Tape drives are designed to operate in a clean environment.
Problem factors are dirt, dust, fibers, and airborne particles. Airborne particles are the most difficult to address. When you install a tape in the tape drive, the clearance between the heads and the tape is measured in microns. Particles can damage the tape or the head if they come in contact with either. IBM® offers a tape drive filter enclosure for some systems to solve this problem. The enclosure draws air in through a filter and supplies the tape drive with clean air. You are responsible to provide a clean operating environment for the tape drive and system.
For specific requirements for environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, see the operator's manual for your tape cartridge.