Lecture for ENGI/HUMA 240: Environmental Controls for Art Storage

1. Environmental Systems for Art Storage and Transportation ENGI/HUMA 240 Matthew Wettergreen, PhD

2. Conservation’s history of Climate Control Duncan Cameron’s prescription for the ideal museum environment (Museum News, (46)9:17-22, 1968) The perfect preservation of a collection requires: Site on high land Fire-proof Vibration-free structure Protection against shock and sound waves Elaborate emergency backup control system Constant temperature (60-68F) Constant relative humidity (50-60%) Pollution free air Total darkness Absence of all organisms

3. Light Damage

4. Fire Damage

5. Water Damage

6. Protection Environmental Systems Prevention Monitoring

7. Prevention Water Damage Roofs flood: storage away from top floor Basements flood: storage away from basement Fire Damage Fire resistant materials Sprinkler systems Loss Security systems

8. Protection Temperature Constant No extremes Light Low light No windows in storage facilities Water Raised platforms Humidity (RH) Constant No extremes Fire Fire retardant storage materials Sprinkler system Particulates High-efficiency filter

9. Inanimate vs. Animate Needs Stable RH 68-75 F High light Low Light Loosely regulated RH Low Temp

10. Monitoring Passively/Actively reports on conditions in storage system Enables staff to develop strategies for cost reduction due to energy costs Assist facilities staff in responding to human comfort Provides information to increase short and long-term preservation Aids in assessing environmental control

11. Types of T/RH Monitoring Equipment Nonrecording devices Paper strips impregnated with chemical salts for RH Mechanical devices measuring the expansion/contraction of a metallic strip Mechnaical devices that measure the expansion/contraction of a hygroscopic element Electronic devices that store and recall min/max values Recording devices Graphic devices (include pic of hygroscopic device) Thermostats Humidistats New Technologies for Monitoring Wireless, computer controlled

12. Types of T/RH Monitoring Equipment

13. T/RH Calibration Low cost devices require calibration Accuracy Repeatability Actual devices do not measure humidity, they measure deviation from a set point Most common device is psychrometer two thermometers: one that reads temperature, one that reads effect of cooling water as it evaporates Needs for calibration device Deionized water Saturated and nonsaturated salt solutions

14. T/RH Measuring Basics Appropriate single room location choice Center of room varies from exterior walls Necessary to develop an average Buildings w/o environmental control Singles spaces require one system per room Buildings with some environmental control Several systems for non-central control Buildings with HVAC systems One measuring device per subzone HVAC act independent of monitoring system

15. Radiation

16. Light Monitoring Radiation divided into 3 categories Ultraviolet (<400nm) Visible (400-760 nm) Infrared (>760 nm) All three types result in deterioration Light damage is cumulative and irreversible UV light is high energy and results in many changes in museum materials Infrared light causes damage by increasing rate of chemical reactions and localizing heat on the specimen Visible light exists at the continuum of UV and IR and combines damage of both Color temperature

18. Special precautions taken for objects made of more than one material

20. UV Radiation Very damaging to all materials Measured by UV-monitor Methods of protection Laminated glass UV filter Acrylic/polycarbonate sheets UV varnish application to windows or display cases Plastic filter sleeves for fluorescent lamp tubes

21. Specialty Monitoring

22. Monitoring Particulates Few simple or cost effective devices exist Best practice: visual inspection of the collections and collection containers Frequency of need for cleaning may indicate source Filtering system may collect particles due to environmental control systems Requires commercial grade filtration systems HEPA filters are sufficient

23. Monitoring Gaseous Pollutants Gas monitoring systems are expensive Devices measure short-term exposure of specific pollutants Formaldehyde SO2, SO3, O3, NO, NO2 Passive system uses measure the effect of exposure on polished metal samples

24. Pest Management All materials being accessioned made of organic materials are first quarantined Anoxic environment applied to art object Nitrogen Argon Carbon Dioxide Oxygen barrier films used with microclimates Low cost solution is oxygen deprivation

25. Shock/Vibration Monitoring

26. Microclimates

27. Microclimates Specialized or isolated environments Travel cases Display cases Useful for objects with unique composition Known outgassing components Multiple materials Unknown materials

28. Microclimates - Protection Object will create a problem and leach harmful chemicals Solution Sealed container Activated carbon and a sorbent for chemical absorption

29. Microclimates - Monitoring Object is composed of materials requiring special care Paper Unique compositions of dyes Sealed container Active T/RH control in case Nitrogen replacement for air

30. New Technologies in Environmental Monitoring

31. Micro Sensing Devices Real-time monitoring Wirelessly connected via mesh networking Remote systems Simpler management and data analysis Passive recording Active alerts

32. Picture References Slide 3 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3074701311_5e7309a7d3.jpg?v=0 Slide 4 http://rt.grc.nasa.gov/media/2008/07/24/atomic-oxygen-restoration/atomicox_big.jpg Slide 5 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3859344699_6d6a3bb940_b.jpg Slide 9 http://libromancy.org/images/Loplop.JPG Slide 12 http://www.hvacsurplussales.com/catalog/images/Thermostat.jpg http://www.preservationequipment.com/UserData/root/Products/Images/000634_0.jpg http://img.tripatlas.com:8080/media/images/Umidaderelativa.jpg Slide 15 http://www.ktf-split.hr/glossary/image/electromagnetic_radiation_spectrum_en.gif Slide 24 http://www.serialconsign.com/images/2007/03/seismograph.jpg http://www.interplas.com/product_images/300/Tiltwatch-Plus-1000px.jpg Slide 26 http://206.180.235.133/jaic/img/jaic32-02-001-fig003.jpg Slide 30 earth-watch.jp/Museum.pdf