Nitrate film storage facility

In 2011, construction of library and archives canadas lac new nitrate film preservation facility nfpf was complete. Film storage preservation facilities with video tape storage. Due to its extreme flammability, cellulose nitrate motion picture film requires special fire safety and fire protection precautions. Flammable nitrate film had previously contributed to several fires in film industry laboratories, studios and vaults, although the precise causes were often unknown. The inevitable deterioration of nitrate film is accelerated by damp, heat and fluctuating conditions. Storage temperatures therefore need to be as cold as possible. Museums, research centers, and offices that want to store nitrate film in this facility should arrange transportation, storage, and inventory 3. Apr 10, 2017 but theres physical danger involved in nitrate film.

The new facility will house the ucla film and tv archives. Storing and handling cellulose nitrate film with nfpa 40. Nfpa 402019 is the 2019 edition of the standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film the very existence of this american national standard might seem strange. As a result, the effects on acetate film of the three nitrogen oxide gases produced by the decomposition of nitrate film have been investigated. The air force offered the library the use of its motion picture facility, which included 100 purpose built nitrate storage vaults. F inside the storage vault, and maintain the relative humidity below 50 percent.

In march 2001, the nitrate film storage facility was given preliminary project approval since the. Because cold storage space is usually limited, it is important to target only those film collections requiring cold storage, and to identify flammable nitrate film. How has film storage evolved over the four decades of your career. Acetate base films can be chemically attacked by the gases given off by the decomposing, unstable nitrate base films. This book is a celebration of early cinema heritage and the people who know about, care, preserve, and love the fifty or so year history of nitrate cinema. Packard humanities institute, santa clarita, nitrate film film vault the preservation of film usually refers to physical storage of the film in a climatecontrolled vault, and sometimes to the actual repair and copying of the film element. Both of those needed careful attention to the storage environment, so that decomposition didnt set in. Packard campus for audiovisual conservation architect of.

Nitrate film remained in production in various formats until the early 1950s. The first thing that must be done is to segregate acetate and nitrate films for storage, because the two film bases do not mix, and nitrate is not suitable for any permanent storage record. The underwriters regulations do not provide for control of air temperature and relative humidity in the storage of nitrate film other than that temperatures must not exceed 21c 70f. The requirements of this standard, therefore, apply strictly to longterm storage of cellulose nitrate film. Nfpa 40, standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film helps you improve fire protection around still and motion picture film. Developed through research and lessons learned, nfpa 40 is your onestop source for provisions concerning every aspect of storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film in film cabinets and archival. Specifically, it gives general provisions for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film and special provisions for occupancies like motion picture projection booths, nitrate film vaults, and laboratories handling nitrate film. The design included storage vaults with stringent temperature and humidity controls with a constant temperature of 2c. This may not be a typical question faced by an archive or library, but it was a question library and archives canada lac had to answer back in 2009 when preparing to move its nitrate film collection to a new storage facility. This book is a celebration of early cinema heritage and the people who know about, care, preserve, and love the fifty. When locating ammonium nitrate storage areas, consider. Nitrate film storage cabinets with a capacity of 50 lbs. In 1889, the eastman kodak company introduced the first commercially available cellulose nitrate film as an alternative to the more more.

Movies of the first half of the 20th century were filmed on an unstable, highly flammable cellulose nitrate film base, which required careful storage to slow its inevitable process of decomposition over time. Motion picture or sound recording film that is coated on a support or base consisting essentially of cellulose nitrate. Introduction to nitrate film national science and media. Standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film. Cellulose nitrate motion picture film requires special fire safety and fire protection precautions due to its extreme flammability. One of the most important parameters to be considered in the storage of fertilizers is the relative humidity rh within the storage area itself. National audiovisual conservation center wikipedia. The fire resulted in one death and two injuries, and destroyed all of the film in the vault. Cellulose nitrate film, a product once widely used in cinema but ceasing production nearly 70 years ago, is by no means a pillar of the modern industry. For longterm storage requirements, store the film at 35. While each case is unique and should be assessed by a professional, the following are a few considerations or rules of thumb to guide your decisions and next steps of action.

Film collectors and content owners often contact us with questions about restoring filmwhether its nitrate or acetate safety filmthat has begun to decompose. Collections storage building for all recorded sound, safety film and video tape collections 5,000 sf conservation building for all staff and the sound, video and film reformatting laboratories 175,000 sf nitrate vaults built to exacting fire codes for the storage of. Because it is a potential fire hazard, cellulose nitrate film has special storage needs. Proper nitrate film storage conditions require some expense to achieve. Moma an interview with art wehrhahn, moma film vault manager. Additional precautions are required from the standpoint of film preservation. Most types of fertilizer are stored at ambient temperatures. A purpose built facility was constructed at the canadian forces base rockcliffe in ottawa in.

This fire was responsible for the loss of most of the silent films. This building was constructed following the national fire protection associations standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film nfpa 40 and, as such, lac had to follow certain rules. But because identification of film bases for a large collection can often be difficult, time consuming, and inconclusive, for those with limited resources, the cold storage of nitrate and acetate in the same vault is acceptable if all the material is in good condition nishimura, 1993. Nfpa 402019 covers factors like film cabinets, venting, the construction and arrangement of buildings, and related fire protection guidelines in assuring safety. Well, when i first started, of course, most film was 16mm or 35mm, and on nitrate or acetate cellulose stock. As a photographic support, nitrate film had some serious disadvantages. Nitrate film storage cabinets with a capacity of 75 lbs. Keeping storage areas a suitable distance from protected places where members of the public may be placed at risk e.

This chapter outlines the benefits brought by cold and dry storage and suggests options available to cultural repositories. Identifying and handling nitrate film the association of moving. It should be kept cool, at a constant 50f 10c with a relative humidity of 4050%. On july 9, 1937, a major fire broke out in a 20th century fox film storage facility in little ferry, new jersey, united states. The national fire protection association nfpa issues guidelines for the con struction of cabinets and vaults for storing nitratebased motion pictures. See nps special directive 932 preserving nps cellulose nitrate film collections, and nps museum. Its unstable, combustible, and contains a substance that was also used in explosives. At first blush, the obvious solution to this question would be to bring in a scale and weigh all the boxes. Preserving your collection of filmbased photographic. If you have nitrate and are looking for a facility that is able to either verify for you that it is nitrate or for a facility that will accept your film as a donation few places will take nitrate as a deposit then feel free to contact any of the labs or archives below. Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate film bases are chemically unstable and require special action to minimize the risk of total.

Nitratebase film is highly flammable can selfignite at ambient. By the early 1970s, the library was involved in a cooperative project with the american film institute afi and was accepting large gift collections of nitrate film from many of hollywoods major studios. But theres physical danger involved in nitrate film. Use approved film cabinets for shortterm storage of up to 750 pounds of film equal to 150 foot rolls. Lower relative humidities than those recommended would retard decomposition of nitrate film and fading of color images even more, but most experts agree that the risk of brittleness with old nitrate film is too great. Nitrate is inherently flammable, so some institutions may choose to dispose of it after digitisation rather than return it to an archival storage facility. Janchristopher horak, director ucla film and television archive, talks about a motion picture film printer during a tour of the santa clarita facility friday, july 19, 2019. Nov 03, 2011 the laboratory method is to put the piece of film into a tube of trichloroethylene. Shipping and other logistics for nitrate film transportation between facilities. Assessing conditions helps organize preservation priorities and develop bestfit storage practices. This includes unexposed film, positive prints, negatives, or used film. Researchbased nfpa 40 is your onestop source for provisions concerning every aspect of storage. Aug 02, 2018 it applies to all facilities that are involved with storage handling of this film, and it explicitly excludes the storage and handling of film with a base other than cellulose nitrate.

Store in a place that is consistently cool and dry, far away from any heat sources. See the case studies section for more information on how the amnh has set up nitrate film storage facilities. Basic criteria for safely storing a limited amount of nitrate film. Improving storage is the single most important step that institutions can take to protect their film collections. Kodak stopped making it in the early 1950s, when it was.

The pioneering new building is ready to house the bfis entire master collection of acetate and nitrate film in closely controlled environmental conditions ideal for the long term protection of. One of the most impressive publishing endeavors in the area of film scholarship in recent years is the mammoth nineyear undertaking which resulted in this 720 page tome, this film is dangerous. Updated with new definitions that reflect terminology used by modern archivists, the 2019 edition provides facility designers and engineers, code enforcers and inspectors, and film vault owners and operators current and comprehensive requirements for safe storage, handling, and fire protection for nitrate film, including. We have the perfect standard film storage environment for the medium term storage of motion picture film, video and audio magnetic tape, optical media and business records. Nitrate film digitisation for mtg hawkes bay tai ahuriri. Nitrate motion picture film and nitrate sheet film may be stored in separate areas that meet the requirements of the appropriate nfpa standard, nfpa 40 1997, standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film, or nfpa 42 1997, code for the storage of pyroxylin plastic. All cabinets and vaults must allow for venting of decomposition gases. Collections storage building for all recorded sound, safety film and video tape collections 5,000 sf conservation building for all staff and the sound, video and film reformatting laboratories 175,000 sf nitrate vaults built to exacting fire codes for the storage of pre1951 films surviving on nitrate stock 55,000 sf. The campuss data center is the first archive to preserve digital content at the petabyte 1 million gigabyte level. Nfpa 40, standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film addresses fire protection for still and motion picture film. Preserving nitrate negatives chicago history museum.

Janchristopher horak, director ucla film and television archive, talks about a motion picture film printer during a tour of the santa clarita facility friday, july. Safety motionpicture film on cellulose acetate base has been found chemically damaged on occasion by storage in the same can with unstable nitrate film. It also discusses film containers, nitrate segregation, and other storage issues particular to the motion. Properly preserved firstgeneration elements will provide the best available image quality for. Remove from airtight storage containers and use ventilated storage containers, clearly labeled as holding nitrate film, with flammability warnings. Sustainability concerns were integral to the option design, including a green roof. The great majority of films made in the silent era are now considered to be lost forever. Standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate.

The rate of decomposition of cellulose nitrate films roughly doubles with every increase of six degrees centigrade, so the higher the storage temperature, the faster the film will deteriorate. Acetate base films can be chemically attacked by the gases given off by the decomposing, unstable nitratebase films. Packard campus for audiovisual conservation architect. Motion picture conservation center motion picture and. Dec 07, 2016 built in the 1940s to house aerial photographic material produced by the department of national defence, the rockcliffe building was showing its age by the late 1990s and a proposal was put forward to build a new storage building for the nitrate film. The more advanced the decay of acetate film collections, the colder the storage should be. But because identification of filmbases for a large collection can often be difficult, time consuming, and inconclusive, for those with limited resources, the cold storage of nitrate and acetate in the same vault is acceptable if all the material is in good condition nishimura, 1993.

Nitrate film preservation facility library and archives. The american museum of natural history equipped their nitrate film storage area with several safety precautions that meet regulations set by the new york fire. Improper handling can, and has, posed a significant risk to projection and storage facilities, people and the environment. The nps policy for its preservation is by duplicating it onto safety film and storing the original in an appropriate storage facility. If you have nitrate and are looking for a facility that is able to either verify for you. They will definitely have more quantity than is allowed in a b occupancy. Preservation is different from restoration, as restoration is the act of returning the film to a version most faithful to its initial release to the public and often involves combining various fragments of film elements. Disposing of nitrate film needs to be carried out by an expert, in a controlled environment, because once it combusts it cannot be extinguished. Mellon director of collections, describes the effort to assess, preserve, and digitize our collection of approximately 35,000 nitrate negatives. On july 9, 1937, a major fire broke out in a 20th century fox now known as 20th century studios fil m stor a ge fac ility in little ferry, new jersey, united s tates. We are under the 2007 california building code and all other california codes. Nitrate and acetate film restoration media and archive. It was caused by the spontaneous combustion of nitrate film stored in inadequatelyventilated vaults.

One of these rules limits the total amount of nitrate film that can be housed in each fireresistant storage compartment to 305 metres 1,000 feet. Checklist for cellulose nitrate film storage definition of cellulose nitrate film. Nitrate, acetate, and color materials require cold storage for longterm storage. Dehumidification and moisture control for bulk fertilizer. Care, handling, and storage of motion picture film. Nov 11, 2004 one of the most impressive publishing endeavors in the area of film scholarship in recent years is the mammoth nineyear undertaking which resulted in this 720 page tome, this film is dangerous. Important updates in nfpa 40, standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film help you improve fire protection around still and motion picture film.

This building was constructed following the national fire protection association s standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film nfpa 40 and, as such, lac had to follow certain rules. Large quantities of nitrate film have caused several disastrous fires. It applies to all facilities that are involved with storage handling of this film, and it explicitly excludes the storage and handling of film with a base other than cellulose nitrate. The film was, and is, highly flammable, and it releases hazardous gases as it deteriorates. Standard for the storage and handling of cellulose. The preservation of film usually refers to physical storage of the film in a climatecontrolled vault, and sometimes to the actual repair and copying of the film element.

The laboratory method is to put the piece of film into a tube of trichloroethylene. The underground vaults some set to temperatures below freezing contain nearly 90 miles 140 km of shelving, not including 124 nitrate film vaults. We have the perfect standard film storage environment for the medium term storage of motion picture film, video and audio magnetic tape, optical media and business records a constant temperature of 65 degrees fahrenheit is maintained with a 35% humidity. Use vaults for longterm storage of any amount of film and storage of amounts greater than 750 pounds. In 2011, construction on the new nitrate film preservation facility nfpf was completed. Storage and handing of processed nitrate film motion.

In little ferry, gases produced by dec aying film, combined with. Nitrate film preservation media and archive protek vaults. Care, handling, and storage of motion picture film collections. Store deteriorated cellulose nitrate films separate from other cellulose nitrate films. Flammable nitrat e film had previously contributed to several fires in film industry laboratories, studios and vaults, although the precise causes were often unknown. Nara 1571, archival storage standards national archives. On july 9, 1937, a major fire broke out in a 20th centuryfox film storage facility in little ferry, new jersey, united states. They will be handling, storing, and restoring film that was made prior to 1951. Motion picture film can be made of various materials and by different processes and both material and process inform storage, handling, and duplication recommendations. To kick off monday night nitrates, our new weekly photograph series, m.