low relative humidity because RH below 15% can cause brittleness.
Too Much Moisture!
It is commonly acknowledged by preservation experts, that inappropriate water vapour in the air is a real threat to the preservation of documents, artefacts, and relics. Once damaged, the items will never return to their former condition.
The Ideal Temperature for Storing Paper Documents
The ideal temperature for storing paper documents varies between 18° and 22° C and relative humidity (RH) should sit between 40 and 55%.
If we consider that RH is generally quite high throughout Australia, in some cases reaching 65 to 80%, then relative humidity is an important consideration when storing hygroscopic and moisture sensitive material.
Other Storage Considerations
Dust free area
Good air circulation
Weightbearing floors
Tall ceilings
Air filtration system
Smoke detectors
Moisture detectors
Fire extinguisher
An area that is not under water pies
Shelves that are deep enough to lie documents flat
Shelves that are deep enough for the storage boxes
The area is carpet free
Storage Location
When choosing a storage location, avoid basements. These areas are more susceptible to water related damage and generally the temperature is either higher or lower than the temperature within the rest of the location. Basements can also have poor ventilation.
The Ideal Storage Space
The ideal storage space will be easy to clean and maintain, have sufficient space, and make retrieving documents easy.
The floors should be able to withstand shelves full of documents without causing structural damage. If the area has overhead water pipes, position the shelves so the pipes are over the aisles and not the shelves
Storage Handling
The best storage materials do not omit volatile organic compounds (VOC) and are acid free. Boxes are great for keeping documents dust free and out of the lights.
When labelling files use a pencil instead of a pen. Pens tend to fade and the ink can also bleed onto paper
Pollutants
Air quality is also an important factor when storing documents. It’s crucial to ensure proper ventilation with the storage area to prevent harmful compounds from building up. Harmful compounds such as dust, nitrogen oxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide.
A Well-Rounded Solution
There is an easy solution that once set up, frees you from constantly monitoring your indoor climate. Many use heaters, however, this is costly and increases your energy consumption considerably. N.B. While heaters may reduce the relative humidity of a room, it does nothing to remove the moisture from the air.
Desiccant and Refrigerant Dehumidifiers
Depending on the room's natural climate and the product being stored, either a desiccant or refrigerant (mechanical) dehumidifier will create and maintain the ideal climate for your products.
Refrigerant dehumidifiers work best in spaces where the temperature is at 20° C and above and humidity levels of 50% and above. They work on the humidity of the room and run when the humidity is above its set point.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers are ideal for controlling humidity and work well below 20° C. If indoor temperature is not your concern but you require low humidity, then a desiccant dehumidifier can create and maintain below 50% relative humidity regardless of the time of year.
The Best Humidity Controlled Storage
To find out more about humidity controlled storage solutions and the variety of preservation and storage applications Humiscope has helped. Please visit our Storage and Preservation page or contact us for an obligation free chat about the HVAC technology we specialise in.