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MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES


Proactive prevention key to preservation


HygroMatik’s Andie Chessun discusses the importance of preservation and highlights how achieving the right internal atmosphere need not cost too much in terms of time and money.


I


n addition to ensuring the health of the general public, air quality, temperature and humidity play an important role in creating environments conducive to the preservation of valuable materials and artefacts.


When purchasing new items or taking in contributions, curators and building managers alike need to ensure their storage facilities and exhibition areas are suitably equipped in order not to damage the fiscal, educational and historic value of these items. It is crucial that those responsible for looking after these exhibits are steadfast in ensuring their environments are controlled in terms of humidity and temperature.


A case in point of how it can go wrong is the 2014 story of the priceless Raphael painting damaged by humidity because an Italian museum failed to repair a broken air conditioning system for two months. The Renaissance piece was under threat of warping from excessive heat and humidity as the units in place were not maintained sufficiently. For the more popular museums and galleries, accounting for the number of visitors a day is a must. Air conditioning systems should have the capacity to ensure that the


50 November 2017


internal atmosphere is regulated to manage any chemical and biological pollutants that may enter, while controlling temperature and humidity levels. The situation is further complicated as building managers also need to maintain a comfortable climate for visitors and employees to ensure occupant well-being and thermal comfort.


In the UK, legislation from the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)1 and the Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1992)2 state that workplaces in the UK must be adequately ventilated to achieve thermal comfort for occupants. The law takes precedence over artwork and other exhibits, making it a difficult balancing act for building managers. The cost of HVAC units and the associated maintenance is another concern, one that was cited by the management of the Italian museum.


Managing temperature and humidity for occupants and artworks while remaining cost effective and reducing ongoing maintenance obligations is a massive challenge that requires a business side. So instead of being reactive to incidents and disasters as in the Italian museum, the facilities management approach has to be proactive for


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