Specifications
for File Folders with Reinforced Tab for the Storage of Artifacts
Specification Number 200-211-6/19/02
This specification is provided as a public service by the Preservation
Directorate of the Library of Congress. Any commercial reproduction
that implies endorsement of a product, service or materials, in any
publication, is strictly prohibited by law. This Specification is written
for L.C. purchasing purposes and is subject to change when necessary.
I. General Specifications - II.
Product Requirements - III. Inspection
A. Stock Composition
- Pulp:
- Fiber: The stock should be made from rag or
other high alpha-cellulose content pulp. It must not contain any
post consumer waste recycled pulp.
- Lignin: The stock must give a negative reading
for lignin as determined by the phloroglucinol test when tested
according to ASTM D 1030, X5 spot stains and shall have a Kappa
number of 5 or less when tested according to TAPPI T 236 cm-85.
- Impurities: The stock must be free of metal
particles, waxes, plasticizers, residual bleach, peroxide, sulfur
(which will be less than 0.0008% reducible sulfur as determined
by TAPPI T 406 om-88), and other components that could lead to
the degradation of the paper and artifacts stored therein.
- Metallic Impurities: Iron must not exceed 150
ppm and copper shall not exceed 6 ppm when test according to TAPPI
T 266.
- Optical Brighteners: The stock must be free
of optical brightening agents.
- pH:
The stock should have a pH value of 8.0 - 9.5 as determined by TAPPI
T 509 om-88, cold extraction (modified by slurrying sample pulp before
measurement).
- Alkaline Reserve:
The alkaline reserve should be a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 5%
calculated as CaCO3 when tested according to ASTM 4988-89.
- Sizing:
Only neutral or alkaline sizing shall be used. No alum rosin or rosin
sizing should be used as determined by ASTM D 549-88.
- Photographic Activity Test:
The stock must pass the Photographic Activity Test (P.A.T.). Tests
to be conducted and results reported as described in ISO 14523-1999
or the latest revision. Tests should be performed by Image Permanence
Institute (c/o Rochester Institute of Technology, Frank E. Gannett
Memorial Building, P.O. Box 9887, Rochester, NY 14623-0887, Tel: 716-475-5199,
FAX: 716-475-7230) or other pre-approved laboratory.
- Basis Weight:
10 pt. card: the minimum basis weight should be 145
lbs/3,000ft.2
- Folding Endurance:
The stock must meet the minimum requirement of 750 double folds in
the machine direction using a 1 kg. load. Tests to be conducted according
to the MIT Fold Endurance Test as described by TAPPI T 511 om-88,
after conditioning according to TAPPI T 402 om-88.
- Color:
- The color of the stock will normally be tan, cream, buff or
will be specified on the purchase order.
- The color must not be so dark that it obscures color-dependent
test evaluations.
- Bleeding: The color must show no bleeding when
soaked in distilled water for 48 hours while held under suitable
weight in contact with white bond paper. The color must not rub
off.
- Retention: The color of the stock must not
change more than 5 points of brightness as measured by directional
reflectance at 457 nm (TAPPI T 452 om-92), when exposed 24 hours
to a Xenon arc lamp in an Atlas Weatherometer under the following
conditions: Irradiance Level: 1.0 watts/m2 at 420 nm. Inner
filter: Borosilicate glass. Outer filter: clear soda lime glass.
Black panel temperature: 50°C. Wet bulb depression: 8.5°C
- Surfaces and Smoothness:
The surfaces of the stock must be free of fingerprints, dirt, bubbles,
knots, shives and other abrasive particles. The stock is to be smooth,
e.g., calendered, hot-rolled, and/or water polished. The stock must
show a smoothness within the range of 175 to 220 Sheffield units,
when tested according to TAPPI 538 om-88.
- Creases or Folds:
The stock should not fray, crack or split when folded and/or creased.
- Abrasion:
The outer surfaces of the stock must show a loss of less than 2% of
the total weight (mounting card and sample) when tested with a #CS10
wheel and 100 wear cycles according to TAPPI T 476 om-84.
- Stiffness:
Stiffness will be evaluated according to TAPPI 489 om-86, after conditioning
by TAPPI method T 402 om-88.
10 pt. card must have a minimum internal stiffness
of 80 Taber units in the machine direction and 30 in the cross direction.
Values less than the required minimum will be considered a failure.
- Adhesive:
If an adhesive is required, it must not soften, run, cause the stock
to become transparent or alter the color of the stock. The adhesive
must not yellow, discolor, or fail (causing delamination) over time.
When used, the adhesive must not extend beyond the joined area.
- Planar Distortion:
There must be minimal planar distortion upon visual inspection.
B. Identification
- Information:
Each folder should be identified by the name of supplier, year of
manufacture, the actual pH and "P.A.T."
- Placement and Size:
The identifying information must not be larger than 2.5" long
and 1.5" high. It should be centered on the back flap of each folder.
- Method:
The folders can be stamped or embossed:
Stamping should be legible on the outside of the
folder. If stamped, inked areas should pass the Photographic Activity
Test as described in latest revision of ISO 14523-1999. The ink must
not smear, bleed, fade or rub off after drying. The inked stamp impression
should be neat without excess ink and there must be no penetration
to the interior of the folder. There must be no ink on the interior
of the folders.
Embossing should be legible from the inside of the
folder. If embossed, the impression should be as light as possible
while still being legible. The impression should not break fibers.
C. Packaging
- Inner Wrapper:
I.D.: Each package must plainly identify the type,
size and number of items within, the name of the supplier or manufacturer,
year of manufacture, manufacturing run or batch number, actual pH
and "P.A.T.".
- Outer Wrapper: The items must be packed in standard
commercial containers which are constructed to ensure that they arrive
at Library of Congress in dry, undamaged condition.
I.D.: The outside of each container must be identified
by type, size and number of items within, manufacturing run or batch
number, Purchase Order or Contract number and "P.A.T.".
D. Testing
- Responsibility:
The supplier is responsible for meeting all the requirements specified
herein. The Library of Congress has the right to perform any of the
tests set forth in the specification where such tests are deemed necessary
to ensure that supplies conform to prescribed requirements.
- Sampling:
To sample for testing, shipments will be sampled according to MIL-STD-105E
at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 2.5 percent
defective from each lot offered. Copies of MIL-STD-105E are available
from Naval Publications and Forms Center, Standardization Document
Order Department, Building 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia,
PA 19111-5094.
- Methods:
Tests will be conducted in accordance with specified test methods
of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Technical Association
of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). Publications describing these
tests may be ordered directly from the technical associations at the
following address:
- ANSI, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
- ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- TAPPI, One Dunwoody Park, Atlanta, GA 30348
- Tests:
Requirements
|
Test Method |
Lignin: |
negative/Kappa 5 |
ASTM D 1030, X5 or TAPPI 236 cm-85 |
Reducible Sulfur: |
< 0.0008% |
TAPPI T 406 om-88 |
Iron: |
< 150 ppm |
TAPPI T-266 |
Copper: |
< 6 ppm |
TAPPI T-266 |
pH: |
8.0 - 9.5 pH |
TAPPI T 509 om-88. cold extraction, slurried pulp |
Alkaline Reserve: |
2 - 5% |
ASTM D 4988-89 |
Alum Rosin Sizing: |
negative |
ASTM D 549-88 |
"P.A.T.": |
negative |
ISO 14523-1999 |
Basis Weight: |
10 pt: 145 lbs./3,000 ft2 |
TAPPI 410 om-93 |
Folding Endurance: |
750 MD |
TAPPI T 511 om-88 |
Color Bleeding: |
none |
See above, "I. 8. Color" |
Color Retention: |
< 5 points |
TAPPI T 452 om-87 |
Smoothness: |
175-220 Sheffield |
TAPPI 538 om-88 |
Abrasion: |
< 2% |
TAPPI 476 om-84 |
Stiffness: |
10 pt: 80 MD/ 30 CD
Taber units |
TAPPI 489 om-86 |
E. Quality Assurance Inspection
- Sampling:
To evaluate non-tested requirements, shipments will be sampled according
to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality
level of 4.0 percent defective from each lot offered.
A. Construction, illustrated below
- The grain (machine direction) of the folder stock should run perpendicular
to the fold
- The fold should be in the longer of the two dimensions of the file
folder
- The top corners of the front and back panels should be rounded
- The reinforced tab must be evenly adhered to the back panel
- The adhesive must not extend beyond the joined area
B. Workmanship
- The folders must be cut straight with squared sides
- The sizes should be accurate. The edges should be smooth and even
and should meet exactly
- All score lines and the fold should be accurate and uniform
- The score lines should be deep enough to permit easy and precise
folding while maintaining maximum strength
- The allowable tolerance for each dimension is ±1/16"
C. Dimensions
- Folder Sizes: L x W
- Letter size: 9 5/8 x 11 3/4"
- Legal Size: 9 5/8 x 14 3/4"
- Full Drop
- The full drop for all folders should be one inch.
- Reinforced Tab
- The height of the reinforced tab should be a minimum of 1 3/8".
- Score Lines
- The score lines should be 3/8" and 3/4" away from and parallel
to the primary fold.
|
|
|
Arrow indicates grain
direction |
An examination will be made to determine whether the items comply
with all requirements. The qualities and characteristics which will
be examined include the following.
Testing Inspection
- Materials must pass all composition and performance specifications
stated in "I. General Specifications."
Visual Inspection
- Materials must meet all specifications stated in
II Product Requirements.
- Color must be tan, cream or buff or as specified
on the purchase order or Contract.
- Edges or creases of the card must not fray, crack,
or split.
- Edges must be cut square and clean and sizes accurate.
- Surfaces must be free of fingerprints, dirt,
knots, shives and other abrasive particles.
- Adhesives must not soften, run, cause the stock
to become transparent or alter the color of the stock. The adhesive
must not yellow, discolor, fail (causing delamination), or extend
beyond the joined area.
- The folders must be cut straight with squared sides.
- The sizes should be accurate. The edges should
be smooth and even and should meet exactly.
- All score lines and the fold should be accurate
and uniform.
- The score lines should be deep enough to permit
easy and precise folding while maintaining maximum strength.
- The allowable tolerance for each dimension is ±1/16".
- The grain (machine direction) of the folder stock
should run perpendicular to the fold.
- The fold should be in the longer of the two dimensions
of the file folder.
- The top corners of the front and back panels should
be rounded.
- The reinforced tab must be evenly adhered to the
back panel.
- The adhesive must not extend beyond the joined
area.
- Dimensions:
- Folder Sizes: L x W
Letter size: 9 5/8 x 11 3/4"
Legal Size: 9 5/8 x 14 3/4"
- Full Drop - The full drop for all folders should be one inch.
- Reinforced Tab - The height of the reinforced tab should be
a minimum of 1 3/8".
- Score Lines - The score lines should be 3/8" and 3/4" away from
and parallel to the primary fold.
- Planar distortion should be minimal.
- Identification should be stamped and legible from
the outside or embossed and legible from the inside as specified in
I.B. on the center of the back panel.
- The inner wrapper must be according to size and
identified as specified.
- The outer wrapper must ensure arrival in dry, undamaged
condition and be identified as specified.
FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE CAUSE FOR REJECTION.