Caring for Cultural Material 1

Caring for Cultural Material 2

Damage and Decay

Managing Collections

Managing People

Handling, Transportation, Storage and Display

Glossary

Index

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Damage and Decay
In this volume:
– Light and Ultraviolet Radiation
arrow Humidity and Temperature
– Biological Pests
– Dust and Pollutants
– Common Deterioration Processes
– Acknowledgments
Humidity and Temperature
In this chapter:
– Objectives
– Introduction
– What is relative humidity?
– How does relative humidity change?
– Why worry about relative humidity and temperature?
– Can the damage be prevented?
– Identifying the source of the problem
arrow What can be done to minimise damage?
– Modifying the conditions in buildings
– A word of caution about travelling exhibitions and loans
– In an ideal world …
– Australia’s climatic zones
  MORE ABOUT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE
– Measuring relative humidity
– Dehumidifiers
– Humidifiers and steam generators
– The use of silica gel
– For further reading
– Self-evaluation quiz
– Answers to self-evaluation quiz

 

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Humidity and Temperature

What can be done to minimise damage?

The potential for damage to collections from the effects of relative humidity and heat is greatest when relative humidity and temperature fluctuate rapidly, or are extremely low or extremely high.

The damage can be minimised by modifying the conditions, if possible, and creating buffer zones between your objects and the extreme or fluctuating conditions.

There are many ways of controlling temperature and relative humidity. Some methods are better than others and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.

The measures you use to improve your building's environment should be selected so that you can monitor their effects and, if necessary, modify them.

 

 

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