Museum and Critical Storage Environments
By David Brooks, P.E.
McGuire Engineers
2014 YEA CONFERENCESPECIALTY ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNMARCH 25, 2014
OutlineI. Introduction
I. Human comfort vs artifact preservationII. Types of facilities
III. Types of archives
II. PsychometricsI. Relative humidity demystified
II. Moisture and its role in archival preservationIII. Stabilizing temperature and relative humidity
III. Case StudiesI. A major natural history museum
II. A commercial critical storage facility
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsIntroduction - Human Comfort vs Artifact Preservation
Comfort – condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment
Preservation – all action taken to retard deterioration of an object
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsIntroduction - Human Comfort vs Artifact Preservation
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Human Comfort (Pink)
Magnetic Tape and Books (Grey)
Average Library or Museum (Yellow)
Art Storage (Red)
Archival Books (Blue)
Archival Museums (Green)
Fur-Bearing Animal Storage (Purple)
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsIntroduction - Human Comfort vs Artifact Preservation
Q: What has the greatest impact on preservation?
• Temperature?
• Relative Humidity?
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
A: Relative Humidity and its fluctuation
Inappropriate levels of relative humidity or widely fluctuating relative humidities are implicated in the deterioration of almost every kind of object, organic or inorganic…
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsIntroduction – Types of Facilities
• Museums• Exhibits• Artifacts
• Storage
• Restoration
• Processing
• Storage• Public and Private Libraries• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)• Private documents and materials storage
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsIntroduction – Types of Archives
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Industry Standards for Information Management Environmental Requirements
Record TypeRecord Term
Length
Storage Environment Facility Type
Temperature F Temperature C Humidity RH
Source of Industry Standard
Min MaxTolerable daily changes within
limits +/-Min Max
Tolerable daily changes within
limits +/-Min Max Tolerable daily changes within limits +/-
Paper
Short<10 years
Record Center 55%
ISO 9706 Information and documentation — Paper for documents — Requirements for permanence1234.14: (a) Paper-based temporary records. Paper-based temporary records must be stored under environmental conditions that prevent the active growth of mold. Exposure to moisture through leaks or condensation, relative humidities in excess of 70%, extremes of heat combined with relative humidity in excess of 55%, and poor air circulation during periods of elevated heat and relative humidity are all factors that contribute to mold growth.
Medium>10 years
Record Center Vault
55% 2007 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Applications 21.13
Long>50 years
Record Center Vault
57 64 ± 2 14 18 ± 1 35% 50% ± 3% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B
Medical Records - Xray
ShortRecord Center or RMS Facility
none 77 25 20% 50% NARA Resources - Managing X-Ray Films as Federal Records.pdfAssuming acetate or polyester based film. ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
MediumRecord Center
Vaultnone 70 25 21 20% 50% ± 15%
LongRecord Center
Vaultnone 45 ± 4 none 7 ± 2 20% 50% ± 15%
Geological Samples
Short Record Center
MediumRecord Center
Vault
LongRecord Center
Vault
Federal Paper Records
Short CFR Facility CFR refers to the following withdrawn standards. (1) ANSI/PIMA IT9.11 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3); (2) ANSI/NAPM IT9.23 (incorporated by reference, see §§ 1234.3);(3) ANSI/PIMA IT9.25 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3);(4) ANSI/NAPM IT9.20 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3);(5) ANSI/NAPM IT9.18 (incorporated by reference, see §. 1234.3). It has been assumed that the superseding standards ISO 18911, ISO 18920 and ISO 18923 are the current references. While not directly referenced, it appears that ISO 11799:2003 Annex B is the most applicable standard.
Medium CFR Facility
Long CFR Facility 57 64 ± 2 14 18 ± 1 35% 50% ± 3%
Microforms
Short DP Vault
Medium DP Vault
Long DP Vault
none 36 ± 4 none 2 ± 2 20% 50% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
none 41 ± 4 none 5 ± 2 20% 40% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
none 45 ± 4 none 7 ± 2 20% 30% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
Black & White Film
Silver gelatin on cellulose
acetate base
ShortF&S Record
Center
Medium F&S Vault
Long F&S Vault none 45 ± 4 none 7 ± 2 20% 30% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
Black & White Film
Silver gelatin or silver dye bleach
on polyester base
ShortF&S Record
Center
Medium F&S Vault
Long F&S Vault none 70 ± 4 none 21 ± 2 20% 50% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
Photographic Paper Prints - Black & White
Short
Medium none 77 ± 9 none 25 ± 5 20% 50% ± 10% ISO 18920:2000 7.2
Long none 64 ± 4 none 18 ± 2 30% 50% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B
Photographic Paper Prints -
Color
Short
Medium
Long none 36 ± 4 none 2 ± 2 30% 40% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B
Color Film
ShortF&S Record
Center
Medium F&S Vault
Long F&S Vault
none 14 ± 4 none -10 ± 2 20% 50% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
none 27 ± 4 none -3 ± 2 20% 40% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
none 36 ± 4 none 2 ± 2 20% 30% ± 5% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
Audio/Video - Analog Acetate
ShortF&S Record
Center
Medium F&S Vault
Long F&S Vault none 27 ± 4 none -3 ± 2 20% 40% ± 5% ISO 18934:2006, ISO 189
Audio/Video - Analog
Polyester
ShortF&S Record
Center
Medium F&S Vault 46 73 ± 5 8 23 ± 3 20% 50% ± 10% ISO18923: 2000
Long F&S Vault
46 73 ± 4 8 23 ± 2 15% 20% ± 5%ISO18923: 2000, ISO 18934:2006: For extended-term storage ISO18923: 2000 recommends a temperature range between 11°C and 23°C and a related range of RH levels between 20% and 50%. In practice, the maximum temperature (23°C) must be associated with the lowest RH (20% RH) for suitable storage, and vice versa.
46 63 ± 4 8 17 ± 2 15% 30% ± 5%
46 52 ± 4 8 11 ± 2 15% 50% ± 5%
Digital Magnetic Tape Polyester
Short
Medium D.P. Vault 46 73 ± 4 8 23 ± 2 15% 50% ± 10% ISO18923: 2000
Long D.P. Vault
46 73 ± 4 8 23 ± 2 15% 20% ± 5%ISO18923: 2000, ISO 18934:2006: For extended-term storage ISO18923: 2000 recommends a temperature range between 11°C and 23°C and a related range of RH levels between 20% and 50%. In practice, the maximum temperature (23°C) must be associated with the lowest RH (20% RH) for suitable storage, and vice versa.
46 63 ± 4 8 17 ± 2 15% 30% ± 5%
46 52 ± 4 8 11 ± 2 15% 50% ± 5%
Digital Storage - Computer Systems
N/A Data Centers 68 77 ± 5 20 25 ± 3 40.0% 55%
Thermal Guidelines For Data Processing Environments, ASHRAE 2004It should be noted that requirements vary by manufacturer and by specific equipment model.
Industry Standards for Information Management Environmental Requirements
Record TypeRecord
Term Length
Storage Environment Facility Type
Temperature F Temperature C Humidity RH
Source of Industry Standard
Min MaxTolerable daily changes within
limits +/-Min Max
Tolerable daily changes within
limits +/-Min Max Tolerable daily changes within limits +/-
Paper
Short<10 years
Record Center 55%
ISO 9706 Information and documentation — Paper for documents — Requirements for permanence1234.14: (a) Paper-based temporary records. Paper-based temporary records must be stored under environmental conditions that prevent the active growth of mold. Exposure to moisture through leaks or condensation, relative humidities in excess of 70%, extremes of heat combined with relative humidity in excess of 55%, and poor air circulation during periods of elevated heat and relative humidity are all factors that contribute to mold growth.
Medium>10 years
Record Center Vault 55% 2007 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Applications 21.13
Long>50 years
Record Center Vault 57 64 ± 2 14 18 ± 1 35% 50% ± 3% ISO 11799:2003 Annex B
Medical Records - Xray
ShortRecord Center or
RMS Facilitynone 77 25 20% 50%
NARA Resources - Managing X-Ray Films as Federal Records.pdfAssuming acetate or polyester based film. ISO 11799:2003 Annex B; ISO 18911:2000 7.1.1
Medium Record Center Vault none 70 25 21 20% 50% ± 15%
Long Record Center Vault none 45 ± 4 none 7 ± 2 20% 50% ± 15%
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Relative Humidity Demystified
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Wick
Thermometer
Slide rule to determine RH
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Moisture and Preservation
• An unrestrained object will tend to expand when it absorbs water and shrink with desorption of water.
• A restrained object will develop stress with changes in temperature and relative humidity
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Swelling isotherm for cottonwood at 22°C from Mecklenburg et al. (1994)
Stress development in restrained rabbit skin glue with decreasing temperature and decreasing relative humidity from Mecklenburg et al.. (1992)
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Moisture and Preservation
The Case of the Somali Wild Ass
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Environmental Requirements for Museums Janeen Renee, University of Wisconsin (2000)
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Moisture and Preservation
The Case of the Somali Wild Ass
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Environmental Requirements for Museums Janeen Renee, University of Wisconsin (2000)
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Stabilizing Temperature and Relative Humidity
In the end, it is about compromise….
•What temp and RH zone would be best for:•The collection•The building•The inhabitants•The budget, first and operating
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsPsychometrics – Stabilizing Temperature and Relative Humidity
Things to think about when planning:
1. Use the space’s natural properties• Basements are stable but humid• High spaces have more air movement but stratify
2. Partition the space based on needs• Storage and exhibit prep at one end• Exhibit with artifacts in the middle• Gift shop at the end
3. Create vestibules and buffer zones4. Pressurize the space to reduce infiltration5. Select an appropriate mechanical system
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsCase Studies – Natural History Museum
Goal: Design an exhibit and support space for The Dead Sea Scrolls •72F +/-2F, 40% +/-5%•Maintain space for other travelling exhibits
Existing Conditions: •10,000 SF hall, about 20 ft tall•Existing fan coils at 10 ft ABF, no humidification•No exterior walls, heavy mass structure
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsCase Studies – Natural History Museum
Solution:
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsCase Studies – Commercial Critical Storage
Goal: Repair 30 spaces that cannot hold temp and RH •70F +/-2F, 40% +/-5%•Redundant systems
Existing Conditions: •Typically 5,000 SF, 8 ft tall•Spaces across North America•Existing systems varies. Typically RTU’s•Light commercial structures
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments
Museums and Critical EnvironmentsCase Studies – Commercial Critical Storage
Solution:
ASHRAE 2014 Specialty Environmental Design Conference Museum and Critical Storage Environments