ARHIVSKI VJESNIK 37. (ZAGREB, 1994.)

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T. Mušnjak, The protection of archival material in war conditions, Arh. vjesn., god. 37 (1994) str. 79-86 since it can be used later for lamination if need for freezing of documents is not appeared). More rows of boxes or books can be put together on one palette, depending on the height of the chamber. It is important that particular rows are separated by polyethylene foil. Material can be freezed from a couple of weeks to several years (the lower is the temperature, the longer they can stay in the chamber). It is important to say that material is not taken out of a chamber at once but in smaller amounts which can be treated in kilns or in restoration laboratories. All this material will need some of conservation and restoration. NOTICE: Material which is separated for the artificial drying or for the deep freezing must not be disinfected by thymol because such operations are performedmostly in food and tobacco plants, and thymol can affect the taste of food stuffs and tobacco which will be frozen or dried later in these chambers. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAVING ARCHIVAL MATERIAL BURIED UNDER RUINS If material are buried under ruins, it is necessary to clear up ruins and allow the access to material. Taking out of material is conducted according to the predetermined plan if the present situation makes it possible. Otherwise one should make the plan according to circumstances. Boxes, bundles and books are cleaned from bigger pieces of plaster and building material by soft brushes or soft rags. If boxes are damaged, and leaves are strewn one should make bundles out of leaves, then wrap them up by board and tie them by a cord. The identification and depositing of strewn leaves should be postponed for better times. It is recommended to evacuate roughly cleaned material in metal or wooden trunks which should not be too big, and also not overloaded, since it can delay the evacuation. If there are no such trunks, few boxes can be tied by a cord to make handling safer and simpler. Tying by a cord will not only ease the transport but it will also secure material from strewing in the case of fall. It is necessary to assure vehicles for a transportation and a location where material will be carried over to. Therefore one has to determine such locations in advance and arrange vehicles with crisis headquarters in county district. If direct destruction or fire happens in archival building in war conditions, one should immediately after the cessation of the attack, or extinguishing of fire and caring 84