TS ISO 11798

TS ISO 11798 is an information and documentation standard concerned with the permanence and durability of writing, printing and copying on paper. It addresses how record images on paper can be assessed for long-term retention in preserved environments such as libraries and archives, where legibility and physical stability matter over extended periods.

What the standard is about

The focus is not simply on whether marks can be seen today, but on whether they remain readable and intact as time passes. In general technical terms, writing refers to manually produced marks, printing to text or images created by printing processes, and copying to reproductions made by duplication technologies. Permanence is about keeping the information visible and legible, while durability relates to resistance against deterioration during storage and normal handling.

Why the distinction matters

Because different paper-based recording technologies age differently, the choice of ink, toner, paper and fixing process can influence long-term usability. A standard of this kind provides a common framework for evaluating performance, which is especially relevant for records intended for preservation rather than short-term office use. In broader archival practice, such evaluations help distinguish media that are merely serviceable at the time of creation from media that are better suited to stable, long-lived documentation.

• Targets paper-based records intended for long-term preservation.
• Distinguishes writing, printing and copying as separate recording categories.
• Treats permanence and durability as complementary properties.
• Includes requirements and test methods rather than only definitions.