Standards / Specifications

International Standard Organization. ISO 10356:1996 Cinematography -- Storage and handling of nitrate-base motion-picture films.

International Standard Organization. ISO 12606:1997 Cinematography -- Care and preservation of magnetic audio recordings for motion pictures and television.

ISO is the world's largest developer of standards for every imaginable industry. Highly technical but thorough standards publications are available for purchase from their Web site.

International Standard Organization. ISO 14523:1999 Photography - Processed Photographic Materials - Photographic Activity Test for Enclosure Materials.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18902:2001 Imaging Materials - Processed Photographic Films, Plates, and Papers - Filing Enclosures and Storage Containers.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18911:2000 Imaging Materials - Processed Safety Photographic Films - Storage Practices.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18920:2000 Imaging Materials - Processed photographic reflection prints - Storage practices.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18921:2002 Imaging materials -- Compact discs (CD-ROM) -- Method for estimating the life expectancy based on the effects of temperature and relative humidity.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18923:2000 Imaging materials -- Polyester-base magnetic tape -- Storage practices.

International Standard Organization. ISO 18925:2002 Imaging materials - Optical disc media - Storage practices.

Library of Congress Specification Number 800-851-6/16/03. Specifications for Stainless Steel Cans For Long-term Storage of Motion Picture Film.

The world’s largest library develops some of its own specifications for archival products, such as film and magnetic media containers.

Library of Congress Specification Number 800-852-1/14/03. Specifications for Plastic Containers for Long-term Storage of Motion Picture Film and Magnetic Tape Media.

The world’s largest library develops some of its own specifications for archival products, such as film and magnetic media containers.

National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 40 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film.

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)

SMPTE plays an invaluable role in moving image preservation by promulgating standards and recommended practices, and specifications on formats, storage and handling procedures, materials processing, signal transfer, reproduction, and more. Standards, such as RP 131-2002: Storage of Motion-Picture Films and RP 103-1995: Care, Storage, Operation, Handling and Shipping of Video Tape for Television, are available for sale from the SMPTE Web site.