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IS 2663:1989 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for design of buildings for archives - recommendations relating to its primary elements. This standard provides recommendations for the design and construction of archive buildings to ensure the safety, preservation, and efficient management of records. It details requirements for spatial layout, structural load capacities for heavy storage, environmental controls (HVAC), and critical fire safety measures.
Design of buildings for archives - Recommendations relating to its primary elements
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Architectural — Planning, Housing and Pre-fabricated Construction
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Always verify specific rack weights (e.g., mobile compactors) with manufacturers, as stack room floor loads can easily exceed standard commercial live loads.
! Avoid routing wet MEP services (water pipes, drainage) directly above or adjacent to stack rooms to eliminate the risk of accidental water damage.
! Windows in stack rooms should be minimized, eliminated, or properly shaded to prevent UV degradation of archival materials and assist in HVAC efficiency.
ISO 11799:2015ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Information and documentation — Document storage requirements for archive and library materials
Specifies characteristics of repositories for the long-term storage of archive and library materials, covering site, construction, and environment.
BS EN 16893:2017BSI (British Standards Institution) / CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Conservation of cultural heritage - Specifications for location, construction and modification of buildings or rooms intended for the storage or use of heritage collections
Provides detailed specifications for constructing or modifying buildings for storing heritage collections, including archives.
NFPA 232 (2021 Edition)NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard for the Protection of Records
Focuses specifically and in-depth on fire protection measures for records, a critical component of the overall archive building design.
NARA 1571National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), USA
MediumCurrent
Archival Storage Standards
A directive setting forth requirements for U.S. federal agency records storage facilities, covering construction, fire safety, and environment.
Key Differences
≠IS 2663:1989 recommends a relatively warm temperature range (20-25°C), whereas modern standards like ISO 11799 and BS EN 16893 mandate much cooler and more stable conditions (e.g., 14-18°C) to significantly slow material degradation.
≠The Indian standard recommends Halon or CO2 fire suppression systems, which are now outdated or banned (Halon). International standards like NFPA 232 now specify pre-action sprinkler systems or modern gaseous 'clean agents' that are less damaging to records and environmentally safer.
≠IS 2663 provides a single live load figure (1500 kg/m²), while modern standards like BS EN 16893 require more detailed calculations, differentiating between static shelving and much heavier mobile shelving systems, which often require loads exceeding 24 kN/m².
≠International standards provide highly specific environmental parameters for different types of media (e.g., photographic film, magnetic tapes, paper), whereas IS 2663 provides a single, general-purpose environmental specification.
Key Similarities
≈All standards emphasize the fundamental principle of compartmentation, requiring high fire-resistance ratings (typically 4 hours) for walls, floors, and ceilings separating archive storage areas from other parts of the building and from each other.
≈Both IS 2663 and its international counterparts strongly recommend selecting a building site that is free from known risks such as flooding, seismic activity, industrial pollution, and proximity to hazardous facilities.
≈A common core requirement across all standards is the exclusion of non-essential utilities, particularly water, steam, or gas pipes, from passing through or being located within archival storage rooms to prevent leaks and associated damage.
≈All standards mandate robust physical security measures, including controlled access, intrusion detection systems, and monitoring to protect collections from theft and vandalism.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Temperature (Paper Records)
20°C to 25°C
14°C to 18°C, with fluctuations not exceeding ±1°C in 24h
BS EN 16893:2017
Relative Humidity (Paper Records)
45% to 55%
35% to 50%, with fluctuations not exceeding ±5% in 24h
ISO 11799:2015
Live Load (General Stack Room)
1500 kg/m² (~14.7 kN/m²)
Must be calculated based on shelving system; typically >24 kN/m² for compact mobile shelving
BS EN 16893:2017
Fire Resistance of Storage Walls/Floors
4 hours
Minimum 4 hours (240 minutes)
NFPA 232 (2021)
Fire Suppression System
Automatic CO2/Halon flooding or water sprinklers
Automatic pre-action water sprinkler system or approved gaseous clean agent (Halon is banned)
NFPA 232 (2021)
Lighting Level in Storage Aisles
50 to 100 lux
Maximum 50 lux, with automatic switch-off and UV filtering below 75 μW/lumen
ISO 11799:2015
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
minimum gangway width between racks0.75 m
main gangway minimum width1.20 m
typical rack heightNot exceeding 2.2 m for manual retrieval
recommended relative humidity45% to 55%
recommended temperature range22°C to 25°C
floor load capacity for stack roomsMinimum 10 kN/m2 (varies by rack density)
Can standard office floor slabs be used for archive stack rooms?+
No, archive stack rooms require significantly higher live load capacities (often 10 kN/m2 or more) compared to standard offices due to dense paper storage.
What is the recommended environmental condition for preserving archival records?+
A stable temperature of 22°C to 25°C and relative humidity of 45% to 55% should be maintained to prevent paper deterioration and mold.
What is the minimum spacing required between archival storage racks?+
A minimum clear gangway width of 0.75 meters is recommended between racks to allow for safe passage and record retrieval.