An O/T but interesting topic

[Peter Ford]

This is off topic, but members of the group may be able to help with advice as many of you have backgrounds in Radio and Television Broadcasting.

A Film and Tape Audio-Visual Archive (where I have previously carried out quad restoration work using an AVR1 - the connection?) is not permitted to store Videotape/Safety Film and Nitro-Cellulose (Nitrate) film in the same building.  Except for very small quantities undergoing restoration the bulk of the Nitrate Film collection had to be stored in disused ammunition bunkers in an isolated spot in the countryside.

About two years ago this Archive and the Government Archive combined their Nitrate Film Collections in a brand new purpose built climate controlled secure vault in a secret location.  Very commendable - but I have found the location and I see there may be a big problem.

About 40 Km from the city centre is an AM Radio Transmission site.  There are five transmitters with a combined output of about 150 KW.  They had two masts one 220 meters high and the other 137 meters.  However  recently the 220 meter mast was discovered to have a corrosion problem and was dropped with explosives.  It was this activity that drew my attention to the site.  To my surprise I  found the new Nitrate Film vault.  It had been built here over the top of the ground radials for the 220 meter mast and 0.5 km from the 137 meter mast.

Nitrate Film is extremely flammable....it has almost the same composition as Nitro-Glycerine a very hot burning explosive (5000 degrees C).  Having a large quantity of this stuff located in a very strong RF electromagnetic field is asking for trouble.  The films are in individual metal containers stacked 8 high on painted metal shelving.  My theory is each stack of 8 cans will be acting as an aerial and there will be a large RF potential difference between the bottom of the stacks and the shelving.  This is an ignition or detonation source only being suppressed by a thin layer of paint.  Because the transmitters run 24/7 if an arc starts it will not stop.

I spoke to the local council about the danger.  They assured me the vault has a 4 hour fire rating therefore complied with regulations.

Anyone agree with me this is a very dangerous situation?
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