Note:
Do: Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for
CDs and DVDs.
and
Do not: Store discs horizontally for a long time (years).

General recommendation for long-term storage conditions
For archiving recordable (R) discs, it is recommended to use discs
that have a gold metal reflective layer. Archival Storage Facility -
Recommendation for storing CDs and DVDs together
Media Temperature Relative Humidity (RH)
CD, DVD Less than 20°C (68°F) 20% to 50% RH
Greater than 4°C (39°F)

A temperature of 18°C and 40% RH would be considered suitable for
long-term storage.
A lower temperature and RH is recommended for extended-term storage.


Care and Handling of CDs and DVDs: A Guide for Librarians and Archivists
by Fred R. Byers
http://www.clir.org/pubs/abstract/pub121abst.html

(10/03, 48 pp.)
ISBN 1-932326-04-9

Full Text HTML version >>
http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/contents.html

Download-able PDF version >>
http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/pub121.pdf

Alternate locations
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/
Special Publication 500-252, October 2003, Final
Final PDF version - 50 pages (1.24 MB file)
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/CDandDVDCareandHandlingGuide.pdf
Quick One-Page Reference from the Guide
1. PDF - 1 page (294 KB file)
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/onepage.pdf
2. Web version - 1 page
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/disccare.html


This report describes in nontechnical language the various types of
CDs and DVDs now in use, how they are made, and how they work. It
then distills current industry knowledge about disc longevity,
conditions that affect life expectancy, and how to care for optical
media. The guide is amply illustrated and includes a glossary and
bibliography.

The guide's author, Fred R. Byers, is a technical staff member in the
Convergent Information Systems Division of the Information Technology
Laboratory at NIST.

The guide was written for use by librarians and archivists; however,
it will be equally useful to any business or individual wishing to
safeguard CD or DVD collections.


Contents

National Institute of Standards and Technology

About the Author

Author's Acknowledgments

Quick Reference Guide

1. Introduction
1.1 Scope of This Guide
1.2 Use of Terms: Information, Content, and Data
1.3 Comparative Stability of Optical Discs and Other Media
1.4 CDs and DVDs: Operation and Variety

2. Ensuring That Your Digital Content Remains Available

3. Disc Structure
3.1 Polycarbonate (Plastic) Substrate Layer
3.2 Data Layer
3.2.1 Data Layer in ROM Discs
3.2.2 Data Layer in R Discs
3.2.3 Data Layer in RW and RAM discs
3.3 Metal (Reflective) Layer
3.3.1 Metal Layer in RW, ROM, and RAM Discs
3.3.2 Metal Layer in R Discs
3.3.3 Metal Layers in Double-Layer DVD-ROM Discs
3.4 Lacquer (Metal Protective) Layer (CDs)
3.5 Optional Surface Layer

4. How Long Can You Store CDs and DVDs and Use Them Again?
4.1 CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Discs
4.2 CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R Discs
4.3 CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM Discs

5. Conditions That Affect CDs and DVDs
5.1 Environmental Conditions
5.1.1 Temperature and Relative Humidity
5.1.2 Light Exposure
5.1.3 Moisture
5.1.4 Organic Solvents
5.1.5 Magnetism, X-rays, Microwaves, and Radiation
5.1.6 Individual Disc Storage
5.2 Surface-Handling Effects
5.2.1 Scratches on the Laser-Reading Side of CDs and DVDs
5.2.2 Scratches on the Label Side of CDs
5.2.3 Scratches on the Label Side of Single-Sided DVDs
5.2.4 Fingerprints, Smudges, Dirt, and Dust
5.2.5 Marking
5.2.6 Flexing
5.2.7 Application of Adhesive Labels
5.2.8 Disc Surface Printing
5.3 Wear from Disc Play

6. Cleaning

Appendix 1: Commercially Available CD/DVD Disc Types

Appendix 2: Optical Media Drive Types and How They Handle Different Disc Types

Glossary

Bibliography

Tables

Table 1: Disc type, read/record type, data layer, and metal layer
Table 2: Dye type and color appearance-CD-R discs (recordable discs)
Table 3: Recommended storage parameters from different sources
Figures

Figure 1: User-removable storage-media timeline
Figures 2, 3: Layers that make up ROM discs
Figures 4, 5: Layers that make up R discs
Figures 6, 7: Layers that make up RW and RAM discs
Figures 8, 9: Two types of double-layer, single-sided DVD-ROM construction
Figures 10, 11: Two types of double-sided DVD-ROM construction
Figure 12: Printable or markable areas of the disc