A Risk Assessment of Piql Services by FFI

piqlBox is intended to protect its contents from an impact of 5 Joule. It should be noted that this is quite low, and even if the piqlBoxes do hold up to this standard, it would not guarantee their endurance under the physical pressure described here. With regards to the exposure to higher levels of temperature and humidity, the problems really only makes themselves known when the exposure is long-term. Humidity is less of a problem, but increased temperature over longer periods of time will soften and cause deformation of the piqlBox. The additional static load of the concrete slabs will also cause the deformation to increase. However, it should be noted that while the piqlBox can withstand such increases in temperature for a time, the piqlFilm is much more vulnerable both in terms of temperature level and the duration of exposure. The majority of the piqlFilms lay secure in their piqlBoxes, as the grid did not fall or collapse. The piqlFilms inside the piqlBoxes which were struck by the concrete slabs, however, are crushed beyond repair. As is the case with the piqlBoxes, it is difficult to say how the piqlFilms which survived the initial impact from the concrete slabs fare. The properties of the piqlFilms when it comes to withstanding physical pressure is not known, neither is there a standard they should adhere to on this point. All that is for certain is that there is an advantage in the way that piqlFilms are tightly rolled into a coil. This way they are able to withstand more physical pressure than when uncoiled. The remaining piqlFilms are exposed to temperatures of 35-40° Celsius and relative humidity of 90 %, as the ventilation system shut down and warm and humid air is let into the vault. The piqlFilms must remain under these conditions until the building is made safe to enter. Considering the damage the earthquake has done to the city at large, and the priorities of the repair workers, this takes at least 48 hours. Calculations show an increase of 0.02-0.1° Celsius per hour when the ventilation system fails. One can only imagine what it is like when the local weather conditions are as extreme as this as well. When the film is exposed to higher temperatures and humidity levels than they should it can affect readability as the information on the films floats out and gets blurred. Damage to electrical wiring and water pipes. Loss of all electrical power, cutting all ventilation and affecting all security and general monitoring systems. The backup generators were affected by the tremors as well. The power supply to the piqlVault is completely cut off by the earthquake. Neither is the backup generator able to bring the power supply back up. The loss of ideal storage conditions is worsened when warm and humid air is allowed into the vault through open doors and cracks in the infrastructure of the storage room.

Film

Power/energy supply

Divergence from

ISO standard

130

FFI-RAPPORT 16/00707