Designation: E 1254 – 03

Standard Guide for

Storage of Radiographs and Unexposed Industrial
Radiographic Films1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1254; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope tographic materials - Methods using iodine-amylose, me-

1.1 This guide may be used for the control and maintenance thylene blue and silver sulfide
of industrial radiographs and unexposed films used for indus- 3. Significance and Use
trial radiography.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.1 The provisions of this guide are intended to control the
as the standard. SI units are provided for information only. quality of industrial radiographs and unexposed films only and
are not intended for controlling the acceptability of the
NOTE 1—For information purposes, refer to Terminology E 1316. The materials or products radiographed. It is further intended that
terms stated therein, however, are not specifically referenced in the text of
this guide be used as an adjunct to Guide E 94.
this document.
3.2 The necessity for applying specific control procedures
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the such as those described in this guide is dependent to a certain
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the extent, on the degree to which a user adheres to good
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- processing and storage practices as a matter of routine proce-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- dure.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Unexposed Film Storage
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 Unopened Containers:
2.1 ASTM Standards: 4.1.1 Storage Recommendations—Any films in containers
E 94 Guide for Radiographic Examination2 sealed by the manufacturer and not opened should be stored
E 746 Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality with the films on edge, whenever possible, to avoid container
Response of Industrial Radiographic Film Systems2 damage and possible film damage. Storage temperature should
E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations2 be between 40°F [4.4°C] and 75°F [24°C] at a relative
2.2 ISO Standards:3 humidity range of 30 to 60 %.
ISO 14523:1999 Processed Photographic Materials— 4.1.2 Higher Storage Temperatures—When temperatures
Photographic activity test for enclosure materials exceed 90°F [32°C] for 30 days, some unexposed films may be
ISO 18901:2002 Imaging Materials—Processed silver- processed under normal existing conditions to test for fogging.
gelatin type black-and-white films - Specifications for The outside sheets in a pack of cut films or the ends of rolled
stability films are most affected by heat. If excessive fogging is found
ISO 18902:2001 Imaging Materials—Processed photo- on these samples, subsequent sampling may be done on inner
graphic films, plates, and papers - Filing enclosures and sheets or further in on the rolls to avoid unnecessary scrap. A
storage containers limit of 0.30 density units total for the base density and fog is
ISO 18917:1999 Photography—Determination of residual acceptable (see 4.3) for industrial radiographic films.
thiosulfate and other related chemicals in processed pho- 4.1.3 Lower Storage Temperatures—The temperature can
be lower than 40°F [4.4°C] as lower temperatures reduce the
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rate of heat and age fogging. However, lower temperatures will
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestruc-
tive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.01 on Radiology have no effect on background radiation fogging. Films stored at
(X and Gamma) Method. these lower temperatures in unopened containers should be
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally allowed to stabilize at room temperature before opening the
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as E 1254 – 98.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03.
containers. The stabilization time varies with the bulk of the
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., stored films and the temperature stored at. The lower the
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, or http://www.iso.ch. temperature and greater the bulk the longer the time required to

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 E 1254 – 03
reach room temperature. If the containers are opened too soon, water. Dilute to 1 L and store in brown, glass-stoppered bottle.
condensation could cause the films to stick to whatever is Discard if darkened. Two minutes after a drop of this solution
touching their surfaces. has been placed on the lowest density area of a radiograph, a
4.1.4 Lower or Higher Storage Humidities— If the relative stain will appear if any residual thiosulfate is present. The
humidity is below 30 % and the moisture in the films is intensity of the stain will approximate the maximum amount of
reduced sufficiently, film emulsion cracking or damage can discoloration that one side of the radiograph will ever reach
occur during handling after opening the sealed containers, and during any kind of storage conditions of temperature and
the films may be subjected to static electrical discharges. humidity. For a visual reference to the approximate maximum
Storage humidities over 60 % can also cause the films to stick discoloration of both sides of a radiograph, both sides must be
to whatever is touching their surfaces. tested with superimposed drops. This spot test not usually
4.2 Opened Containers—The same considerations de- considered adequate where critical work or work to a strict
scribed in 4.1 for unopened containers apply. Opened contain- code or specification is involved and the methylene blue
ers are those on which the manufacturers inner bag around the method or the complete silver densitometric method described
film itself has been opened. This can cause the unexposed film in ISO 18917:1999 is preferred.
to stick and fog more rapidly when exposed to high humidity 5.2.2 Natural Aging Stain—Practical long-time storage tests
and temperature. indicate that under normal “office” conditions of controlled,
4.3 Time-of-Use Usability—Tests used to evaluate image moderate temperature and humidity, approximately one third
quality in accordance with Test Method E 746 showed that of the maximum stain indicated by such a spot test was actually
equivalent penetrameter sensitivity (EPS) of 1.4 % can be generated over a 10-year period.
maintained for films with base plus-fog (B + Fog) up to 0.30.
5.2.3 Rewashing Radiographs—If the spot test does gener-
4.3.1 If unexposed sheets or rolls are processed normally
ate a stain, the radiograph can be rewashed to lower the
through the available processing system, and base plus-fog
residual level and then retested to confirm the lower level.
density exceeds 0.30, the film may still be suitable for use.
Immersion in a fixer neutralizer such as 2 to 6 % solution of
However, specific agreement should be obtained between the
sodium sulfite can drastically reduce rewashing times.
purchaser and supplier if out-dated film or film stored under
non-recommended conditions is to be used. 5.3 Enclosure Materials for Radiographs:
4.4 Radiation Protection—Storage facilities for unexposed 5.3.1 General—Packaging enclosure materials, including
films should provide adequate protection from penetrating corrugated boxes and interleaving paper, shall be chemically
radiation. stable and have a slightly rough or matted surface. Guidelines
for enclosure materials are described in ISO 18902:2001. A
5. Radiograph Storage photo activity test for suitability is described in
5.1 Introduction—Radiographs are normally stored in some ISO 14523:1999.
form of enclosures to exclude dirt and protect them against 5.4 Storage Area Conditions:
physical deterioration and damage. Storage conditions can be
5.4.1 Air Impurities—Inert or inactive solid particles can be
designed for archival preservation, normally considered to be
deposited on radiographs and interfere with readability and
for more than 100 years or for moderate time periods by using
produce scratches. Reactive types of solids may cause fading
the guidelines in this standard; however, the radiographs must
or staining and gaseous impurities may cause base or image
have been sufficiently fixed and washed and stored in suitable
deterioration. Impurities such as peroxides, ammonia, paint
enclosures to ensure preservation.
fumes, sulfur dioxides, or compounds of sulfur, such as
5.2 Residual Thiosulfate—If radiographs are not fully fixed
hydrogen sulfide, can be particularly harmful.
and washed, they can retain some fixer, or thiosulfate, and
some residual silver in the lower density areas. During storage, 5.4.2 Temperature—Continuous temperatures above 100°F
these residual chemicals can generate permanent, brownish [38°C] will accelerate staining caused by residual thiosulfate
stain super-imposed on the radiographic image. Since the rate and temperatures below the dew point of the air may produce
at which a stain is generated depends on both the amount of condensed moisture on the radiographs and cause sticking. In
residual thiosulfate and radiograph storage conditions, factors general, a moderate temperature range, as described in 4.1, is
such as the temperature, humidity, and air flow in the storage recommended.
facility must be considered as they affect this rate (see 5.4.3 Humidity—The extremes must be avoided as pro-
ISO 18901:2002). If radiographs are stored at or below the longed exposures to relative humidities over 60 % will tend to
upper limits of the temperature and relative humidity ranges damage the emulsion because of fungus growth and could
described in 4.1.1, stain generation will be minimized and cause sticking. Under conditions of low or changing humidity,
lowered as these two parameters are lowered. Again, be aware emulsion adhesion defects such as edge peeling, flaking, or
of possible film emulsion cracking at very low humidities. emulsion cracking can develop. Low humidities will also
5.2.1 Testing for Residual Thiosulfate— The procedure increase the potential of static charges on the radiographs
described in ISO 18917:1999 as the silver densitometric attracting solids that could harm them. In general, a relative
method for measuring residual thiosulfate details a silver humidity range of 30 to 60 % is recommended.
nitrate-acetic acid reagent. A solution that can be used as a spot 5.5 Fire Resistance—Radiographs can withstand tempera-
test for residual thiosulfate is as follows: Dissolve 10 g silver tures as high as 302°F [150°C] without significant loss of
nitrate in a solution of 30 mL glacial acetic acid in 750 mL image quality, provided they are free of residual thiosulfate;

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 E 1254 – 03
however, they may become distorted or stick to each other or whether there is conformance to the criteria for success
to the enclosure material. specified in the procedure.
6. Precision and Bias 7. Keywords
6.1 No statement is made about either the precision or bias
of this guide for measuring residual thiosulfate and the activity 7.1 industrial radiographic films; radiograph storage; unex-
test for enclosure materials since the results merely state posed film

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