Environmental and shipping specifications for 3592 tape cartridges

There are specific operating, storage, and shipping requirements for 3592 tape cartridges.

Before you use a tape cartridge, acclimate it to the operating environment for 24 hours or the time necessary to prevent condensation in the drive (the time will vary, depending on the environmental extremes to which the cartridge was exposed).

The best storage container for the cartridges (until they are opened) is the original shipping container. The plastic wrapping prevents dirt from accumulating on the cartridges and partially protects them from humidity changes.

Attention: Depending on how many drives you have installed in the frame, the temperature inside the frame may be as much as 5°C (9°F) above the temperature outside the frame. To ensure continued reliability of your media, be sure to take this temperature difference into account when you set up the environment around your library.

When you ship a cartridge, place it in a sealed, moisture-proof bag to protect it from moisture, contaminants, and physical damage. Ship the cartridge in a shipping container that has enough packing material to cushion the cartridge and prevent it from moving within the container.

Table 1 lists the environmental conditions for operating, storing, and shipping IBM 3592 tape cartridges.

Table 1. Environment for operating, storing, and shipping the IBM 3592 tape cartridge
Environmental Specifications
Environmental Factor Operational Storage1,3 Archival Storage2,4 Shipping
Temperature 16 to 32°C (61 to 90°F) 16 to 25°C (61 to 77°F) -23 to 49°C (-9 to 120°F)
Relative humidity (noncondensing) 20 to 80% 20 to 50% 5 to 80%
Wet bulb maximum temperature 26°C (79°F) 26°C (79°F) 26°C (79°F)
Magnetic field Stray magnetic field at any point on tape not to exceed 50 Oersteds (4000 ampere/meter).
Notes:
  1. Operational storage equals less than 6 months.
  2. Archival storage equals greater than 6 months.
  3. Cartridges shall be stored under these conditions if they will also be used in a drive during storage.
  4. Cartridges shall be stored under these conditions for archiving.