Document these decisions as part of your plan, which also should include telephone contacts. Finally, train and then re-train staff. Many people in the organization must be involved in a disaster plan. Key staff may very well be absent or unreachable, and those on the scene must be able to move ahead in their absence. C. Environmental control concerns include light, temperature and humidity, and air quality.
Light is a catalyst for oxidation, which leads to fading and weakening of materials.
Fluctuations of heat and humidity also accelerate deterioration, including mold growth. Temperatures should not rise above seventy degrees, as measured with a real thermometer, not an often unreliable thermostat. Humidity levels should remain between 30 and 50 percent. These are the recommendations for paper, and will differ for other formats, which makes it difficult to store mixed collections. Air quality is important because particulates abrade materials, as if mini-sandblasters were being used, and air pollution contains gases which may catalyze acids.