journal article·2018-11

Air tightness and RH control in museum showcases: Concepts and testing procedures

Marco Perino

Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyses the use of museum showcases as a means of improving the control of the indoor environment for the conservation of works of art. It presents and discusses the influence of the air and gas tightness of a showcase on variations of the relative humidity. Attention is first focused on the basic mechanisms that drive the exchange of water vapour and gas between the inside and outside of the showcase. Testing procedures to characterize their performance (e.g. pressurization tests, tracer gas measurements) are then described and critically reviewed. Finally, examples of laboratory and field measurement results are presented and discussed in order to abstract general recommendations about: how to test the air tightness of showcases and how to choose the most suitable air tightness value, in relation to the desired level of control of the RH.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Conservation Techniques and Studies · Building materials and conservation · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (33)

Show source-provided references
1. Energy saving strategies in air-conditioning for museums10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.03.040 ↗
2. Temperature and relative humidity effects on the mechanical and chemical stability of collections
3. The environmental performance of museum display cases10.1179/sic.1994.39.Supplement-2.171 ↗
4. UNI 10829 (Italian Standard) · 1999
5. A comparison of HVAC systems for artwork conservation10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2007.03.005 ↗
6. Museum display cases and the exchange of water vapour10.1179/sic.1983.28.4.179 ↗
7. Showcases: a really effective mean for protecting artworks?10.1016/S0040-6031(00)00614-6 ↗
8. Macro and microenvironments
9. Museum environmental requirements: a literature survey
10. Environmental parameters in museums10.1016/S0360-1323(03)00113-6 ↗
11. An evaluation of silica gel for humidity control in display cases
12. Thomson · 1986
13. Perino · 2010
14. Evaluation of the effect of phase change materials technology on the thermal stability of Cultural Heritage objects10.1016/j.culher.2013.11.002 ↗
15. Humidity control in cases: buffered silica gel versus saturated salt solutions
16. Watts · 2007
17. Etheridge · 1996
18. Awbi · 2003
19. Air exchange rate: the dominant parameter for preventive conservation?10.1080/01410096.2005.9995210 ↗
20. Camuffo · 1998
21. The design of museum showcases
22. Stabilisation of RH in exhibition cases: hygrometric half time
23. Thickett · 2005 · 251
24. Tracer-gas techniques for measuring ventilation in a single zone10.1016/0360-1323(90)90010-O ↗
25. Charlesworth · 1988
26. Filippi · 2007
27. Passive control of temperature and relative humidity in museum showcases: the case study of the Leonardo self-portrait
28. Assessment of contaminant diffusivities in building materials from porosimetry tests10.1034/j.1600-0668.2003.00208.x ↗
29. Le prestazioni delle vetrine museali ai fini del controllo del microclima: il controllo di frontiera
30. Weintraub · 1981 · 1
31. Theoretical aspects of physical-chemical parameters for the correct conservation of mummies on display in museums and preserved in storage rooms10.1016/j.culher.2012.11.004 ↗
32. Maekawa · 1998
33. Indoor air quality in passive-type museum showcases10.1016/j.culher.2010.09.005 ↗