Preventive conservation can be described as the actions taken to slow down or prevent damage to heritage items. Preventive conservation focuses on caring for whole collections in contrast to other areas of conservation that care for individual objects.
Preventive conservation is a relatively new and interdisciplinary conservation specialisation that is all about understanding and combating the broad, complex and interrelated environmental factors that affect collections.
Artlab’s Preventive Conservation section offers a variety of services that will assist with the long-term stability and protection of large and small collections alike. Practical solutions are devised to balance the preservation needs of collections while maintaining visitor access.
Managing the Environment
Environmental control is a basic essential for the care of collections to ensure appropriate and stable conditions where items are displayed, stored or transported. In particular, it is important to avoid large fluctuations or extremes in temperature and relative humidity which can be very damaging to many types of materials.
Environmental monitoring is carried out to determine if the current levels of relative humidity, temperature, light exposure and air quality are suitable for collections, and recommendations provided to address areas of concern. Information is collected using technical equipment, then converted into readily understandable graphs and tables, and supported with detailed written reports that interpret the data.
Risk management is a service that analyses the preservation needs of organisations and makes recommendations in the form of an integrated and practical conservation management plan.
Risk surveys are carried out to identify the major risks
to collections and are very useful tools for prioritising funding for short and long term planning for organisations.
Risk management is a cyclical process that involves risk identification, predictions of impact of the risks on collection items, development of actions to minimise adverse outcomes, and periodic review.
A risk assessment of a collection and its building allows for better management of resources and reduces or eliminates risks to collections.
Collection surveys are also undertaken to understand the condition status of items and to prioritise actions for their care. Collection surveys take into account the collective factors of condition, storage, display, handling, use and significance of individual items.
Pest activity if not discovered early can be devastating for many types of objects and whole collections. One of the largest destroyers globally of objects composed of organic materials are insects and rodents. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for collections has now moved away from the use of chemicals and focuses on housekeeping, maintenance, regular inspections of items and the trapping of pests. Integrated Pest Management workshops are also available to teach the principles and practises of introducing an IPM program for collections. Items discovered with insect infestation can be brought into Artlab for identification and treatment. Please bag or isolate these items in a sealed container before bringing them in to prevent infestation to other objects.
Remember prevention is better than a cure, if you are not already involved in preventive conservation activities, now is the time to start!