Some records can easily be replaced. Some contain the history of a company, deal details, and years of work that cannot be replicated.
But valuable records tend to be put anywhere there is room for them. Storage boxes crowd an empty office. Files are placed beside cleaning products. A storage closet becomes an archive without much thought.
The Washington Missile Base up for sale in Sprague, which is located close to Spokane, gives us a unique perspective. Underground facilities and strong physical barriers can be useful for storing your valuable documents if proper preparations are made.
Why Secure Document Storage Still Matters
Even in the age of digital copies, there is a use for paper. Agreements, property papers, research material, and historical documents can require secure storage for many years.
Security is more than putting away a locked filing cabinet.
Records must be kept safe from any unauthorized access, exposure to moisture, heat and physical handling. The other requirement of records is that there should be a systematic manner that will allow one to identify the record holder.
In the case of a business with a large collection of records, an off-site archive of records will be of immense help as it will allow the owner to get more space in the office and better control over the records.
What Makes the Washington Missile Base Worth a Look?
The Washington Missile Base property details mention characteristics that can provide the basic structure for a privately owned records facility. It will still be up to the buyer to assess their condition and design the space according to the records to be stored.
Physical Barriers and Controlled Entry
A records room must be kept secure and accessible.
There are opportunities for multiple access levels in the gates, the thick doors, and interior rooms. While some items could be delivered through one door, confidential files could stay inside another locked door.
The new owner could implement badge access, visitor records, and notifications whenever the doors are opened. In this case, the objective is clear: knowing who comes in, what is available there, and when they leave.
A Layout Built Around the Work
This property includes a drive-in ramp and large entrance to the main bunker. They may come in handy when deciding how to bring boxes and shelves to the facility.
An archival system requires not only shelves but also space for the delivery of boxes, sorting of files, scanning of pages, and processing of requests.
Before designing a layout, a potential buyer will have to consider the load bearing capacity of floors, emergency exits, and paths for moving the carts.
Underground Document Storage Needs the Right Conditions
The history of this Atlas E missile base in Sprague, Washington illustrates how the former military installation became a place of living and working. An archival facility at the site would be yet another designated function.
Simply being underground does not necessarily make the space suitable for storing paper documents.
Keep Moisture and Heat Under Control
According to the Library of Congress guidelines, a good storage environment should have stable temperature and humidity and little exposure to light. They also warn about facilities prone to leaking and rapid changes in conditions.
In regard to this particular property, one needs to look at drainage, waterproofing, ventilation and humidity regulation before bringing any files on-site. A sensor system can help monitor conditions and alert the personnel in case anything changes.
Climate control equipment, if necessary, must be considered in the beginning. Thicker walls are no substitute for regulating moisture.
Give the Paper Proper Support
Good storage extends to even the file folder itself.
The National Archives guide on paper records provides reasons for proper containers, protective folders, and packing. Overflowing boxes create problems in accessing the documents. Empty boxes may result in folded papers.
An ideal system will involve proper shelving, labeling of the boxes, and enough space to ensure safety in handling of the documents.
Keep Records Useful, Even Years Later
Imagine a company looking for a signed agreement from a decade ago. The document is properly stored in a box but is stored somewhere in the archives.
This is a problem of storage.
An easy method of tracking would be to connect every file and box to a location. The staff will log the time that documents enter and leave the storage space. Scanned versions could be used by groups working on a daily basis, and the actual documents can be stored.
The time to transport documents from off-site storage facilities is relevant as well. When buying the property, one needs to think about the frequency of needing the documents and how quickly the documents have to reach the office.
A New Purpose for a Strong Structure
The Washington Missile Base can be a good choice for a buyer wanting to have a storage facility for their own documents or archives.
The first advantage lies in its safety and spaciousness. It all depends on the specifics: dry climate, fire security, easy access, shelving, and logging.
This is an unusual property with a great opportunity. It can be a perfect facility for the right collection of what matters.
For further information regarding the property, contact Chandra Spary by email at cspary@icloud.com or phone at 239-989-4545.