Volume 5, Number 6
Dec 1992

Sweden Gets Interim Standards for Permanent and "Archival" Papers

In 1991, all Swedish archival legislation, including its old-fashioned 1964 law that called for strength and adequate sizing in paper for records, but which did not mention pH, was annulled and replaced by a modernized set of regulations. When the ISO standard is approved, it will be adopted by Sweden, but in the meantime the Swedish Archives' paper specifications are serving as a national paper permanence standard. They are based on the Draft International Standard of ISO. Ingmar Fröjd, who sent this information, also forwarded a copy of the interim standard, in Swedish. It is very short. Here is a rough translation of the technical section.

Permanent Paper

Permanent paper shall

• contain cotton, linen and /or bleached chemical pulp. Only 5% may be of other kinds of pulp, and the kappa number shall be at least 5;
• have neutral sizing, a pH between 7.5 and 10.0, and an alkaline reserve of at least 2% calcium carbonate, and
• be white and [obestruket].

[The test methods for determining fiber content and kappa number are referred to here by number.]

Archival Paper

Archival paper shall

• satisfy the requirements for permanent paper, and
• have a fold endurance of at least 150 in the weakest direction.

[The test method for fold endurance is referred to here.]