UV filters

Ana Marie Liddell <amliddell<-a t->alison< . >sbc< . >edu> writes

>I am concerned about the installation of a painting in a spot which
>is exposed in part to mid-afternoon sun.  The use of blinds would
>not be practical but protecting the window/door with a UV coating
>may be possible.

In Massachusetts we are conducting an environmental monitoring
program for libraries, archives, historical societies, and museums.
As part of this program not only are temperature and relative
humidity recorded with the use of a thermohygrometer and a
datalogger (for a five-month period), but we use a light meter and a
UV monitor to get readings for the institution. We then make general
suggestions as to at what levels these readings should be.

One of the questions that frequently arises is how they can control
the UV levels, both those being emitted by fluorescent tubes and
those coming from outside, natural light.  Obviously, UV-filtering
sleeves are appropriate for the fluorescent tubes.  We have also
learned that many of the acrylic covers to fluorescent tubes contain
UV inhibitors resulting in low UV readings.

One of the things that we have also learned is that, for
Massachusetts, there are two suppliers of 3M "Scotchtint" and
"Scotchshield" products for windows that filter UV radiation and
come in varying levels of opacity which can dramatically reduce the
natural light levels, depending on the opacity chosen.  One of these
companies is

    Capital Energy Company
    P.O. Box 765
    Albany, NY 12201
    800-582-7836
    Fax: 518-465-1028.

The other is a spinoff from Eastern Utilities in Rhode Island . (I'm
awaiting contact information from them at the moment.)

Consequently, I would either check with Capital Energy for a source
of these films and other information in your area, or check locally
for a supplier of such.

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Collection Management/Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400
800-952-7403 (in-state)
Fax: 617-421-9833

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:57
                Distributed: Tuesday, December 30, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-57-001
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