Open Forum

Hello

I am the facilities Manager for the Seminole Tribe of Florida's Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum.  I am looking for information on HVAC systems that can keep a 70 degree temperature and 50% humidity.  I have been dealing with high humidity and our HVAC system is not doing the job.  I am looking to replace several units but am looking for input on what other museums are doing and what types of problems you are having.  If you can help in any way I would appreciate it.

Thank You

David Higgins

Facilities Manager

AH-Tah-Thi-Ki MUSEUM

30290 Josie Billie Hwy

PMB 1003

Clewiston, Fl 33440

(863)902-1113 Ext: 12204

Cell (954)465-4317

davidhiggins@semtribe.com

Hello

I am the facilities Manager for the Seminole Tribe of Florida's Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum.  I am looking for information on HVAC systems that can keep a 70 degree temperature and 50% humidity.  I have been dealing with high humidity and our HVAC system is not doing the job.  I am looking to replace several units but am looking for input on what other museums are doing and what types of problems you are having.  If you can help in any way I would appreciate it.

Thank You

David Higgins

Facilities Manager

AH-Tah-Thi-Ki MUSEUM

30290 Josie Billie Hwy

PMB 1003

Clewiston, Fl 33440

(863)902-1113 Ext: 12204

Cell (954)465-4317

davidhiggins@semtribe.com

Good morning –

Maintaining 70 degrees and 50% relative humidity may be very difficult, if not impossible in Florida's hot and humid ambient conditions, unless you are in a purpose-built building with a very tight envelope with good thermal and moisture barriers and little air infiltration.

The first question I would ask is whether the collections require conditions as tight as those you are aiming to achieve. Yes, mold in hot and humid climates is a problem that must be mitigated, and if you have paper-based collections, lower temperatures help to reduce thermal degradation. However, there has been a considerable amount of research recently that has been conducted by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and others on providing preservation environments for museum collections in hot and humid environments. In 2015, the GCI published Environmental Management for Collections Alternative Preservation Strategies for Hot and Humid Collections, by Shin Maekawa, Vincent L. Beltran and Michael C. Henry. It is available through the Getty publications website. 

The Image Permanence Institute (www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org) also provides excellent resources; the American Institute for Conservation has an on-line wiki that discusses environmental guidelines (http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Environmental_Guidelines) and the current thinking on these.  I especially want to refer everyone to section 1.5.3 of this section which provides links and information on many useful resources currently available.

Apologies for not answering your question directly concerning what equipment to purchase.  But I hope that this additional information will help you and your institution.

Best wishes,

Wendy Claire Jessup

Conservator

Wendy Jessup and Associates, Inc.

     Care of Cultural Property

933 N. Kenmore Street, Suite 323

Arlington, VA 22201

(703) 522-2801

www.collectioncare.com