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Attachment 2
Survey Ronort, A^ccnditloning Safety
Film Vaults A, B, end C
Sultland Reservation, Suitland, Maryland
GS-003-01321
Hay 7, 1973 <■
On April 25, 1973, an airconditioning survey was nade for Vault Buildings A, 8, and C at the Suitland Field Office, Suitland, Maryland. The survey was performed by the Design Branch of the Office of Operating Programs, of the General Services Administration.
BACKGROUND
The three vault buildings are now occupied by two agencies: buildings A and C are under the National Archives, while building B is operated by the Library of Congress. The vaults within thsse buildings are now being used to store nitrate base filra. This film is extremely flamrrable and nust bekeot under special conditions in order to minimize deccroosition and resulting co-ti-jstible gases. The film stored in these vaults is considers of historic value and is in the process of conversion to "safety film", but until thit conversion, must be preserved v/ith a minimum of decomposition.
The three buildings ere identical one story" cinder block construction, each measuring ^!J by IGO feet, each hoosing a processirg room, an office, and 27 individual filr storage vaults. The buildings v/ere constructed just after l.'orld V.'ar II. The vaults themselves are v;a]!c-in type with dimensions 5 feet wide, 15 feet long and 8 feet high.
This survey was proir^pted by a September 22, 1971, memorandum prepared by the Contract and Procurement Office of the Library of Congress. Tne memorandum prepared by Mr. Stephen Bush of said office, described the following deficiencies with the mechanical systems of Vault Building B. (These conditions were found to be accurate for Vaalt Buildings A and C as well, except item No. 4 since no rewind tables presently exist.)
1. Performance of vault airconditioning system inadequate to meet load requireirfints.
'2. Ventilation of processing room work area not operable from r;over::ber to April as exhaust fan is on sarne circuit as iirconditioner whicn is now operated seasonally.
3. Seasonal operation of airconditioning system dies not allow for unseasonably v.'arm vreather and fails to provide for "positive ventilation" offlamiT.able fi-lm decomposition gases during shjt-down.
4. Lack of humidity control in processing room could result in a f-'re hazard as static electricity resulting from high speed rewind table could result in ignition of nitrate film.