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)

170 for many years. If such inspection and maintenance programs are not adopted, nitrate films can become highly flammable, ignite, and release toxic and explosive gases. Proper preservation of nitrate films also requires physical systems to minimize the spread of fire and the generation and infiltration of toxic gases. However, no fire containment system can compensate for insufficient inspection and maintenance. Proper inspection and elimination of deteriorated film is the most important means of preventing film loss. I will not dwell on this because this subject has just been very amply covered by Mr. Degenkolb. In addition to the NFPA standards which have been referred to by many of the people today, there have been a lot of publications by the film industry and publications by Eastman Kodak. Additionally, there was a published article, which the subcommittee may find useful, by Lawrence F. Karr, associate archivist of the American Film Institute, which appeared in an International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees Bulletin in the summer of 1972. As that article indicates, in the earlier stages of deterioration, there is really little danger of fire. There is danger, of course, always when you can ignite something at 300 degrees. It is as deterioration progresses that the ignition point goes down Ideally, precautionary measures to be taken to avoid the loss of film and the potential of fire from deterioration include opening each can of film in storage at least once every 6 months to inspect the film for signs of deterioration. There are several such signs: image deterioration, image loss, film softening, and decomposition. If anv of these signs are noted, the film should be pulled from storage. The film should then either be deleted from inventory or reproduced on safety film. In the early stages of deterioration, there is little danger of fire. However, the deteriorated film should be destroyed. I should also point out — and this is a very important factor — that all safety film should be placed in storage separate from where nitrate films are stored. This is to insure that if a fire should occur because of deteriorated nitrate films, the safety films would not be destroyed along with the nitrate. In conclussion, I would like to say that ITniversal is very interested in doing what we can to prevent the recurrence of this very tragic loss of valuable film. We would like to cooperate with the subcommittee in an effort to prevent further deterioration and destruction of films in the possession of the National Archives and other Government agencies. Thank you. Mr. Preyer. Thank you very much. We enjoyed the film clips yesterday morning. I think it makes clear that your description of this as a tragic loss is an understatement. We do not want to look a gift horse in the mouth, as Mr. Butler said this morning, but according to the deed — from what I understand — Universal was supposed to inspect and maintain the sprinkler system for 5 years after it was installed. Was this ever done ? Mr. Vaxdex Bossciie. Well, as I read the deed, we were to contract to have a sprinkler system installed, maintained, and inspected. As far as I am concerned, yes, that was done.