Overview
SIST ISO 11108:2003 - Information and Documentation: Archival Paper - Requirements for Permanence and Durability establishes international requirements for unprinted archival paper intended for documents and publications needing permanent retention and frequent use. Developed by ISO and adopted by SIST, this standard is essential for organizations, libraries, archives, and records management professionals who handle documents of significant historical, legal, or cultural value. The standard ensures that archival paper maintains both chemical and physical stability (permanence) and resilience to frequent handling (durability).
Key Topics
- Archival Paper Definition: Specifies that archival paper is a high-performance material designed for records requiring long-term preservation, not for everyday paper use.
- Permanence: Focuses on chemical and physical stability to prevent deterioration over extended periods.
- Durability: Addresses resistance to wear and tear, particularly from frequent handling.
- Required Paper Characteristics:
- Fibre Composition: Primarily from cotton, cotton linters, hemp, or flax.
- Grammage: Minimum of 70 g/m² as defined in ISO 536.
- Tearing Resistance: Minimum value defined to ensure strength.
- Folding Endurance: Minimum standards assessed by specific methodology, ensuring robustness for repeated folding.
- pH Value: Aqueous extract with pH between 7.5 and 10, ensuring alkaline reserve and acid resistance.
- Alkali Reserve: Sufficient to neutralize acids over time.
- Oxidation Resistance: Evaluated by Kappa number, indicating minimal lignin content for enhanced longevity.
- Testing and Reporting: Methods for sampling, visual inspection, and laboratory analysis are specified, along with requirements for reporting results.
Applications
Archival paper complying with SIST ISO 11108:2003 is vital for:
- Archives and Libraries: Safeguarding manuscripts, legal records, governmental documents, and rare publications intended for perpetual access and conservation.
- Museums and Cultural Institutions: Preserving artworks, manuscripts, and documentation of historical significance.
- Legal and Governmental Bodies: Ensuring the integrity and usability of vital records and legislative texts required for long-term storage and reference.
- Publishing Houses: Producing limited edition books, official publications, and records with lifespan requirements surpassing several decades.
- Records Management: Adopting best practices for longevity in business archives and corporate documentation.
By ensuring papers used for archival purposes meet these rigorous requirements, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of document degradation, loss of vital information, or deterioration due to environmental or handling factors.
Related Standards
- ISO 9706:1994 - Paper for documents - Requirements for permanence. (All papers meeting ISO 11108 also meet ISO 9706, but ISO 11108 has stricter durability measures.)
- ISO 186 - Paper and board - Sampling to determine average quality.
- ISO 536 - Paper and board - Determination of grammage.
- ISO 187 - Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing paper samples.
- ISO 1974 - Tearing resistance test (Elmendorf method).
- ISO 5626 - Folding endurance determination.
- ISO 6588 - Determination of pH of paper.
- ISO 10716 - Determination of alkali reserve.
- ISO 302 - Determination of Kappa number for oxidation resistance.
Keywords: archival paper standard, SIST ISO 11108, paper permanence, paper durability, archival document preservation, library standards, ISO 11108, archival materials, document longevity, records management.
