Insulated modular storage without environmental controls

David Wexler's advice to use pre-fabricated cooler box panels sounds
very interesting. It would be much tighter than traditional
construction, with vapor barriers already in place, which could be
great. I am still very concerned about doing this with no climate
control. Although it may take RH even longer to get into such a
structure, it will also take it much longer to get out. As stated
previously, my main concern is warm spring air entering a very cold
cabinet when the door is opened and moisture condensing on the cold
contents. This may only happen once every few years, but that is too
much. An important part of David's advice is:

>... I think you will be presently
>surprised to find out just how little temperature and humidity
>control systems you will need inside this box to maintain
>satisfactory storage conditions, even in your part of the world. Or
>maybe even none, as you are planning.

I agree that very little may be required. But I certainly would not
recommend assuming that "none" will work, building such a structure,
loading it with documents, and hoping for the best. Perhaps build it
and monitor it for a year, or fill it with non-critical paper
documents (to assess the buffering effects of the artifacts it will
contain) and monitor it for a year. Easier and safer would be to
include a method to at least dehumidify from the start (i.e.
humidistatic heating and a stand alone dehumidifier).

Richard L. Kerschner
Director of Preservation and Conservation
Shelburne Museum
PO Box 10, Route 7
Shelburne, VT  05482
802-985-3348 Ext 3361


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:46
                  Distributed: Tuesday, March 7, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-46-003
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