How to use this page
Start with the question you are trying to answer.
No one standard defines a universal temperature, RH and light target for every museum object. The useful approach is to identify the collection risk and context, then use the relevant standard, professional guidance and conservation judgement to define policy. LÆFAN records that policy and the evidence collected against it.
LÆFAN does not certify compliance.
These references help explain the context around environmental monitoring. Institutions should consult the full current standard, their conservator and any lender or indemnity requirements before adopting limits.
Climate & collections
Temperature and relative humidity
Temperature and RH for hygroscopic organic materials
Focused on limiting climate induced mechanical damage in organic hygroscopic materials. Particularly relevant when historic climate and acceptable variability matter more than a universal fixed set point.
View BSI record ↗Risk based and sustainable climate guidance
CCI's current guidance includes ClimaSpec and ASHRAE based control types, emphasising collection vulnerability, historic averages and sustainable control rather than one universal museum environment.
View CCI guidance ↗Lighting
Indoor exhibition light and cumulative exposure
Choosing appropriate lighting for indoor exhibitions
Provides procedures for balancing exhibition lighting, visual requirements and conservation, and includes recommendations on luminous exposure.
View BSI record ↗Visible light, UV and cumulative damage
An accessible explanation of light sensitivity, illuminance, UV and the relationship between light intensity and deterioration.
View CCI guidance ↗Buildings & storage
Where collections are housed matters as much as the logger.
Buildings and rooms for heritage collections
Covers location, construction and arrangement of buildings or rooms intended for storage or use of heritage collections, including wider environmental and building risks.
View BSI record ↗Collection storage facilities and environmental management
Defines functions and characteristics of collection storage facilities and their role in preservation, storage, management and access.
View BSI record ↗Archive and library repository requirements
Specifies characteristics of repositories used for long term storage of archive and library materials, including building, installation and equipment considerations.
View ISO record ↗Conservation and care of archive and library collections
Sets out current best practice for long term conservation of archive and library collections, including preventive conservation and environmental guidance.
View BSI record ↗Display cases
Microclimates deserve their own context.
Showcase general requirements
General requirements for showcases intended for safe and secure display of cultural heritage objects, with a focus on preventive conservation and site specific risk assessment.
View BSI record ↗Showcase technical aspects
Classifies properties of passive showcases so technical performance can be assessed against the risks and needs identified in Part 1.
View BSI record ↗Loans & transport
Environmental monitoring is only one part of moving cultural property.
Packing principles for transport
Defines common packing principles, terminology and responsibilities for cultural property considered ready to move.
View BSI record ↗Transport methods
Defines principles to consider when transporting movable cultural heritage and sits alongside the packing standard.
View BSI record ↗How this maps to LÆFAN