Disaster Recovery Program for Water-Damaged IMAGELINK Microfilm

Users of IMAGELINK film and processing services benefit from the Disaster Recovery Lab service. If original IMAGELINK film rolls are damaged by flood, fire, sewage, equipment failure or a burst pipe, the film is rewashed and dried free of charge and returned with new reels and cartons. The damaged carton is also returned so that indexing information can be transferred to the new carton.

Highlights

• The sooner the film is shipped, the better the chance of limiting damage
• The number of rolls, the type and extent of damage and the length of immersion must be reported
• Wear rubber gloves and a mask when handling wet film
• Film must be kept wet and shipped in multi-layer packaging

Preparing film for shipment

1. Notification: Report the total number of damaged rolls, the type and extent of damage, how long the film has been wet, and contact details and return address
2. Safety: Wear rubber gloves and a mask and wash hands after handling the film
3. Packing:
   • Wrap the wet film in bundles of five with plastic wrap to keep the moisture in
   • Place three heavy-duty trash bags, one inside the other, in a sturdy carton
   • Pack the film inside the bags and place a damp towel or paper towels on the top layer
   • Close each of the three bags separately, then seal the carton
   • Mark the carton "WET FILM FOR WASHING AND DRYING" with the total number of rolls
4. Shipping: Coordinate with the lab and ship the carton to the EPM Quality Assurance Lab

Protecting film from water

• Storage should preferably be located above basement level
• The lowest shelf or cabinet drawer should be at least 6 inches above the floor
• Cabinet construction should prevent water from entering through ventilation openings
• Floor drain capacity should keep sprinkler water from reaching a depth of 3 inches