Section 6: Storage Areas and Equipment
Introduction
For Districts and any offices maintaining an inactive records
storage area, this section contains information on:
- Storage area requirements for storing official records.
- How to identify and label boxes.
- Types of storage boxes available.
Record Location Aids
Index stored records in sufficient detail to retrieve them.
The 1419 Records Transmittal Form is designed to capture this information.
Include the location (pallet number, shelf location, etc.),
a reference to the Agency Item Number on the TxDOT Records Retention
Schedule, and the date the records become eligible for destruction on
the index.
Furnish a copy of the index in a pending file, arranged by
destruction date, to your Records Administrator. The list can serve
as a detail attachment when documenting records destruction.
For quick retrieval, attach an index or list of contents to
each box. You may also want to place a copy of the index inside
the box.
Mark boxes visibly to identify the contents and destruction
date. Include only records with the same destruction date in any
single box. You may want to use different colored markers for different destruction
dates and avoid colors that fade in sunlight.
Mark any boxes that contain either vital records or records
requiring review by the State Archives before destruction.
Types of Storage Boxes
Although the standard document storage box is the only type
allowed at the TxDOT Records Warehouse or Texas State Library and
Archives Commission, there are occasions when other types of boxes
may be needed for local use. The table below describes several types
of storage boxes.
Storage Box Descriptions
Box Types | Descriptions |
---|---|
Standard Document Storage Box | Standard document storage boxes are 1.2 cubic foot in volume, measuring 10 x 12 x 15 inches. They hold letter and legal-size documents and have removable lids. Empty boxes fold flat for storage. Request these boxes from local supply rooms, Regional Distribution Centers, or warehouses (NGIP# 615-37-13-0850) |
Permafile Box | These boxes are also known as transfer boxes. The standard size is 10 x 12 x 24 inches, and the legal size is 10 x 15 x 24 inches. These boxes are collapsible and reusable. Each has the same volume as a file drawer. Permafile boxes are commercially available. While useful for storing some types of records such as rolled maps or large documents, Permafile boxes have some disadvantages:
|
Bankers Box | These cardboard boxes slip into metal-reinforced cardboard shelving units.
|
Custom Box | Some offices make wooden boxes to store construction project records. Each project has its own box, which simplifies moves and transfers. |
Other | Cardboard boxes for use with specific media are available under state contract (Commodity Code 640-25-60) |