Workshop on low energy climate control in museums and archives

---

Monday 26 October

School of Conservation, Esplanaden 34, Copenhagen

13:00 Welcome and introduction

Introducing the jargon
Concepts in atmospheric physics and material properties which are relevant to the course. (TP)

Climate control in museums and stores
Architecture and the importance of the building envelope. (PKL)

Break

Standards for the museum environment
The loose relationship between the environmental standards and the evidence for damage promoted by the environment. (TP)

Group work: Design a museum building. First session
Introduction to the design tools: Using the psychrometric chart; plot the outside climate in relation to the desired inside climate; Identify what needs to be done (humidify/cool/heat/dehumidify) to reconcile the two; Consider both daily and annual cycles of outdoor climate. (PKL)

Break

Basic building physics
Principles of thermal and moisture storage. Solar gain and radiation loss from roofs. Alternative mechanical systems to supplement passive control : Heat pumps, dehumidifiers, solar panels, wind power (PKL)

The use of building materials to moderate the RH
Which building materials and components have the best humidity buffer performance (TP)

17:00 End of session. Social arrangement

---

Tuesday 27 october

9:00 Air quality in stores, archives and exhibition spaces
External and internal pollutants; measurements; threshold values; ventilation; air cleaners (MRY)

Group work. Design a museum building. Second session
Designing the building to suit its purpose

Refreshment pause

Radiation effects
Case story: St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt (TP)

The use of artificial and natural lighting in exhibition spaces.
Minimising the energy released by lighting (PKL,TP)

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

Group work. Design a museum building. Third session
Designing the building to suit its environment

Design a museum building. Fourth session
Group presentation to the whole class

16:00 End of session

17:00 Reception at The National Museum of Denmark
Introduction by director Per Kristian Madsen
The exhibiton of the prehistoric collection by Poul Otto Nielsen
Light refreshment

---

Wednesday 28 october

Excursion to museum stores and exhibition spaces in Copenhagen

9:00 The Royal Library, storage facilities in Njalgade

The National Gallery, storage and exhibitions spaces in Sølvgade

13:00 The National Museum, storage facilities in Oerholm

Exhibition of industrial culture in Brede

The Open Air Museum, site for a new storage facility

---

Thursday 29 october

9:00 How to reduce the energy use in archives and museum stores
Full air conditioned buildings, heated, dehumidified and passive controlled spaces(PKL)

Individual building project. First session
Each participant will choose a specific building (either existing or a project) and give suggestions to improve the performance; how to save energy and make the conditions for preservation better.

Break

The use of predictive computer models to design the building
Case Story: The Archaeological archive in Edinburgh. (TP)

Individual building project. Second session

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Adapting the principles to a regional climate and local building practice
Case story: New storage facilities at the Open Air Museum in Sibiu, Romania (MRY)

Individual building project. Third session
The museum building in use

After care
How to measure environmental parameters. The importance of calibration. How to store, retrieve and display climate data. (TP)

17:00 End of session

---

Friday 30 October

9:00 Presentation of individual project to the class
(parallel sessions)

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Presentation of individual project to the class
(parallel sessions)

Closing discussion
What have we missed, what was difficult to understand and what is contentious in environmental conservation

15:00 End of course

---