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Description / Abstract:
These requirements cover the test procedures applicable to the
fire-resistance classification of record protection equipment
intended to provide protection to one or more types of records when
exposed to various durations of fire exposure.
Record protection equipment consists of self-contained, moveable
devices of varying configurations, such as insulated bodies with
insulated doors or drawers or lids, nonrated multidrawer devices
housing individually rated drawer bodies, and other similar
constructions.
Tests conducted in accordance with these requirements are
intended to demonstrate the performance of record protection
equipment during exposure to fire, but are not intended to
determine acceptability for use after fire exposure.
Under these requirements, record protection equipment is exposed
to a fire endurance test and an explosion test. Equipment intended
to provide impact resistance is also exposed to a fire and impact
test. The fire endurance test is intended to demonstrate the
ability of the device to prevent the development of temperatures
and relative humidity (Classes 125 and 150 only) exceeding the
specified limits inside the device for the classification desired.
The explosion test is intended to demonstrate the ability of the
device to withstand a sudden exposure to high temperatures and
prevent an explosion of the device from a buildup of steam or other
gases. The fire and impact test is intended to demonstrate the
ability of the device to protect contents from heat, to the extent
described in the requirements, before and after an impact due to
falling 30 ft (9.1 m).
The fire exposures are controlled to achieve specified
temperatures throughout a specified time period. These fire test
exposures by themselves may not be representative of all fire
conditions; conditions may vary with changes in the amount, nature,
and distribution of fire loading; the size and fire or nonfire
resistive construction of the building; and the location of the
device within the building.
The interior sample temperature and relative humidity
limitations applied to the three classes of devices reflect the
type of records to be stored in the device. Class 350 rated devices
are intended to protect paper records, Class 150 rated devices are
intended to protect paper and nonpaper records such as EDP media
(magnetic tapes) and photographic records, and Class 125 rated
devices are intended to also protect flexible computer disks.
However, nonpaper records are not used as contents for the tests
described in these requirements since testing to determine the
ability of all available nonpaper records to withstand these
conditions is not within the scope of these requirements.
Record protection equipment may incorporate locking devices, but
the burglary resistance of such mechanisms is not within the scope
of these requirements.