TS ISO 11108

TS ISO 11108 is a information and documentation standard focused on the permanence and durability characteristics of paper intended for archival use. Archival paper is selected for long-term preservation of records, where the aim is not only to keep text legible but also to keep the paper itself physically stable over time; this standard addresses those material characteristics.

What permanence and durability mean in archival paper

In general technical terms, permanence refers to resistance to ageing and chemical deterioration, while durability refers to the paper’s ability to withstand mechanical stresses such as handling, folding, and abrasion. For archival paper, both matter because a record can only remain usable for decades if the paper substrate itself remains stable as well as the information on it.

The technical area covered by the standard

The document provides a framework for the requirements associated with archival paper. Its referenced standards show that paper measurement, strength properties, dimensional behaviour, and paper terminology are part of the wider technical context. In other words, archival paper is assessed as a set of related properties rather than by a single isolated characteristic.

• Provides a technical basis for selecting paper for long-term recordkeeping.
• Treats permanence and durability as related but distinct properties.
• Links paper assessment to relevant measurement and terminology standards.
• Applies to paper used in archives, records management, and documentation contexts.

For that reason, TS ISO 11108 should be understood as a technical reference for choosing paper that can support long-term documentary preservation. It establishes the property framework relevant to paper used for records with archival value.