September 20, 2022

Northern States Conservation Center

Collections Caretaker eNewsletter

Museum Environments

Welcome to the Collections Caretaker e-Newsletter from Northern States Conservation Center. the newsletter is designed to bring you content that is pertinent to situations we all encounter in our museum and archives work. Feel free to let us know what topics you would like to see featured in Collections Caretaker or even contribute and article.

In this Issue

Climate Control Basics

Featured Courses

October Courses

November Courses

Conferences and Meetings

Climate Control Basics

By Ernest Conrad

 

Balance Versus Compromise

Creating a collections friendly environment that won’t harm an existing, new, or historic building requires a delicate balancing act. A realistic environment is not a compromise where two extremes are averaged into one, such that neither is appropriate. But rather, it is a balance in which the different needs can be satisfied through a realistic analysis of factual data followed by cost conscious design choices to achieve that end, both in first cost and operating cost. By knowing the thermal influences on spaces, one can often isolate them so as to avoid the conflict of competing thermal heat loads within adjoining or the same space. An example would be to create a box-in-a-box. This is an inside room which has no exposure to the elements of outdoor weather. Thus, it can be climate controlled to good year round precision constant climate control without risk of condensation damage to the building exterior envelope. The text that follows explains these heat loads.

 

The Six Heat Loads

There are only six heat loads that comprise all the elements that effect a room’s environmental temperature and humidity condition. They are as follows:

 

Solar

Solar heat is the heat that comes from the sun and passes through windows or skylights and enters a room. It varies as the sun rotates around the planet and as seasons change. This heat is a “dry” or “sensible” heat since it only changes the temperature in a space. At high noon on a July day this heat load is quite large. It amounts to about 230 BTU’s per hour on each square foot of horizontal surface. What is a BTU? (A BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. How big is a pound of water?) (A pint is a pound the world around!)

 

Lights

This is the heat given off by electric devices like lights, computers, and other appliances. Lights are a major producer of heat. This heat is also a “dry” sensible heat in that it only changes temperature in a space. Since all our engineering analyses use the BTU as the unit to do heat load calculations, we must convert the heat output from a light bulb into BTU’s instead of watts. How many BTU’s in a watt? (It takes 3.41 BTU’s to equal one watt.)

 

People

People give off both heat and moisture from their bodies. This heat is both sensible heat and “latent” heat. Latent heat is the moisture portion of the heat given off by a person’s body. For example, a person standing quietly in a room will give off about 250 BTU’s per hour of sensible heat (warm body at 98.6F) and about 250 BTU’s per hour of latent heat (evaporation of water from the body). What is a BTU of latent heat? (It takes about 1000 BTU’s of energy to change one pound of water into one pound of moisture vapor. Thus, in four hours I will have given off one pound of water from my body. This is a tough way to loose weight! ) What size light bulb is this person equal to? (At 250 BTU’s of sensible heat, this equates to this person being about a 70 watt light bulb.) This heat load is relatively minor in a room with only a few people in the room. But if it starts getting crowded, the group’s combined heat output can become very large.

 

Transmission

This has nothing to do with automobiles and gears. Transmission is the flow of heat through a wall, floor or ceiling. The harder it is for heat to move through a wall, the better the wall is an insulator. We measure transmission through a material by its resistance to heat flow. This is that R value that we see on insulation products at the store. Manufacturers like to advertise R because the bigger its numerical value, the better it is as an insulator. Engineers, however, use the inverse of R which is called “U”. This is simply one divided by R. Therefore, the smaller a materials U value the better insulator it is. The units of U are BTU’s per sq foot per degree Fahrenheit per hour. We find that wall compositions with a U value of .4 or smaller will accommodate room environments of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% RH in winter without surface condensation damage. Examples of U values of some materials are as follows:


Material

U value

10” concrete

.61

.75” wood

.58

8” brick

.48

12” stone

.55

8” concrete block

.52

Single glass

1.13

Double glass

.55

Triple glass

.36

1” rigid insulation

.20

It can be seen here that single pane glass is a very poor insulator. Thus, it is often the weakest part of a building’s perimeter thermal composition in winter. It is then, the first material on which condensation will form in winter. On the other hand, triple glazing and, even just one inch of rigid (foam) insulation will prevent condensation from occurring.

 

Infiltration

This is the wind that blows through a building when all the doors and windows are left open. Surprisingly, even with all the doors and windows shut, infiltration can still amount to about an overall air exchange rate of one complete change of air every hour in a modern building. That means air from indoors will pass out through the building envelope and be replaced by outdoor air once every hour. This quantity of outdoor air entry is a significant player in the entry of unwanted moist outdoor air into a space. The same is true for the opposite of dry outside air entry in winter.

 

In collections storage spaces, infiltration is the single largest heat load affecting these rooms usually. Otherwise these rooms have no other heat loads. They have no windows for solar heat; their lights are off; they are not occupied; and their walls are heavily insulated.

 

Outside Air

The last heat load is the only heat load made by politicians. This is the code required minimum amount of outdoor air mandated by law which must be introduced into an occupied space. It might seem somewhat backwards to force designers to bring in outside air into a building, especially if it is heavily laden with pollutants. This is the law. It is intended to bring in ventilation air to dilute indoor off-gassing of building contaminants and supply ample oxygen and nitrogen to prevent carbon dioxide buildup. We must live with these rules and thus use high quality filters for this outside air.

 

Depending on jurisdiction and code agency, the minimum amount of outside air is usually between 15 and 20 cfm per person. CFM is the cubic feet per minute of air to be introduced.

 

Condensation Control

Condensation is the single largest destroyer of buildings and collections left uncared for. The chart below shows when condensation will occur on an object.

You can take this chart to the bank! It has never been wrong. Many designers are in denial that it exists. This chart is among the top three or four graphs that are key players that can demonstrate how a building will perform during cold weather. It predicts with great accuracy the maximum room relative humidity which can be present without condensation occurring. For example, the chart shows that at 0 degrees Fahrenheit outdoors, a double glazed window with a U value of .52 will form condensation if the indoor humidity level is 40%RH or higher and the indoor temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Excerpt from MS211 Preservation Environments.


Join Instructor Earnest Conrad for MS211 Preservation Environments to learn more about your museum's environment and how to improve it for better collection protection.

Featured Course: The Problem with Plastics


As we march boldly toward the 22nd century, artifact collecting includes that most fragile of materials - plastic. Not only is it in our collections, but it is used to house our collections, too. What problems have you seen? What problems have others seen? What materials are best? What can we, as caretakers, do to minimize long-term damage? Join Diana in this mini-course for discussing care and deterioration of plastics. Bring any questions you have about plastics in your museum.

_______________________________________________________

Join instructor Diana Komejan for this short course  MS001 The Problem with Plastics to learn more about how to care for the plastics in your museum's collection.

Featured Course: The Mission Statement: Is it really that important?

The heart of every museum is its collection. A mission statement is critical to preserving that collection. Participants in The Mission Statement will discuss their mission statements and whether they really make a difference. Peggy has seen and heard it all as a consultant to small and large museums. She will help you figure out ways to make your mission statement work for you.

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Join instructor Peggy Schaller for MS007 The Mission Statement: Is it really that important? to learn more about how to write and evaluate a mission statement.

Early Bird Discounts Available for Full Length Courses

 

An Early Bird Discount is available for anyone who signs up for a full length course from museumclasses.org 30 days prior to the start of that course. 

 

Sign up for a full length course up to 30 days prior to its start and save $100.00!

 

For our course list or to sign up: http://www.collectioncare.org/course-list

 

To take advantage of this discount, you must enter coupon code EARLYBIRD at checkout at collectioncare.org


Earlybird Discount Deadline for November 2022 Courses is October 8, 2022

October Courses

 

MS 106: Exhibit Fundamentals: Ideas to Installation

October 3 to November 11, 2022  

Instructor: Karin Hostetter

Description:

Nearly every museum develops exhibits, but how can we improve communication with visitors while taking care of our objects? Exhibit Fundamentals explores exhibits from idea to final installation in a variety of settings. Topics include exhibit theory, the role of the museum's mission, creating a timeline, accessibility and script writing. Also covered are design elements, installation techniques, object safety and security, visitor safety and evaluations. Each student develops an exhibit plan for his or her museum.

 

 

MS204: Materials for Storage and Display

October 3 to 28, 2022   

Instructor: Laura Elliff Cruz

Description:

One of the great benefits of the 21st century is the abundance of materials for storing and displaying collections. Materials for Storage and Display covers this vast array in detail. Lectures and handouts separate materials by properties: rigid, padding, barrier and attachments. Slide shows illustrate the use of each. The course emphasizes acid-free materials and how to retrofit less appropriate materials. Materials for Storage and Display keeps current with the latest materials available for preservation. Using material testing as a decision making tool is covered.

 

MS 234: Archives Management

October 3 to 28, 2022  NEW DATES

Instructor: Jennifer Edwards

Description:

Archives include flat paper, photographs, bound pamphlets, books, small 3-dimensional objects, and magnetic media. The Archives Management course covers an introduction to the materials found in archives and typical use of these materials including use patterns, retrieval needs, finding aids, handling and exhibition. The last half of the course details optimum storage options for archival materials. Storage includes furniture, storage techniques, standardized and specialized housing such as folders and boxes and custom-made housings.

November Courses

 

MS 001: The Problem with Plastics

November 7 to 11, 2022 

Instructor: Diana Komejan

Description:

As we march boldly toward the 22nd century, artifact collecting includes that most fragile of materials - plastic. Not only is it in our collections, but it is used to house our collections, too. What problems have you seen? What problems have others seen? What materials are best? What can we, as caretakers, do to minimize long-term damage? Join Diana in this mini-course for discussing care and deterioration of plastics. Bring any questions you have about plastics in your museum.

 

MS 007: The Mission Statement: Is it really that important?

November 7 to 18, 2022  

Instructor: Peggy Schaller

Description:

The heart of every museum is its collection. A mission statement is critical to preserving that collection. Participants in The Mission Statement will discuss their mission statements and whether they really make a difference. Peggy has seen and heard it all as a consultant to small and large museums. She will help you figure out ways to make your mission statement work for you.

 

MS 211: Preservation Environments

November 7 to December 16, 2022  

Instructor: Ernest Conrad

Description:

The museum's brick exterior wall is crumbling. The powder coated metal storage shelves have active rust under the foam padding. Objects in fur storage are covered in mold. It is raining in the exhibit hall. This is the damage that occurs to museum buildings or collection when staff do not understand preservation environments. Preservation Environments is essential knowledge for any collecting institution. Everyone should understand how humidity and temperature are controlled by a building and its mechanical system. For museum staff considering a new building - and any institution planning to expand or rebuild an existing one - Preservation Environments provide important information for calculating whether the proposed improvements will actually improve the environmental control of your protective enclosure. Participants learn the advantages and disadvantages of numerous methods of temperature and humidity control. Preservation Environments does not try to turn museum professionals into engineers. Rather, it arms them with the knowledge they need to work with engineers and maintenance professionals. And helps explain why damaged occurred and how to keep it from happening again.

 

MS 212: Care of Textiles

November 7 to December 2, 2022  

Instructor: Ann Coppinger

Description:

Caring for textiles demands an understanding of how and why they deteriorate. This course offers a simplified explanation of the origin and structure of textile fibers as well as the finished textile object; be it either a piece of whole cloth or a finished garment. Care of Textiles teaches students to identify fibers, fabric structures and finishes, write condition reports, and understand the agents of deterioration that are harmful to various fabrics both in storage on exhibit. Topics include preparing textiles for storage and exhibit, the use of archival materials with textiles, and three dimensional supports.

 

MS 218: Collection Inventories

November 7 to December 2, 2022  

Instructor: Peggy Schaller

Description:

Collection inventories are vital to collection management and security. You need to know what is in your collection to be able to manage it well. This means regular inventories must occur. But knowing you must do them and actually having the time and manpower to complete an inventory are two different things. Collection Inventories discusses everything you ever wanted to know about collection inventories. From how to set one up to how to conduct an inventory. Other topics include what to look for during an inventory and how to reconcile the information.

 

MS273: Advanced Interpretive Techniques -Interpreting the "rest of the story"

November 7 to December 2, 2022  

Instructor: John Veverka

Description:

Interpreting "the rest of the story", a powerful Interpretive communications technique for revealing and releasing the "rest of the stories" hidden in artifacts, objects, historical figures/events, landscapes, or sites through both live presentations and interpretive media text and label copy. This course will help you utilize and blend the Paul Harvey Rest of the Story format with Tilden's Interpretive Principles. An interpretive technique marriage that can be embraced and used throughout your interpretive career.

Covid-19 Resources


Many organizations have put together information on resources for Museums and Covid-19. Here are a few links to those Resources. Check back with these organizations for updates.

Mountain-Plains Museums Association Covid-19 Resources page


Association of Academic Museums and Galleries Covid-19 Updates page

Use the drop-down menu in the upper right to find Webinars, Virtual tours and more


American Alliance of Museums Covid-19 Resources


American Association for State and Local History Covid-19 Resources

Conferences and Meetings
Double check each organization's website for more information. Some may still be going virtual this year due to continued safety concerns over Covid 19.

2022

Mountain-Plains Museums Association, Tulsa, OK

October 4 - 7, 2022


Southeastern Museums Conference, Northwest Arkansas

October 24 - 26, 2022


New England Museum Association, Springfield, MA

November 2-4, 2022


National Association for Interpretation, Cleveland, OH

November 29-December 3, 2022

2023

American Alliance of Museums, Denver, CO

May 19-22, 2023


Society of American Archivists, Washington, DC

July 22-29, 2023

Submissions and Comments
How to submit an article or upcoming workshops for inclusion in the Newsletter: 
If you would like to submit an article, notice of an organizational meeting or upcoming workshop for an upcoming Collections Caretaker Newsletter, send your submission to peggy@collectioncare.org
 
We are always looking for contributions to this newsletter. Submission deadline is the 10th of each month. 
 
Have a comment or suggestion?  
 
Northern States Conservation Center (NSCC) provides training, collection care, preservation and conservation treatment services. NSCC offers online museum studies classes at museumclasses.org in Collections Management & Care, Museum Administration & Management, Exhibit Practices and Museum Facilities Management.
 
Sincerely,
Helen Alten, Director
Peggy Schaller, Publications Manager 
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