| The useful
life of film can be shortened significantly by contact
with water such as from floods, leaky roofs, burst
pipes, or fire sprinkler discharge. Storage racks
should be raised so that the lowest shelf is at
least 6 inches off the floor. Drains provided should
have adequate capacity to keep water from a sprinkler
discharge from reaching a depth of 3 inches.
If the film storage area should
become flooded, prompt steps should be taken to
reclaim any films that were immersed. Once the
film has become wet in the roll form, it should
be kept wet. If it dries, even partially, it may
be impossible to unwind it for cleaning because
the convolutions have stuck together. If there
are no local facilities for re-washing and drying
the film immediately, the film should be placed
in a water-filled container and sent to a laboratory
where it can be washed and dried properly. For
holding wet or muddy film prior to the cleaning
operation, the roll should be immersed completely
in a cold water solution (below 65° F) containing
sodium sulfate and formaldehyde. This will prevent
the convolutions from sticking together and the
growth of bacteria. It will also help prevent
swelling and softening of the emulsion, which
are major causes of damage. |
