Archival film storage in plastic pp boxes ?

Hello,

I will be away from my lab for quite a while, and I am very concerned about what could happen to my negatives. Decades of work… They are all stored in archival print files sleeves inside archival cardboard binders. But what if there’s a leak, flood or whatever in my absence… I can’t figure out the best strategy for storing the binders.

I am considering storing them in Muji polypropylene boxes (http://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=9&Sub=38&PID=9693&qclr=4547315112098) with a plastic drape on top, but I am afraid plastic containers like that don’t let a lot of air in and that it might develop some mold or other nasty things… I once found a film and contact print that turned completely solid like cardboard inside one of these boxes. It was among others photographic material that were ok, so I couldn’t figure out what happened…

Am I being paranoid? Any suggestions?

Any knowledgeable opinion would be most welcome !

With all my thanks.

Vania

The archival slides and binders are ideal for long-term preservation, and, in a professional or museum archive, these would obviously be contained in a secure and climate-conditioned environment. SFAIK, plastics are not routinely used, due to long-term considerations of stability, but others can advise more specifically.

OTOH, I don't think that I'd worry too much about keeping my own negs in one of the Muji-type boxes temporarily (perhaps a few months) in normal domestic conditions, maybe with a few silica drying bags, as mould and damp are big enemies. I've used Muji boxes to hold recording tapes, etc. , longterm, with no issues.

I'm in the UK myself, so my climate conditions are fairly moderate. But I'm wondering if you are elsewhere, and why you mention floods, etc.? Are there are any specific unusual or climatic risks worrying you. If so, it's really a case of how far you want to go to protect your negs .....do you value them enough to put them in a safer or more secure location while you're away ?

railwayman3 said:

The archival slides and binders are ideal for long-term preservation, and, in a professional or museum archive, these would obviously be contained in a secure and climate-conditioned environment. SFAIK, plastics are not routinely used, due to long-term considerations of stability, but others can advise more specifically.

OTOH, I don't think that I'd worry too much about keeping my own negs in one of the Muji-type boxes temporarily (perhaps a few months) in normal domestic conditions, maybe with a few silica drying bags, as mould and damp are big enemies. I've used Muji boxes to hold recording tapes, etc. , longterm, with no issues.

I'm in the UK myself, so my climate conditions are fairly moderate. But I'm wondering if you are elsewhere, and why you mention floods, etc.? Are there are any specific unusual or climatic risks worrying you. If so, it's really a case of how far you want to go to protect your negs .....do you value them enough to put them in a safer or more secure location while you're away ?

Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I'm in France and in the city, so no climate problems except for the heat in summer, but as I live in an old building apartment there's always major pipe leaking happening frequently. I will put the negative in a place that I think has no water room in the upstairs neighbour apartment but water always find it's way where the damage will be most catastrophic...

Vania said:

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I'm in France and in the city, so no climate problems except for the heat in summer, but as I live in an old building apartment there's always major pipe leaking happening frequently. I will put the negative in a place that I think has no water room in the upstairs neighbour apartment but water always find it's way where the damage will be most catastrophic...

Click to expand...

Water leaks don't just travel vertically downward. Water can find its way along a cavity, even a tiny one. I speak from experience. I would at least place the negative binders in a waterproof box. Maybe some silica gel units could be put in there, but I understand that too little humidity can be a problem so some investigation might be warranted. It doesn't sound as though humidity would be a big issue for you though.

New
So it’s getting confusing,. I finally purchased a metal box like that (Coffre habitat en acier 60 litres) to put all my archival negative boxes, thinking I will cover it with a plastic cover. The box painting process is lacquered in a oven and it smells of paint quite a bit… So now I am worried that the fumes (the painting smell) will affect the negatives somehow… Do you think it might be a problem ? I don’t want to take any risk.

This is driving me nuts. What system should I go with? plastic with no air in which I could drill a few holes eventually, or lacquered metal with painting smell?…

Thank you for your help! I am leaving in two days so advise would be much appreciated!

Scan everything. Rent a bank box to store the negs. Film has to breath if it is acetate. Your film may be estar and is not subject to vinegar syndrome. In any case VS is from long term bad storage and not just 6 months or a year.

hi vania
slackcrurster is on to something !
a safe deposit box at the bank does not cost too much to rent
it might be worth it ? also i'd put the negatives in the print files and in binders
and just ask your neighbor to keep an eye on them
i know what it is like having water damage. i lived someplace with a leaky roof that ruined a whole bunch of stuff
stored in my closet ( thought it was safe on a shelf ) and then years before on my darkroom counter no clue how that got wet
so im guessing a bank will be good or your friend/neighbor,
et donnez à vos voisins une bonne bouteille de " jura étoile "

good luck !

AFAIK no one advocates PP for archival storsage. Acid Free boxes are bess..

I really think that the OP is now worrying a bit too much if he's only away for a few months. The main issue is to avoid physical damage (the main worry seems to be water damage, so obviously store the negs somewhere away from any possibility of such damage). I really can't see quality plastic (like Muji) being an issue in just a few months. One or two silica bags and a little ventilation should avoid condensation and mould, and, as Slackercrurster says, vinegar syndrome isn't likely to happen in a few months reasonable storage.

And, again, as Slackercrurster says, if 99.9% security is needed, it's bank-vault-type security and extensive duplication or scanning. I know someone who has a small agency and authoring business with a vast store of valuable historical slides and negs taken over many years (and, more recently, video and digital pictures), all totally essential for his work. The originals are in insured archival storage and are rarely accessed, but all are scanned and stored digitally, with no less than five back-up copies of everything retained and updated, One is at his office, one at home, and three with colleagues in different parts of the country.