In law firms, medical clinics, notary offices, or SMEs, paper archives play a crucial role. They contain sensitive, confidential, or legally binding information. Yet their preservation is often neglected, exposing the documents to risks of sometimes irreversible deterioration.
The Silent Enemies of Paper
The causes of deterioration are numerous and often invisible in daily life:
- Humidity: promotes mold growth and makes documents illegible.
- Too dry temperature: weakens the paper, making it brittle.
- Light (UV, fluorescent): causes yellowing and fading of inks.
- Insects and rodents: can physically destroy documents.
- Pollution and dust: accelerate the corrosion of paper fibers.
- Improper handling: tears, folds, grease stains… all preventable damage.
These factors, alone or combined, can render a document unusable. In some cases, this can have serious legal or administrative consequences.
A concrete example: the cancelled trial in Mons
In September 2025, a trial at the Mons court had to be cancelled. Cause: archives stored in a water-infiltrated room became illegible and overrun with mold. This case, reported by RTBF, clearly illustrates the risks associated with poor preservation.
Best Practices to Adopt
To prevent such situations, here are some simple but essential recommendations:
- Humidity: maintain levels between 30 and 40%.
- Temperature: ideally between 18 and 20 °C.
- Light protection: use opaque containers such as our archive boxes (link to “box supply” page).
- Pest control: install traps or repellents.
- Regular cleaning: limit dust and associated risks.
- Respectful handling: train staff on the value of documents and proper handling procedures.
Archives Conseil: Preserve, Secure, Transmit
At Archives Conseil, we support institutions, companies, and communities in implementing tailored preservation solutions. From auditing premises to providing specialized containers and raising staff awareness, our approach aims to prevent risks and ensure the longevity of paper documents.