Where are your federal records? Are they compliant? All federal records must be stored according to 36 Code of Federal Records (CFR) Part 1234. Even though the code was recently re-written in “Plain English”, it can be hard to decipher and confusing at times. If you have read the code but are still scratching your head, let me help you out. At a high level, 36 CFR Part 1234 outlines the requirements for record storage facilities. It is based on hundreds of criteria related to security, topography, fire protection, disaster recovery and environmental controls like air quality. Some of these requirements include:
- Stringent security protocols: we keep intruders out with a fence that surrounds the entire building, along with vehicle and man traps, plus all kinds of other security measures such as motion sensors and close circuit television.
- Advanced fire suppression systems: fire resistant walls prevent the unlikely event of a fire and advanced smoke detection systems detect smoke before it’s visible to the human eye
- Protective environmental control: a sprinkler system that has not one but two pipes (pipe within a pipe) to prevent leaks and mold-protection ventilation systems so that mold does not grow on all of your important federal records
- Key facility protocols: such as more than one power source so you can find your records if the lights are out in the neighborhood
All of these requirements are in place for a good reason – to keep federal records safe. Government agencies, their contractors, and any organization doing business with the federal government must comply with these regulations from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for protecting federal records, documents, photos and other records.
Where are Iron Mountain’s NARA Compliant facilities for Paper Records and for Electronic Media?