Return to Glossary Index Preservation & Storage
Cold Storage Vaults
Core Term Definition
Low-temperature facilities built to freeze or delay the physical decomposition of acetate and nitrate film elements.
Technical Analysis & Context
Chemical reactions double in speed with every 10°C rise in temperature. To prevent vinegar syndrome and color dye fading, archives construct highly insulated, walk-in vaults running at freezing or sub-freezing temperatures (often down to -18°C / 0°F). This effectively freezes the physical decay cycle of old film stocks.