Summary

The piqlVault is a specialised long-term storage facility designed to preserve data on piqlFilm for 500+ years. To achieve this, it adheres to stringent international standards, including ISO 18911:2010 (guidelines for archival photographic film storage) and the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) CF-4 physical security requirements. These standards ensure the vault’s interior is maintained in optimal conditions and protected from all hazards – fire, water, biological or chemical agents, and unauthorized access – thereby guaranteeing the longevity and security of the stored data.

The piqlVault’s multi-faceted security design – spanning structural fortification, climate-controlled preservation, fire/water disaster mitigation, strict access control, and constant surveillance – creates an environment where data on piqlFilm remains safe and stable for centuries. By following ISO 18911 archival standards and CDSA’s stringent security framework, Piql ensures that our most critical information can truly be “made immortal,” safeguarded against both time and threat.

In 2025, Piql announced the collaboration with the global leader in facility management for archival records, Iron Mountain. This is a concrete example of At the piqlVault powered by Iron Mountain Norway, the security principles of a piqlVault are implemented at the highest standards and can be used as a model for best-practice piqlVaults around the world. To read more about the specific features of a piqlVault, see down belo.

piqlVault by Iron Mountain Norway

This facility located outside the capital of Norway, Oslo is operated by Iron Mountain Norway and is certified to ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 27001 (Information Security). It follows best practices for vault operation; it also aligns with ISO 22301 for comprehensive emergency preparedness and business continuity.
Security measures at this site are extremely rigorous: the vault has alarmed doors, 24/7 video surveillance, and direct links to emergency response teams for any fire or intrusion events. Access is tightly controlled through a secure card system managed in compliance with PCI-DSS standards, ensuring that only authorised individuals can enter.

Iron Mountain additionally upholds top-tier data privacy and security certifications – including NAID AAA certification for secure document destruction – and holds a NAID Privacy+ credential, underscoring its commitment to confidentiality in all handling of stored materials. All operational procedures in this vault comply with Norwegian archival regulations and are fully GDPR compliant, meaning data privacy is built in. Critically, even on-site staff cannot view or access clients’ data: information on piqlFilm is inaccessible to anyone at the facility except certified Piql technicians during an authorized retrieval process

This ensures a highly secure, controlled chain of custody for the data. In summary, the Iron Mountain Norway piqlVault exemplifies the piqlVault security model in practice – combining certified facility management with layered physical security, environmental control, and strict access governance to protect valuable data for generations to come.

piqlVault Features in-depth

Physical Security Features

To guard against physical intrusion and environmental threats, the piqlVault facility is built with robust security features and infrastructure:

• Dedicated Secure Vault: The piqlVault is a segregated, purpose-built room used solely for storage, with no other activities permitted nearby. This isolation keeps the environment stable and free from external contaminants. The vault’s perimeter and walls are sealed (e.g. with vapor barriers like asphalt or aluminum paint) to prevent moisture ingress, though fresh paint is avoided due to harmful fumes. The entire physical facility is constructed to meet or exceed local building codes, including provisions for seismic protection to withstand earthquakes. Its location is carefully chosen to mitigate flood risk (above basement level in flood-prone areas, or in controlled underground sites). Additionally, backup power generators are in place to keep climate control and security systems running for days during any outage, ensuring continuous protection.
• Intrusion Detection: A comprehensive alarm system is active whenever staff are not present, so any unauthorised entry triggers immediate. Heavy vault doors and alarmed access points help secure the facility against break-ins. The vault is also monitored by security personnel (see Surveillance) and follows strict procedures to prevent any undetected access.

Environmental Controls

Carefully controlled environmental conditions are critical for preserving piqlFilm over centuries. The piqlVault maintains archival-quality climate control and air purity:

• Temperature and Humidity: The vault climate is maintained at a cool, stable temperature between 4 °C and 21 °C, with daily fluctuations no greater than ±2 °C. Relative humidity is kept in the optimal 20–50% range, never varying by more than ±5% within a 24-hour. These conditions minimize film degradation – avoiding heat-induced warping or high-humidity mold growth, as well as brittleness from overly dry air.
• Air Filtration and Purity: The piqlVault is equipped with high-quality HVAC systems. Incoming air is filtered to remove dust and particulate matter, and scrubbed of gaseous pollutants (such as sulfur compounds, ozone, ammonia, solvent vapors, etc.) that could corrode or oxidize the film. The ventilation is designed for slight positive pressure inside the vault, pushing out dust and contaminants whenever doors open. Mechanical filters (dry-media type with ≥85% efficiency, non-combustible construction) and dehumidifiers keep the air clean and stable.
• Cleanliness Protocols: Sticky mats or air showers are placed at the vault entrance to trap dust from anyone entering. Cleaning equipment is stored outside the vault and designed to produce minimal particles, ensuring the storage area remains as dust-free as possible. No chemical fumes or reactive substances are allowed near the storage room – for example, no paint work, industrial processes, or printing apparatus is located nearby – to avoid introducing impurities that could react with the piqlFilm. Overall, the vault operates like a clean-room, maintaining an immaculate environment in line with ISO 18911 recommendations.