ISO 18902:2013

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18902
Third edition
2013-07-01
Imaging materials — Processed
imaging materials — Albums, framing
and storage materials
Matériaux pour image — Matériaux pour image après traitement —
Albums, cadrage et matériaux d’archivage
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Materials . 2
4.1 Paper and board . 2
4.2 Plastic . 3
4.3 Metal . 4
4.4 Adhesives . 4
4.5 Writing, labelling and printing materials . 5
4.6 Glazing . 5
4.7 Frames . 5
5 Reporting . 6
Annex A (informative) Envelope seams . 7
Annex B (informative) Slip agents . 8
Bibliography . 9
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. www.iso.org/directives
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received. www.iso.org/patents
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 42, Photography.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 18902:2007), which has been
technically revised.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This International Standard contains specifications to ensure that products used for the storage and
display of imaging materials, such as envelopes, boxes, albums and frames, will not damage the enclosed
imaging materials or accelerate their natural decay rates.
Specifying the chemical and physical characteristics of the storage and display materials does not, by
itself, ensure satisfactory storage or display behaviour. It is also essential to provide proper storage
temperature, humidity and light levels (if on display), as well as protection from the hazards of fire,
water, and fungal growth, from contact with certain chemicals in solid, liquid or gaseous form (e.g.
atmospheric pollutants), and from physical damage.
Recommended storage conditions are given in the following International Standards for the different
types of imaging materials: ISO 18911, ISO 18918, ISO 18920, and ISO 18934.
This International Standard does not apply to supplementary materials that may be stored with imaging
materials such as documents and ephemera (for permanence requirements for paper for documents,
see ISO 9706).
Note that the term “archival” is not used in International Standards for imaging materials or for storage
and display materials, because the meaning of “archival” has become too ambiguous. Therefore, storage
and display materials should not be referred to as “archival,” but rather as meeting the specifications of
this International Standard.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18902:2013(E)
Imaging materials — Processed imaging materials —
Albums, framing and storage materials
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the principal physical and chemical requirements for album,
storage and framing materials to prevent damage to processed or printed imaging materials over time.
This International Standard covers requirements for paper and paperboard, plastics, metals, writing
instruments, adhesives, tapes, self-adhesive labelling materials, stamping inks and pads as well as
framing and glazing materials used as or in the construction of storage and display materials for black-
and-white or colour reflection prints or negatives made with traditional silver-halide and silver dye
bleach photographic materials, as well as dye- and pigment-based inkjet; dye diffusion thermal transfer
(“dye sublimation”), and liquid- and dry-toner electrophotographic digital prints.
This International Standard does not provide specifications for the design, construction or durability of
the storage and display materials themselves. The requirements are limited to the characteristics of the
storage or display materials that may affect the imaging materials either chemically or physically when
they are stored or displayed under recommended conditions.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 302, Pulps — Determination of Kappa number
ISO 10716, Paper and board — Determination of alkali reserve
ISO 12757-1:1998, Ball point pens and refills — Part 1: General use
ISO 12757-2:1998, Ball point pens and refills — Part 2: Documentary use (DOC)
ISO 14145-1:1998, Roller ball pens and refills — Part 1: General use
ISO 14145-2:1998, Roller ball pens and refills — Part 2: Documentary use (DOC)
ISO 18916, Imaging materials — Processed imaging materials — Photographic activity test for
enclosure materials
ISO 18932, Imaging materials — Adhesive mounting systems — Specifications
TAPPI T509, Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of paper extracts (cold extraction method)
ASTM D1193, Standard Specification for Reagent Grade Water
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
acid-free adhesive
adhesive with a cold extraction pH equal to or greater than the reference water minus 0,5 and less than 10,0
3.2
acid-free paper or paperboard
paper or paperboard with a cold extraction pH equal to or greater than reference water minus 0,5 and
less than 10,0
3.3
anti-blocking agent
additive or component which prevents sticking or fusing of adjacent resins or plastic films, either
through microscopic bumps on the surface or by otherwise reducing the likelihood that two materials
will stick together
Note 1 to entry: Examples are talc, other silicates, and amides.
3.4
buffered
paper or paperboard with an alkali reserve that is equivalent to at least 2,0 % by weight calcium
carbonate (CaCO )
3.5
lignin-free
paper or paperboard with a Kappa number of 7,0 or less, corresponding to a lignin concentration of
approximately 1,0 % or less by mass
3.6
photo-safe
material that meets all requirements within this International Standard so that it will not accelerate the
natural aging of photographic prints or films or digitally printed images
Note 1 to entry: Material that only meets pH requirements or passes the photographic activity test described in
ISO 18916 is not necessarily photo-safe due to other factors that may be harmful. Only materials that meet all
requirements of this International Standard can be considered photo-safe.
3.7
slip agent
component added to plastic material to reduce the coefficient of friction
4 Materials
4.1 Paper and board
Paper or paperboard shall be acid-free as determined by a cold extraction pH measurement equal to or
greater than the reference water minus 0,5 and less than 10,0 using the method given in TAPPI T509,
with the following modifications.
— ASTM D1193 Type Ι or Type ΙΙ water shall be used for this measurement and shall have a pH between
6,0 and 8,0. If the pH does not meet these requirements, the water shall be boiled for 1 h so that it
meets these requirements.
— The temperature of the water shall be (25 ± 5)°C and the circuit of the pH meter shall include
temperature compensation.
— Reagent water may be added as a single 75 ml addition to limit the exposure of the extract solution
to acids in the atmosphere.
— The sample and the reference water shall be gently agitated at least once during the 1 h soak.
— The probe shall be rinsed with a small quantity of extract or reference water before measuring the pH.
Paper and paperboard material shall include an alkali reserve of at least 2,0 % by weight calcium
carbonate (CaCO ), as determined by the alkali reserve test described in ISO 10716. The alkali reserve
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

should be evenly distributed throughout the paper or paperboard. There is no maximum limit for alkali
reserve content.
A minimum of sizing chemicals should be used, the amount being dictated by the requirements of the
end use (enclosures, overwraps, interleaving, etc.). If sizing is used, neutral or alkaline sizing chemicals
(internal and/or surface) shall be employed.
Unprinted, pre-consumer recycled material may be used; however, post-consumer recycled material
shall not.
Paper and paperboard material shall meet the requirements of the photographic activity test described
in ISO 18916.
Paper and paperboard material shall have a Kappa number of 7,0 or less as determined by the method
described by ISO 302.
Dyes or pigments used to colour the paper shall show no bleeding or transfer when soaked in distilled
water for 24 h while held in direct contact with white bond paper.
Each colour of paper or paperboard shall be tested separately to meet all requirements in this
International Standard.
Album, storage and framing materials made with paper or paperboard that are coated or laminated
on both sides with a plastic film shall be subject to 4.2, Plastic, and not 4.1, Paper. Album, storage and
framing materials that are coated or laminated on only one side with a plastic film shall be subject to
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