> If the records are that important then there is only
> one choice - move
> them. There is no way to stop water and not having
> dehumidification or
> the proper air system is asking for trouble.

Well, many would disagree with this reasoning, advice
and thinking.  Basically, you should do what you feel
is necessary to provide adequate protection to the
materials you are charged with protection of, after
taking the steps necessary to adequately evaluate the
holdings.

>
> The cost of offsite at a professional service
> provider is so
> inexpensive that there is really no excuse for not
> moving them. Check
> PRISM for a service provider in your area:
>
> http://www.prismintl.org/common/membermall.aspx

=)  That being said, make sure you know the questions
to ask these PRISM members, namely, do you offer
vaulting in a facility that is compliant wioth all of
the conditions cited in NFPA232 and is your vault
actually water resisteant and fireproof.

The word "vault" is severly misused in the records
storage community in pretty much all but the State of
New York, because there are criminal penalties in that
State for misidentifying a vault as anything other
than what their Standards say it is.

A vault is thought by many as something that provides
a higher level of security from theft or break-in, but
if the vault is constructed out of 4-hour sheetrock
"firewalls", or even concrete and protected by a
Class- A fire door and not a legitimate rated and
tested 4-hour fire door, then it's not a true 4-hour
vault. Also, vaults come in many ratings, from 1-hour
all the way up to 6 hours.

The comment abut concrete is to raise a level of
understanding that concrete is a POROUS material... so
if the surrounding facility is involved ina fire and
water is used to extinguish/control the fire, when the
water hits the heated concrete on the outside surfaces
of the vault, steam will begin entering the vault
through the concrete.  So, even being equipped with
the best humidity monitors will only result in letting
you know at what time the humidity roase to the level
it damaged your holdings. ALSO, many vaults elect to
use water curtain or mist fire protections in their
interiors, not other forms of non-water based fire
suppressants.

Just saying that not all vaults are created equal, and
while being a member of PRISM gives you a professional
association to stand behind you (as a vendor, NOT a
customer) it doesn't necessarily ensure these are the
best service providers out there... after all, not all
of the best Records Managers are ICRMs =)

> The cost of trying to build or retrofit a facility
> will pay for many
> many years of professional records management
> service.

And the loss of one irreplaceable record or historic
artifact will result in a payment of $1 per cubic foot
from the same professional service provider... check
the valuable records protection clause (if one even
exists) in the terms and conditions.  The limits of
liability are typicaly VERY LOW, and if you want
additional protection, you need to buy it yourself, so
why not provide it yourself up-front.

> If you would like an inexpensive remote monitoring
> system that can
> also monitor water intrusion check IT Watchdogs at:
> www.itwatchdogs.com

Inexpensive shouldn't be the measure... it's most
effective and appropriate for the level of value of
the materials you should be concerned about.

Larry

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