Guide for care and handling for tape

• Tape should be handled only in no smoking, no food and clean areas.
• Do not let tape or leader ends trail on the floor.
• Do not drop or subject to sudden shock.
• Keep tape away from magnetic fields. Don't stack tapes on top of equipment.
• Tape storage areas should be cool and dry. Never leave open reel or cassette tapes exposed to the sun.
• Avoid subjecting tapes to rapid temperature changes. If storage and operating area temperatures differ by more than 15° F (8° C), allow an acclimatization time within the operating area of four hours for every 18° F (10° C) difference.
• Store open reel and cassette tapes with the reels or tape packs vertical. Reels should be supported by the hub. (Tapes should be stored like books on a library shelf - on end. They should not be stored laying flat.)
• Use high quality reels or cassettes, boxes/containers, and accessories.
• Return tapes to their containers when they are not in use.
• Cut off damaged tape or leader/trailer ends from open reel tapes.
• For open-reel tapes, use protecting collars if available.
• Do not use general purpose adhesive tapes to secure the tape end or for splicing. If necessary, use adhesive products designed for the purpose.
• Minimise tape handling.
• Do not touch the tape surface or the edge of the tape pack unless absolutely necessary and then wear lint-free gloves.
• Clean the recorder tape path thoroughly at the recommended intervals.
• Discard tapes with scratches or any other surface damage, which causes significant debris to be left in the recorder tape path.
• Ensure tapes to be reused are thoroughly bulk-erased before they are put back into service.