Specifications
for Photographic Negative Storage Boxes without Lid
Specification Number 300-341-6/19/02
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.
- Thickness and Basis Weight:
60 pt. board: the minimum basis weight should be
800 lb./3,000 ft.2
- Color:
The color of the stock will normally be tan, cream, buff or grey 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:
The surfaces of the stock must be free of fingerprints, dirt, bubbles,
knots, shives and other abrasive particles.
- Creases of 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.
60 pt. board must have a minimum internal stiffness
of 5,600 Taber units in the machine direction and 2,500 in the cross
direction.
- Adhesive:
If an adhesive is required, it must not soften or run. The adhesive
must not 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.
B. Metal Edge Stays
- Description:
The metal edge stays should be made from a single unit of 0.0088 gauge
cold rolled steel coated on the exterior with chrome, lacquer or baked
enamel. The metal stays should be one inch wide and contain a minimum
of 8, 4-prong eyelets per 2 inch length.
- Color:
The color of the metal edge stays should be chrome or colored so that
they blend with the box.
- Corner Joints: All cut corner joints of the box
should be joined with continuous, tarnish proof, metal edge stays.
The prongs of the stays should fully penetrate the box board so that
they are visible on the inside and be free of sharp, raised edges
inside and outside. The stays should extend to within 1/4 inch of
the edge of the board.
C. Identification
- Information:
Each box should be identified by the name of the supplier or manufacturer,
year of manufacture and the actual pH.
- Placement and Size:
The identifying information must be embossed or stamped on each box
and not be larger than 2.5" long and 1.5" high. It should be centered
on the bottom of the box, legible from the outside.
- Embossing Method:
If embossed, it should be impressed from the outside of the box. The
impression should be legible from the outside only. There should be
no penetration to the inside of the box.
- Stamping Method:
If stamped, it must be done on the outside of the box. The ink must
be a black based ink which does not fade, smear, bleed, or rub off
after drying. The inked stamp impression must be neat without excess
ink and there must be no penetration to the interior of the box. There
must be no ink on the inside of the box from any source.
C. Packaging
- Wrapper:
The items must be packed in standard commercial containers which are
constructed to ensure that they arrive at the 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 and Purchase Order number or Contract number.
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 acceptance 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 |
Basis Weight: |
60 pt: 800 lbs./3,000 ft2 |
TAPPI 410 om-93 |
Color Bleeding: |
none |
See above, "I. 6. Color" |
Color Retention: |
< 5 points |
TAPPI T 452 om-87 |
Abrasion: |
< 2% |
TAPPI 476 om-84 |
Stiffness: |
60 pt: 5,600 MD Taber units 2,500 CD |
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 boxes should be constructed as illustrated below.
- The boxes should consist of one blank of 60 pt. board stock
which meets the specifications above.
- Pulls are not acceptable.
- Metal edge stays should secure the box corners as indicated
above and in the illustration below.
- The boxes must be sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and
tear during use.
- The boxes must stand level
|
|
B. Workmanship
All boxes must show good workmanship. They should be clean, free from
frayed or torn edges and unnecessary scores or cuts. All dimensions
of the box maker's blank should be accurately cut, scored and slotted
so that the assembled parts fit closely without binding.. Edges must
be straight, side edges must meet exactly, and corners must be 90 degrees.
C. Inner Dimensions
Inner dimensions will be specified on the purchase order or Contract
from the following selection. In addition, the boxes must follow the
below specifications:
Length |
Height |
Width |
|
7 1/4" |
5 5/8" |
4 3/4" |
For 4 x 5 negatives |
4" |
7 3/4" |
5 5/8" |
For 5 x 7 negatives |
4" |
8 5/8" |
10 5/8" |
For 8 x 10 negatives |
D. Storage Drawer Guidelines
Interior box dimension tolerance must be within +/- 1/16" (one-sixteenth
of one inch). Boxes shall be constructed similarly to the sample submitted
(see paragraph below). Dimensions of a 1% random sample of the production
run will be verified by Library accepting official using calipers, rulers,
or measuring tapes. Boxes must fit in a front-pull standard file cabinet
drawer as shown in the arrangement below, not a lateral-drawer
file cabinet. Approximate dimensions of front-pull file drawer size:
12" W x 9" D x 26" L.
Box samples for use as models may be requested from the Library by
the vendor awarded contract. Vendor will supply a preproduction sample
to the Library, which must be verified as acceptable prior to production
of complete order. If a Library sample was supplied to vendor, this
sample shall be returned along with the preproduction sample, so that
a direct comparison may be made between the two boxes.
4 x 5" Boxes |
Inside Dimensions (in inches): |
File Cabinet Drawer Arrangement: |
4 3/4" wide, side to side
5 5/8" high, top to bottom
7 1/4" long, front to back |
|
Boxes MUST fit 3 per row,
2 rows wide in the file cabinet drawer as shown. All drawers shown
from above. Drawings not to scale. |
|
5 x 7" Boxes |
Inside Dimensions (in inches): |
File Cabinet Drawer Arrangement: |
5 5/8" wide, side to side
7 3/4" high, top to bottom
4" long, front to back |
|
Boxes MUST fit 6 per row,
2 rows wide in the file cabinet drawer as shown. |
|
8 x 10" Boxes |
Inside Dimensions (in inches): |
File Cabinet Drawer Arrangement: |
10 5/8" wide, side to side
8 5/8" high, top to bottom
4" long, front to back |
|
Boxes MUST fit 6 per row,
1 row wide in the file cabinet drawer as shown. |
An examination will be made to determine whether the items comply
with the Requirements Sections. 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
- Color must be tan, cream, buff or will be specified on the purchase
order or Contract
- Style must be as illustrated in specification
- Edges or creases of the board must not fray, crack, or split
- Surfaces must be free of fingerprints, dirt, knots, shives and other
abrasive particles
- Adhesives must not soften or run, nor cause the stock to become
transparent or alter the color of the stock. The adhesive must not
yellow or discolor, fail (causing delamination), or extend beyond
the joined area.
- Construction should be as illustrated and meet the following criteria:
- Edges must be cut square and clean and sizes accurate
- No unnecessary cuts or scores
- Assembled parts should fit closely without binding
- Side edges should meet exactly and corners should be 90 degrees
- Boxes must not be warped and should lie flat
- Boxes must be sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and tear
during use
- The boxes should consist of one blank of 60 pt. board stock which
meets the specifications above.
- Pulls are not acceptable.
- Metal edge stays should secure the box corners as indicated above
and in the illustration below.
- The boxes must be sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and tear
during use.
- Metal Edge Stays
- One inch wide
- Securely attached all along the length and penetrate the board
- Not have sharp, raised edges inside or outside
- Color should be chrome or blend with the box
- Identification must be
- Centered on box
- Be no larger than 2.5 x 1.5"
- If stamped, black ink must not fade, smear, bleed, rub off; have
excess ink or penetrate to the interior
- If embossed, the impression must not penetrate to the inside of
the box
- Identification information must include
- Name of supplier or manufacturer
- Year of manufacturer
- Actual pH (± 0.2)
- The Wrapper must be identified as specified and ensure arrival
in dry, undamaged condition.
FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE CAUSE FOR REJECTION.