> Date:    Wed, 8 Nov 2006 09:39:13 -0500
> From:    "Ronald W. Frazier" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: climate controlled mini vault
>

Snips from Ronald's original post:

> In some cases, I'm getting more questions than answers.  Everything I 
> read
> says you should maintain archive media in climate controlled
> conditions.  For tapes, that usually amounts to about 50 degrees F and 
> 25%
> humidity or so.

This is false as it is virtually impossible to achieve in the real 
world. If you store media at such a low temperature you would need to 
slowly condition from 50º F. to the 68º-70º environment of the data 
processing center. But everyone says "You must slowly bring the tape up 
to the temperature of the processing environment over a 24 hour period 
to avoid damage to the tape."  Has anyone seen this temperature version 
of a decompression chamber that slowly raises the temperature from 50º 
to 68º? I know I never have.

When the data center needs the tape they need it now.  Therefore these 
conditioning environments do not exist as the IT whiz wouldn't use 
them.  Tapes should be stored at 68º F.  (The use temperature of the IT 
Environment.) and while they may not fare as well as if they were kept 
at 50º they will fare far better than tapes that are rotated in an out 
of changing environments time and time again.  (If you are talking 
about archival media that will never be played, then my post may not 
apply.  You may only be saving it until you migrate it to microfilm.)

As for humidity 30% is optimal. Below this you get static discharges 
that occur when handling the tapes.  Vaults are often equipped with 
static discharge floors but offices aren't and the likely hood of 
carpet in a small users office is high.

Plus how are you going to achieve 25%?  You would need a Munters 
Cargocaire or similar dessicant dehumidifier.  Standard dehumidifiers 
cannot achieve these low levels.  ( Especially in Georgia.)

> 1) As far as you know, does such a thing exist and do you use any?


Trying to achieve a data safe rating on a small safe is very difficult. 
  Most can only provide a 1 Hour Rating.  There are two manufacturers 
that make Class 125 Two Hour Safes.  Beyond that you need something 
vault sized to get a longer rating at 125º F.  Trying to add an air 
conditioning port into the safes would make the job even tougher.  I 
know of no such device as it would be prohibitively expensive as the 
HVAC System would need to be sized to the safe size.
>
> 2) If you don't use any, would you find such a thing useful to your
> business or institution?

As Steve says, there are many centers who provide the right temperature 
and humidity and the vault to go with it.  Just ask for a Certification 
that their vault is Class 125 Rated, not Class 350 paper Rated.
>
> 3) Do the features I described sound appropriate?
The problem with safes is that to air condition them the door must be 
left open.  This then requires a door closer which is expensive as it 
must detect heat and smoke and be very reliable at closing a heavy door 
in an event.  Then it must be able to throw the bolts.  Some safes can 
do this but they are again very costly.  If the safes are open, where 
is the security from theft?

You could create a clean room scenario of a sort with access control 
for security and precise environmental control and then house your 
safes in here.  But by the time you spend all this money for only a few 
pieces of media, will there be a customer for this expense?
>
> 4) What other or different features would you expect in such a device?
Magnetically shielded and with racks so the media is vertical at all 
times so it does not unravel.
>
> 5) What do you think you'd be willing to pay for it?

Alas, people are not usually willing to pay much for it.  Offsite media 
vaulting is relatively inexpensive for small accounts but too many just 
don't bother as they don't want to spend the money.
>
> 6) How many units and what size do you think you would need?
>
> 7) And, in terms of using stored media, how long would you let a tape
> removed from the 50 degree case acclimate to the surroundings?

Here again is that acclimating problem?  It can be done but to do it 
right would be expensive.
>  Would you
> be worried about condensation if the work environment has higher 
> humidity,
> say 50% - 60%?

You bet.  Bring a glass of Coca Cola  (Hey, we're in Atlanta!) into 
this office and watch it bead up.

In Atlanta area you have at least three companies that offer Class 125 
Media Vaults with precise temperature and humidity control.  You can 
have it close at hand, or 30 miles out or 60 miles out.

The problem is that one can do it right but one can not do it right for 
very little money.

Plus most people don't want their data right near their processing 
center.  Distance makes the Business Continuity planner happy.

Also I just read an article talking about not only storing tape 
vertical but exercising the tapes to avoid the sticking together than 
is just natural for the tape over time.  So it should be played forward 
and backward to exercise it.  This also re-tensions the tape.

First I am walking the dog in the rain and now I have to exercise my 
computer media.  Come on Bilbo!  We gotta take the media for a walk.




Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
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(610)  756-4440    Fax (610)  756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM

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