The Care and Handling of Hazardous Nitrate Film at UCLA's Unique Projection Facilities

Jess Daily

The UCLA Film Archive houses many nitrate films that are screened regularly in the university's Melnitz Theater. Since nitrate prints are extremely flammable, precautions must be taken each time they are projected. When nitrate burns, it produces its own oxygen and therefore cannot be extinguished. The Melnitz projection booth required extensive modifications in order to meet safety codes established for screening nitrate films. The modifications included the installation of a steel fire door with ports, which is lowered into position when nitrate film is present in the booth. A special interlock system was designed to prevent projection of nitrate films if the fire door is not in position. Safety rules include the inspection of every foot of nitrate film before it is projected and the presence of two licensed projectionists during nitrate screenings.

Print ISSN
Published
1990-06
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J03856