Legacy preserved

Radio-Canada demonstrates the versatility of mobile storage for materials it keeps for decades

A legacy of broadcast material is stored at Montreal's Radio- Canada building in mobile shelving installed by Montel that holds boxes, audio and video tapes and film.

The installation consists of 105 miles of shelving in a storage area measuring 18,000 square feet. Compared to fixed shelving, the mobile shelving saved 25,000 square feet of space.

"Each section has a special air conditioning system and the ventilation is specified for each room," explains Radio-Canada project director Jean Claude, to provide an environment that will protect the film and tapes over long periods. Although the film has been cleaned and checked, it can emit odours and off-gas with time.

A firewall has been installed every 15 feet, consisting of two 1/8th inch thick metal sheets separated by a 1/2 inch air gap. A metal mesh above the shelving units ensures that, in the event of a fire, water from the sprinklers is well distributed. A lip on the supporting railing and a bar attached to the top of the units and running from wall to wall prevent tipping.

The shelving contains 150,000 16mm film in a cold-room, 500,000 video tapes, 235,000 audio tapes and 19,600 linear feet of archival boxes.