TÜV NORD GROUP carries out innovative test procedures for the future of data storage

ALTER | HTV, a subsidiary of the TÜV NORD GROUP, is actively involved in the Labest Digital research project, which is investigating the long-term durability of digital storage media. The project of the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) is dedicated to the challenge of testing digital storage media such as DVD, SSD, HDD, microfilm, M-Disc and NanoFicheTM under various environmental influences. The aim is to assess the durability and reliability of these data carriers and the digital data written on them. The results should help to fulfil the requirements of § 38 StandAG, which stipulates the permanent storage of data and documents for the interim and final storage of radioactive waste.

Thomas Kuhn, assistant to the management at ALTER | HTV, explains: "Our expertise in testing and long-term storage of electronic components makes us an ideal partner for this project. We use special test procedures to subject the digital storage media to extreme conditions such as high temperature, thermal shock, high humidity or radiation. These practical tests are crucial for analysing the quality and longevity of the media."

ALTER | HTV takes a comprehensive approach that includes both traditional and innovative storage media. In specially equipped climate chambers, the data carriers labelled with digital data are subjected to intensive cyclic stress tests that simulate temperature and humidity fluctuations. In addition, the storage media are exposed to salt water and radiation as well as mechanical stresses. The data integrity of the accelerated aged data carriers is tested in detail after each stress step and the damage characteristics are analysed in order to obtain indications of any damage mechanisms. This procedure helps to assess the physical and chemical stability of the media and the data written on them and to determine their resistance to corrosion and other ageing processes.

Particular attention is being paid to innovative technologies, such as M-Disc and NanoFicheTM technology, which could potentially remain stable for centuries. These technologies offer new possibilities for storing and securing data that could be of crucial importance in the future.
The Labest Digital project is an important step in research into the long-term durability of digital storage media and underlines the innovative strength of ALTER | HTV and the TÜV NORD GROUP. The results of the project are expected to be published by the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) in mid-2026 and are intended to be groundbreaking for the selection of relevant long-term digital storage media in the interim and final storage of radioactive waste.
 

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