Well, we dodged the bullet this time. When I did my initial walk-through I
retrieved only five CDs that were exposed. The rest were stored in jewel
cases. Fortunately the sprinkler system did not go off, or the loss would
have been much greater. We have been moved out of the building due to the
smoke residue and the potential health hazard. We are waiting for a
response from the equipment manufacturer (the battery for the security
system caught fire) to determine just how dangerous the residue is.
This was a great lessons learned, and an opportunity for me to push the
Disaster Recovery plan.
-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Larry Medina
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 8:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [RM] smoke damage
>
> Our office suffered an electrical fire this morning. Many of the staff on
> the floor affected by the fire have CDs/DVDs on which they have stored
> data.
> Fortunately, these are not the record copy, but reference
> copies. According
> to NARA's Disaster Recovery information, CDs can be cleaned by gently
> washing with cool soapy water and rinsing clear. I have purchased nitrile
> gloves to handle the CDs, and have advised the staff not to touch the CDs
> with their bare hands.
NARA's guidance isn't "wrong", but it may be excessive for the situation.
If the smoke damage is minimal, you may be able to get by with wiping the
surface with a clean, lint-free, cloth, that's been dunked in distilled
water and wrung out.
Keep in mind that some detergents can be harsh, or leave a residue... and if
there are any edge cracks on the discs, OR if the hub is cracked or damaged,
the liquid can get into the substrate and do more damage than the smoke on
the surface.
Let us know how you make out! Sounds like a possible "Lessons Learned"
about leaving CDs or other media out on desktops rather than stored in jewel
cases, vertically, inside a cabinet, when not in use... something we ALL
KNOW we should do, but don't do.
Larry
--
Larry Medina
Danville, CA
RIM Professional since 1972
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