Air exchange rate ‐ the dominant parameter for preventive conservation?

Thickett, David; David, Frances; Luxford, Naomi

doi:10.1080/01410096.2005.9995210

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…All showcase materials were Oddy tested (Robinet & Thickett, 2005) before use, and therefore, it was expected that the internal materials should not emit significant amounts of organic acids. However, there was an internal source of organic acids: the baseboards were MediumDensity Fiberboard (MDF) and coated with Dacrylate 103-y, a material known to be permeable to organic acids (Thickett et al, 2006Thickett, 1998). The desktop case has a much higher surface area-to-case volume ratio and is likely to have had a lower air exchange rate, generating a much higher organic acid concentration.…”

Section: English Heritagementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry

Grøntoft

Thickett

Lankester

et al. 2016

Studies in Conservation

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Air pollution is one of the environmental influences that degrade cultural heritage objects situated indoors. Other essential influences, such as temperature, relative humidity, and light are often well monitored. The presence of air pollutants is less often measured or included in risk assessment. The MEMORI ® technology presented in this paper was developed as a tool for easy measurement and assessment of the general risk of degradation of heritage objects situated indoors due to indoor exposure to air pollutants. MEMORI dosimetry was performed in locations belonging to English Heritage and Tate (both located in London) and the National Archives of Norway in Oslo, to assess air quality. The related damage risk for collection objects and the protection offered by display and storage designs was assessed. A high level of acidic effect was observed inside a number of showcases, and a high level of oxidizing effect was observed in some room locations. Relatively simple mitigation measures, such as constructing tightly sealed showcases using low emitting materials, installing active carbon absorbing media inside a 'microclimate' frame, and using cardboard storage boxes for paper, significantly improved air quality. Overall, implementation of such measures is likely to improve the preservation of objects and reduce conservation costs.

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Section: English Heritagementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry

Grøntoft

Thickett

Lankester

et al. 2016

Studies in Conservation

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“…The air exchange rate of the glass showcase for St Canute was established by using CO 2 as a ventilation tracer gas [30]. The analysis was performed using two Bacharach CO 2 2810 Analyzers (range 0-10,000 ppm); one located inside the showcase and one located in the open air of the crypt (Bacharach Inc., New Kensington PA, USA).…”

Section: Showcase Leakinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Textiles and environment in the showcase containing Saint Canute the Holy († AD 1086): Radiocarbon dating and chemical interactions

et al. 2020

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The cathedral in Odense, Denmark, has for nine centuries held the relics of the Danish King St Canute the Holy and his brother Benedikt. They were both murdered in the predecessor church at the site in AD 1086, and Canute was sanctified in already in AD 1100. The history of the relics has been that of turmoil at times, varying from initial worship of the Catholic believers, to being walled up and hidden away after the protestant reformation in AD 1536, and since the 19th Century on display as important heritage objects of national importance. In the present work we have characterised some of the textiles and analysed the air inside the glass showcases exhibiting the 11th Century wooden coffins holding the remains of St King Canute the Holy and his brother together with some precious textiles. Contrary to previous belief, we now prove that all the textiles analysed have the same age, which is consistent with the time of the enshrinement of the King and his brother in AD 1100. It is also shown that some of the textiles were treated with paraffin wax, most likely during attempts at conservation at the National Museum in the nineteenth century. The results of the air chemistry analyses show the problematic side of simultaneously storing of slowly decaying wood, fine textiles, and human bones in rather airtight environments. The wood continuously releases organic acids, the soaring concentrations of which are potentially harmful to the 11th Century textiles and probably also to the bones.

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“…Airtightness was evaluated by setting a low internal RH within each box and then measuring the rate of equilibration with a higher external RH. This is an appropriate measure, as RH is the main agent of decay controlled using microclimates (Thickett et al 2005;Camuffo 1998). To evaluate box airtightness accurately, any interaction between atmospheric moisture in the boxes and other materials was avoided by studying the boxes empty (Giani 2005;Weintraub 2002;Camuffo 1998).…”

Section: Rationale For Test Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desiccated Microclimates for Heritage Metals: Creation and Management

Thunberg

Watkinson

Emmerson

2020

Studies in Conservation

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Since the early 1970s, archaeologists, conservators and curators have turned to published guidance for methods of safeguarding archaeological metals in the short and long term. Much of this has appeared in editions of the ubiquitous handbook First Aid for Finds, the most recent of which dates to 1998. A central message across all guidance has been to dry metals post-excavation and prevent their corrosion during storage by desiccating the environment around them. This has been proven crucial for iron, with reports of catastrophic loss of collections arising from inappropriate storage environments.There has long been agreement that an effective, low cost option for desiccation is the packing of artefacts in boxes with a desiccant. Though advice on the detail of how to achieve this has evolved over time, what has not changed is the lack of quantified evidence for the methods proposed.Informed by a survey of current practice in the sector, this study investigated quantitatively the many variables involved in creating desiccated microclimates for storage of heritage metals. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of the airtightness of a range of commercially available boxes, the optimum mass of desiccant, the effect of external environments, and preliminary data on the efficiency and risk of drying damp objects with silica gel. A second paper will report the effect of stacking boxes on their airtightness and present data on the accuracy and long-term reliability of humidity indicator cards.The guidance arising from laboratory testing of the hardware and methods for desiccated storage is designed to be achievable and adaptable. Combining these findings with corrosion rate data for iron artefacts allows the escalation of risk to objects from decisions in the storage process to be calculated.Together, these papers offer an evidence-based and practice-focused update to First Aid for Finds.

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Air exchange rate ‐ the dominant parameter for preventive conservation?

Cited by 14 publications

References 11 publications

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry

Textiles and environment in the showcase containing Saint Canute the Holy († AD 1086): Radiocarbon dating and chemical interactions

Desiccated Microclimates for Heritage Metals: Creation and Management

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Air exchange rate ‐ the dominant parameter for preventive conservation?

Cited by 14 publications

References 11 publications

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI®dosimetry

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI®dosimetry

Textiles and environment in the showcase containing Saint Canute the Holy († AD 1086): Radiocarbon dating and chemical interactions

Desiccated Microclimates for Heritage Metals: Creation and Management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry

Assessment of indoor air quality and the risk of damage to cultural heritage objects using MEMORI^®dosimetry