Comparing the air quality performance in unoccupied storage buildings between mechanical ventilation and semi-passive climate control

Signe Hjerrild Smedemark, Morten Ryhl-Svendsen, Jørn Toftum

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Air pollution can damage heritage collections.
This study examines the air quality performance
in one store with mechanical ventilation and
in another with semi-passive climate control.
Air pollution was measured with passive diffusion
samplers during summer and winter. The
atmospheric corrosivity was determined gravimetrically
using copper, zinc and lead coupons,
and by a real-time electrical resistance monitor
over one year. The concentration of outdoorgenerated
air pollution was low within both
stores. The emission of formic acid and acetic
acid from internal sources led to higher indoor
concentrations. The total acid concentration
was 15 μg m-3 in the store with mechanical ventilation
and 97 μg m-3 in the store with semipassive
climate control. The indoor atmospheric
corrosivity was determined as very low by both
methods. The study demonstrated that stores
using mechanical ventilation with air filtration
and semi-passive climate control provide acceptable
air quality for the preservation of heritage
collections.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationICOM-CC Publications Online : Proceedings of the 19th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference: Transcending Boundaries: Integrated Approaches to Conservation
Number of pages9
PublisherThe International Council of Museums
Publication date1 Oct 2021
Pages1-9
Article number215
ISBN (Electronic)978-2-491997-14-4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021
Event19th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference: Transcending Boundaries: Integrated Approaches to Conservation - Online, Beijing, China
Duration: 17 May 202121 May 2021
Conference number: 19
https://www.icom-cc2020.org/

Conference

Conference19th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference
Number19
LocationOnline
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period17/05/202121/05/2021
Internet address

Bibliographical note

Working group: Preventive Conservation

Keywords

  • Air Pollution
  • Acetic acid
  • Formic acid
  • Air exchange rate
  • Emission
  • Corrosion monitoring
  • Lead dosimeter

Cite this