You can use vital record specification policies to retain a volume in a location as long as the volume expiration date has not been reached. The volume expiration date corresponds to the latest of all data sets written on the volume. For example, a volume expiration date of September 1, 1999 is higher than an expiration date of September 1, 1998.

When you retain the data set until it expires, DFSMSrmm releases the volume after the expiration date has been reached, regardless of the overall retention amount or catalog status.