1. (a) As resources permit, local governments should strive to store records under conditions that meet as many of the recommendations of this section as practicable.

2. (b) Records should be stored in a building or storage area that:

   1. (1) has an operational fire suppression system;

   2. (2) has adequate environmental controls:

      1. (A) A maximum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a constant relative humidity of 45% with a maximum variance of plus/minus 5% relative humidity in a 24-hour period should be maintained in the storage area.
      2. (B) Daily temperature/humidity checks should be conducted.
      3. (C) Positive atmospheric pressure should be maintained within the storage area.
   3. (3) has a pest management program; and

   4. (4) has appropriate shelving:

      1. (A) Shelving should be constructed of metal or other non-porous material.
      2. (B) The lowest shelf should be at least 4 to 6 inches from the floor.
      3. (C) Shelving should be arranged such that records are at least 4 inches from the interior face of exterior walls.
3. (c) Records should be covered or housed in acid-neutral boxes to protect them from deterioration.
4. (d) Ultraviolet filtering shields should be affixed to any fluorescent lights or windows.
5. (e) If a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is in use in a records storage area, it should not be turned off and settings should not be changed for nights and weekends.

Source Note:The provisions of this §7.165 adopted to be effective April 7, 2013, 38 TexReg 2098.