GB/T 42468.1-2023 (English Version)

Standard No.: GB/T 42468.1-2023
Language: Chinese, Available in English version
Release Date: 2023
Published By: General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People‘s Republic of China
Latest: GB/T 42468.1-2023

Scope: This document stipulates the grades and classification indicators of paper archive damage. This document is applicable to the classification of paper archive damage grades by archives of all levels and types and other paper archive preservation institutions.

Introduction

National Standard of the People's Republic of China GB/T 42468.1—2023 Specification for the Rescue and Restoration of Paper Archives Part 1: Classification of Damage Grades

Background of Standard Formulation

As an important cultural heritage and historical record, the protection and restoration of paper archives is particularly important. With the passage of time, paper archives will be damaged by various factors, such as acidification, mildew, and insect pests. In order to standardize the rescue and restoration of paper archives and improve the level of restoration, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standardization Administration jointly issued GB/T 42468.1—2023 "Specifications for the Rescue and Restoration of Paper Archives Part 1: Classification of Damage Grades".

Overview of the standard framework

Damage grade	Grading index	Repair suggestions
Extremely damaged	- The paper is extremely acidified, pH ≤4.0 - The mechanical strength of the paper is severely reduced due to decay, brittleness, flocculation, etc.	It is recommended to use professional repair technology for comprehensive repair, such as deacidification and reinforcement repair.
Severe damage	- Severe acidification of paper, 4.0 < pH ≤5.0 - The mechanical strength of paper is significantly reduced due to decay, embrittlement, flocculation, etc.	It is recommended to adopt local repair and strengthen protection measures to ensure the integrity and readability of archival information.
Moderate damage	- Acidification of paper, 5.0 < pH ≤6.0 - The mechanical strength of paper is reduced to a certain extent or there are a small amount of oxidation spots	It is recommended to conduct regular inspections and preventive repairs to delay the aging process of archives.
Slight damage	- The paper is slightly acidified, 6.0 < pH ≤6.5 - The paper is slightly yellowed and brittle	It is recommended to carry out daily maintenance and simple repairs to maintain the integrity and aesthetics of the archive.

Specific classification of damage levels

According to GB/T 42468.1-2023 standard, the damage level of paper archives is divided into four levels: extremely damaged, severely damaged, moderately damaged and slightly damaged. The grading indicators for each level are as follows:

Critical Damage

- The paper is particularly acidic, pH ≤4.0 - The mechanical strength of the paper is seriously reduced due to decay, brittleness, flocculation, etc. - Mildew area>30% - Insect damage area>30% - Polluted area>60% - Incomplete area>40% - Adhesion area>50% or strong adhesion or difficult to remove - The writing is seriously eroded, faded, acid-corroded, and worn

Implementation Recommendations

To ensure the effective implementation of the standard, the following measures are recommended:

Establish a regular inspection mechanism to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage of paper archives.
Develop corresponding repair plans and protection strategies based on the damage level.
Strengthen the environmental management of archive preservation and control the influence of factors such as temperature, humidity, light and pollutants.
Train professionals and improve restoration technology and management level.

GB/T 42468.1-2023 Referenced Document

DA/T 61 Classification and Diagram of Diseases of Paper Archives in Ming and Qing Dynasties
GB/Z 42468.4 Specifications for Rescue and Restoration of Paper Archives Part 4: Restoration Operation Guide
WH/T 22 Grading standard for damage of ancient books and special collections

GB/T 42468.1-2023 history

2023 GB/T 42468.1-2023 Paper Archives Rescue and Restoration Specification Part 1: Classification of Damage Levels

GB/T 42468.1-2023