Seattle's proximity to Puget Sound creates year-round humidity levels that hover between 70 and 85 percent. This marine influence means commercial buildings constantly battle condensation in basements, storage rooms, and mechanical spaces where archives accumulate. When water intrusion strikes a facility already operating at elevated ambient moisture, documents reach critical saturation faster than in arid climates. The same pipe leak that allows 24 hours of safe response time in Phoenix demands action within 12 hours in Seattle. Mold colonization accelerates in our damp conditions, making vacuum freeze drying the only viable method for preserving large volumes of wet records before microbial growth renders them unsalvageable and creates indoor air quality hazards.
Organizations maintaining records in Seattle's historic commercial districts face additional challenges. Buildings constructed before 1950 in Pioneer Square and the International District often lack the waterproofing and drainage systems found in modern construction. Clay soil common throughout the Puget Sound Basin expands during wet seasons, creating hydrostatic pressure that forces groundwater through foundation walls. When these older structures flood, the volume of affected materials can overwhelm standard restoration capacity. Our local facility understands these regional building characteristics and maintains the industrial-scale equipment required to process the large archival losses common in Seattle's aging commercial inventory. This regional expertise ensures compliance with both modern recovery standards and historic preservation requirements.
