National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979 (1979)

Record Details:

Title:
National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979
Date:
1979
Publisher:
Washington : U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
Volume:
National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979
Leaf #:
000169
Language:
English
Subjects:
Washington National Records Center. Building A, Motion picture film collections
Collection:
Books and Government & Law
Format:
Books
Contributor:
Prelinger Library
Sponsor:
Internet Archive
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Date Added:
July 19, 2022
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:om 159 escape from a hazardous occupancy, 8. Under no circumstances should contractors' rren be pernitted to work in the vault until all nitrate film had been removed. Cord wiring, exposed 200 v/att globes, electrical drill v/ork is c< pletely unjustified v/hcn nitrate filn is present, 9. The failure of the v;aterflo\j alarm is indicative of poor inspection and maintenance practices, 10. './hile the Standard is silent on humidity controls, there is sufficient information avai1a!:le to recognize that it is an important factor in nitrate film preservation. Sorre hifmidity controls should have been provided, 11, The failure to provide a ncans of transmitting an alarm is evidence of noncompliance v/i th standard safety practices but is not overly significant, 12. If ttie construction of the vaults v/as Standard or Code conforming, the doors self or automatic closing and latching, and vents propci'ly installed, the fire should not have spread beyond the vault in v;hich the fire originated, 13, Fire suppression activity leaves so.iething to be desired. First v;as the failure of firemen to v;ear self-contained breathing apparatus. Then to open a number of vaults and leave doors open when no fire was found encouraged fire spread. Breaking out of vents v/hich v.'ere improperly constructed may vrell have contributed to the spread of the fire, ]k. The recomnendai-ions of tlie ad hoc committee are in order, in my opinion, except for the [Drohibition of cardboard boxes and the punching of a hole in the tin cans, 15. Film sliould be hand inspected and any showing bubbles or further decomposition s'lould be destroyed or very carefully printed on safety film