Spanish Film Library, Madrid

Spanish Film Library, Madrid
5 January 2018
Spanish Film Library, Madrid

Detection of toxic gases.

Filmoteca Española (Spanish Film Library) is an official institution within the Institute for Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts. Its objective is to preserve the Spanish cinematographic heritage, as well as to promote its circulation and preservation. Its exhibition theater is the Doré cinema, its administrative office is located in the old palace of the Marquis of Perales and the Center for Conservation and Restoration of Film Archives is located at Ciudad de la Imagen.

Due to old films using a storage medium composed of highly flammable and dangerous nitrate, and with the objective of improving the conservation and protection of the films, the Filmoteca has studied various similar European institutions and carried out a significant investment towards the construction of bunkers at Ciudad de la Imagen, within the city limits of Pozuelo de Alarcon, near the Prado del Rey installations of Radiotelevisión Española, the Spanish public radio and TV corporation. 

The depot for flammable films, with a capacity for 20,000 cans, is now located two meters underground where the cans will be stored at a more uniform temperature.  

To protect the valuable materials in this new high security storage area detectors for the gases emitted by nitrocellulose when it begins to decompose, designed and manufactured by Durán Electrónica, have been installed.