Floors, which ideally should be concrete slabs, must be able to tolerate a minimum live floor load of 300 lbs. The site should be free of obvious environmental hazards, such as overhanging water pipes or nearby furnaces. Construction should be fire-resistant, with sprinkler systems, fire detection systems, and burglar alarms. Avoid basements, which are prone to floods and chronic dampness. Records should not be subjected to rapid fluctuations of humidity and temperature.
Paint walls a light color to maximize reflected light.
Be sure the area is clean. Remove all non-record items, such as construction materials, paint, oil or gasoline, fertilizer, animal feed, office supplies or equipment, party decorations, or evidence from court cases. Since about 1870, most paper used for public records has been manufactured from wood pulp. Because of the acids used in its production, such paper inevitably becomes yellowed and brittle, causing record information to be lost. Paper records will deteriorate within a few decades unless they are stored in a controlled environment and buffered against acid migration.