I posted this a few days ago in response to another topic, but thought the
content might have been buried in that thread.  Hopefully, by posting it on
its own, it will open up a discussion on the topic.



Catastrophic fires in these types of facilities will frequently result in
these types of losses, simply because fire fighters are unwilling to risk
life and limb to save paper in a cavernous warehouse.

This borders on another discussion that needs to take place between records
management professionals regarding the weakening of NFPA 232, the "Standard
for the Protection of Records" which has happened over the past 12 years.
This is exacerbated now that NARA, the Library of Congress, Department of
the Army, and other Federal entities have left the NFPA 232 Technical
Committee and will not be returning, since NARA has dropped NFPA 232 as a
reference and compliance requirement from 36CFR when the former Part 1228,
Subpart K was replaced by the current Part 1234.

This is rather unfortunate (for Federal Agencies, especially) because now
there is NO GUIDANCE in Federal Regulations for the construction
requirements, environmental issues, storage volumes, or working conditions
in vaults, file rooms, or records centers any longer.

Federal Agencies have 36CFR Part 1234, but privately held organizations
ONLY HAVE NFPA 232... and if records management professionals are unwilling
to step up and do their part to strengthen the language in this document
once again to the position it held in the past for protection of
information assets, more commonly known as 'records'  while in storage, its
their own fault if records are lost in fires.  A greater number of
participants covering a wider range of industry segments is needed to
adequately represent the records being stored that seek protection under
the guidance in NFPA 232.  Members from industry segments such as higher
education, insurance, financial services, pharmaceutical, research and
development, legal, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, utilities,
petroleum, and others all need to step up and be represented.  By building
a broader base of representation, a louder voice will exist that results in
more votes to ensure changes necessary to strengthen the language
supporting PROTECTION returns to the Standard.

Larry
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-- 
*Lawrence J. Medina
Danville, CA
RIM Professional since 1972*

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