Publication date: October 2017
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 123
Author(s): Eva Schito, Daniele Testi
The design of HVAC systems for museum exhibition rooms is a challenging issue, as artworks require specific hygrothermal conditions to prevent deterioration: on one hand, technical equipment should be able to maintain optimal microclimate, even in critical conditions (e.g., high visitors' presence); on the other hand, energy inefficiency due to oversized system should be avoided. Specifications and guidelines provide hygrothermal values for several typologies of artworks, but the suitability of these values has not been checked through risk assessment methods. In this work, risk assessment models are used to verify the suitability of hygrothermal values suggested by in-force specifications for three artifacts typologies, i.e. paper, panel paintings and wooden sculptures. Results show that current values are suboptimal for two artwork types. Consequently, a procedure for the artwork risk minimization is applied to identify new suitable hygrothermal values for panel paintings and wooden sculptures. The application of these risk assessment methods is also useful in the characterization of actual microclimate in museum exhibition rooms, through the analysis of monitored data. Moreover, risk assessment methods can be used together with suitability indexes of microclimate performance to assess actual microclimate suitability or evaluate risks in indoor environment dynamic simulations. This procedure can be useful for the decision-making community to provide artwork-depending optimal hygrothermal values for museum environments to professionals. Furthermore, it can also be applied by technicians to obtain reference values to minimize risks and, if possible, achieve additional objectives (e.g., energy savings, human thermal comfort).
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 123
Author(s): Eva Schito, Daniele Testi