Costain, engineering solutions provider, has agreed a long-term deal with DeepStore to manage its project documents and drawings. The ongoing contract, which has a minimum five-year period, will see Costain store its items at DeepStore’s climate-controlled vaults in Britain’s largest salt mine in Winsford, Cheshire. 

The national records management company was appointed after Costain undertook a review of potential suppliers; having met all of the criteria needed including the management of archives, security and cost. 

Costain will send its archives from a number of permanent and temporary site locations, which will also benefit from DeepStore’s 24-hour retrieval service. 

George Christophorou, deputy head of information, knowledge and records management for Costain, said: “As an innovative company encompassing the information age, part of the governance requires us to maintain hard copy records for any contractual obligations. The business requirement to offer electronic access of all records is also maintained.” 

Craig Trimby, head of sales at DeepStore, said: “We’re proud to have been awarded this contract, which is testament to our robust management systems and the unique storage facility we have in Winsford; and we are very much looking forward to working with the Costain team.” 

Costain joins other prestigious DeepStore clients including The National Archives, the Royal Society, SOAS and Wellcome Trust. 

DeepStore, which is part of the Compass Minerals companies, created the underground storage facility from the space left following the extraction of millions of tonnes of rock salt from sister company Salt Union’s mine. The mine, 150 metres below ground, is ideal for storing documents as it has consistent temperature and humidity levels that meet the specifications of PD 5454. Its storage areas also are naturally free from ultraviolet light, vermin and flooding.