Specifications
for Stainless Steel Cans For Long-term Storage of Motion Picture Film
Specification Number 800-851-6/16/03
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
I. General Specifications
The Library of Congress seeks corrosion-resistant containers or cans
made of stainless steel for housing its motion picture collection. Must
be constructed of grade 304 stainless steel of at least 0.20 but no
more than 0.30 gauge.
II. Product Requirements: Specifications
for Stainless Steel Cans For Long-term Storage of 16mm Motion Picture
Film
A. Construction
- Motion picture storage cans must be designed to protect the contents
from any intrusion of water discharged from sprinklers that might
be set off in a fire situation. While protecting the contents from
getting wet under a torrential water discharge, the design of the
cans must at the same time allow the atmosphere inside the container
to interact freely with the surrounding environment, and to facilitate
the venting of acidic degradation products that would otherwise tend
to accumulate within the cans.
- The cover and the bottom of the can must have a pattern indented
into them such that it will enable stacked cans to fit into each other
and resist slipping and sliding against each other. For example, a
radially emanating pattern akin to spokes in a wheel or like the imprint
of a film reel may be indented in such a manner that the impressions
on the top and bottom sides mirror each other.
- The edges on the can and the lid must be beaded and not sharp.
- It is essential that the lid and the can be so designed that the
lid is tightly secured when the can is closed, yet it must be possible
to open the lid easily without significant effort or inconvenience.
- The lid must be constructed so that it has a lip at the edge that
is smoothly beaded, and not sharp so as to aid in opening of the can.
- The design of the can must include a central hub to accommodate
standard cores on which film is wound. This hub may be created in
the stamping process so that it is an integral part of the can, or
it may be constructed separately and attached at the center of the
can with a suitable and effective fastener, but welding is not permissible
as it can make the can vulnerable to corrosion. If an external hub
and a fastener are used, both of them must be made of grade 304 stainless
steel. In either case, the hub assembly shall be such as to allow
the film reel to sit firmly and flatly on the base of the can while
preventing any significant wobble during transportation. The top edge
of the hub must not be sharp, and must be smoothly rounded. Also,
the fastener - if any - must be recessed so as not to jut out of the
bottom of the can.
B. Dimensions
- Cans for housing 800-foot film reels must have an external diameter
of 27.5 cm, and those for housing 1200-foot film reels must have an
external diameter of 32 cm.
- The outer thickness of the cans when closed must be 2.5 cm.
- The lid must be at least 2.2 cm deep to enable convenient placement
of labels.
- The can must adhere to standard dimensions for housing film reel(s)
specified for procurement.
III. Inspection: Specifications
for Stainless Steel Cans For Long-term Storage of 16mm Motion Picture
Film
A. Submission of Sample
A prototype can must accompany any
proposal. This prototype would not have to be dimensionally accurate.
However, it must include all other design features specified here
to
enable the Library of Congress to exercise the best possible judgment
in the selection of the product that best meets the Library's needs.
B. Selection Criteria
The selected container design will be
judged on its ability to meet these essential design criteria stated
in sections I and II above.