A Risk Assessment of Piql Services by FFI

a thick, sticky mass. 27 When the melting PP comes in contact with the contents of the piqlBox – the piqlFilm – it will compromise the integrity of the piqlFilm.

For the piqlFilms which are touched by the flames, this does not matter, as the flames most likely will cause more problems than melting PP. Though the piqlFilms’ polyester base is slow- burning with enhanced resistance to heat and it is proven to withstand 121° Celsius for 24 hours without significant loss in readability or printability, it cannot withstand flame temperatures [27]. The integrity, and thus the availability, of the piqlFilms which are outside of the flames’ reach, however, stands a very good chance of remaining intact. The integrity and availability of the ones which the flames do reach is compromised. The PET in the piqlFilms has a melting temperature at approximately 260 o Celsius, but already at a temperature of 75° Celsius the properties of the PET will change a lot. What happens is the same as when glass is heated; it will get softer and more viscous. 28 With regards to the adverse effects of smoke on the piqlBox and –Film there is little information available. As far as FFI is aware, no testing has been done to this effect, and we do not know how the Piql components will react to smoke. It is said that smoke will have little impact on the piqlBox, but we do not know how the gelatine in the emulsion of the piqlFilm will hold up against potentially harmful toxic smoke. 29 Water is another major risk that could threaten the Piql Preservation Services, perhaps even more so than fire, as a fire can be somewhat controlled: water would reach and thus affect more of the piqlFilms. However, as with the issue of smoke, as far as FFI is aware, there has not been conducted any proper testing on the effects of water on the piqlFilms. The only information we have regarding the piqlFilm’s reaction to water is this: ―The piqlFilm’s data can be unaffected by water only if the piqlFilm is immediately rewashed and dried properly, in which case the data will be readable‖ [27 p.3]. It goes on to relay what will happen if the piqlFilm is left to dry naturally: the layers of the coiled film reel will stick together. It says nothing about how long the piqlFilms can be submerged before other problems arise; what those problems might be; or how the piqlFilm reacts differently to clean and dirty water, which we must assume it does. Precisely these contingencies were presented in the scenario describing an electrical fire cause sprinklers to be activated and in the scenario describing a flood, where the piqlFilms are exposed to prolonged submersion in very filthy water. Though we have no tests specifically for the piqlFilms to base our statements on, and much of the following must then be assumptions, we do have the valuable input of the Consortium partners stating that both the PP of the piqlBox and the PET of the piqlFilm is very water resistant, though the box is more so than the film. Both plastics can be submerged in water for a 27 The properties and qualities of the piqlBox and piqlFilm were discussed in a telephone meeting with Espen Ommundsen, Principal Researcher at Norner AS, and Yvonne Hed, Researcher at Norner AS, on 17.09.15. 28 The properties and qualities of the piqlBox and piqlFilm were discussed in a telephone meeting with Espen Ommundsen, Principal Researcher at Norner AS, and Yvonne Hed, Researcher at Norner AS, on 17.09.15 . 29 Ibid. 9.1.5 Water

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FFI-RAPPORT 16/00707