2009

Environmental Management
Performance Standards
Guidelines for historic buildings
 Contents environmental control in museums and 6 Remember that, while we are responsible for maintenance. Within the topography of a site, everyone involved in the stewardship of the Journal of Architectural Conservation (the
galleries.These standards and specifications the historic environment, we are also stewards the ground immediately around a building historic environment: what issues matter, and international journal for historic buildings,
Introduction to environmental
may not always be appropriate for un-adapted of the whole of our heritage, both natural and should slope away in order to ensure that to whom; and what is happening to the monuments and places; published in March, July
performance standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
use in the historic environment. Case study 4, cultural. surface water during heavy rain runs away property and what needs to be done. and November). Shaftsbury: Donhead Publishing
Case Study 1 on the Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks at from, not towards, the building. Masonry or These Environmental Performance Standards –
Chapel of St Leonard, Farleigh Hungerford Dover Castle, Kent, illustrates environmental Antoine de Saint Exupéry remarked: ‘We have brick walls are vulnerable to bad repairs the framework and the case studies – are Nationalmuseet 2007 Museum Microclimates:
Castle, Somerset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 control for the storage of archaeological and not inherited the earth from our parents, we involving cement or cement mixtures, while intended as tools for effective conservation Conference on Preventive Conservation
Case study 2 historic material in a building not constructed have borrowed it from our children’. While we timber in the structure is at risk from wetting management within the context of a (Copenhagen 19–23 November). Copenhagen:
Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire . . . . .8 for this purpose. Care must be taken to may exploit the benefits of the historic or high humidity, which can lead to direct or conservation management plan. The National Museum of Denmark,
balance improvements in environmental environment, case study 5 on Chiswick House, indirect failures, such as pest infestation. At http://www.nationalmuseet.dk/sw30434.asp
Case study 3 conditions for collections with the impact London demonstrates the kind of responsible roof, ground and subterranean levels flat roofs, The Environmental Performance
Secret Wartime Tunnels, Dover Castle, these changes will have on the building. and complex planning needed when hiring a parapets, attics and cellars need protection Standards framework comprises: The National Trust 2005 Manual of
Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 historic property used for private events. from standing water, and progressive damp Title Housekeeping: the Care of Collections in
Case study 4 3 Manage the environment as though the inside patches need to be investigated. Chimney Aim Historic Houses Open to the Public. Oxford:
Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks, and the outside are equally important – These principles distil the recommendations stacks connect to flues and fireplaces where Statement of significance Butterworth-Heinemann
Dover Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 collections already have one layer of protection on environmental management contained in evidence of damp soot or fragments of flue
Case study 5 – the building – but historic buildings must also these guidelines.The guidelines expand upon lining may indicate a problem of damp Project outline: Thomson, G 1994 The Museum Environment
Chiswick House, London . . . . . . . . . . . .18 be protected in their own right. these principles and illustrate their application penetration at a higher level. Engineered • mission (2 edn). London: Butterworth-Heinemann
in a number of case studies, which focus on heating appliances such as boilers, pipes and • function
Case Study 6 Purpose-built museum buildings are designed important English Heritage assets – its historic water or oil-filled radiators must be regularly • staffing Organisations that provide advice:
Ranger’s House, Blackheath . . . . . . . . .21 to protect collections as well as to provide for collections.This focus on collections that are inspected for leaks and rainwater goods such English Heritage is a non-departmental public
the comfort of visitors and staff. In contrast, a integral to the interiors and to the as gutters and down pipes and ground level Performance requirements: body of the United Kingdom Government
Introduction to Environmental historic building itself may be the first and interpretation of historic properties go to the drainage systems such as manholes, grilles and • site description (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Performance Standards most important object, as illustrated in case heart of the integrated management of the drains must be regularly inspected and • presentation and interpretation with a broad remit to manage the historic
These Environmental Performance Standards study 1: Chapel of St. Leonard, Farleigh indoor environment. regularly maintained.This will avoid back- • conservation and collection care issues environment of England. For advice call: +44
are essential reading for anyone responsible for Hungerford Castle, Somerset. Here, preventive splashing on walls and penetrating damp into • comfort of occupants (0)20 7973 3000.
managing collections within historic buildings. and passive measures were evaluated in order This approach obliges us to think holistically walls, ceilings and floors, which can damage • display strategy
to understand better how to attenuate the and pragmatically about what it is necessary to interiors, promote mould growth and • storage Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the
These Standards have been developed from effects of the environment on a historically do for collections conservation and to destabilise internal RH and temperature.The • project management Scottish Government, charged with
six high-level guiding principles on sensitive building fabric. consider the extent to which environmental sills of doors and windows should be • solution concept safeguarding the nation’s historic environment
environmental management and are control as defined by museums and galleries is inspected for water stains, peeling paint, • control strategy and promoting its understanding and
underpinned by real-world advice based on 4 Think about the climate, the weather and the applicable to historic buildings. It is rarely blackening wood and dirt on internal sills. • maintaining the building enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers. For
the wealth of knowledge and experience of changing seasons – work as much as possible desirable, although it is a useful starting point, advice call The Enquiry Service,Technical
English Heritage staff managing some of the with the environment rather than against it – it to use the ranges of relative humidity (RH) A building maintenance programme must Achieving and maintaining an acceptable Conservation Group: +44 (0) 131 668 8668.
most renowned historic properties in England. can be a benefit as well as a threat. and temperature control in museums.These therefore not only be planned, but it must also solution:
are often defined as: RH between 50% and be executed in order to reduce the risk of • ground drainage CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments is the
These guiding principles are: Historic buildings may be vulnerable because 60% and temperature between 19° and 24°C. water penetration, higher levels of indoor • maintenance of the fabric Welsh Assembly government’s historic
1 Involve all relevant disciplines in of their location, construction and condition; However, even in museums, seasonal variations relative humidity and an increase in the • re-roofing to improve environmental stability environment service. Its aim is to service the
environmental decision-making – when in threats to a building’s fabric are increased are accommodated in recognition of the incidence of mould growth. For these reasons, • heating/cooling conservation and appreciation of the Welsh
doubt, it is better to include rather than to when the climate, weather and the seasons are technological difficulty, cost to the institution the Environmental Performance Standards in • dehumidification historic environment.The expertise of Cadw,
exclude others’ contributions. Until the recent ignored when major work is planned on such and risks to the environment of mechanical the following six case studies are specific to • natural or mechanical ventilation? including architects and surveyors, is made
past, it was considered the responsibility of the buildings. Case study 2 on Brodsworth Hall, systems. Mechanical control is not an easy the conditions in each case, rather than • zoning available through its publications. For advice
conservator to manage the environment South Yorkshire demonstrates the option and should not be the first choice for prescriptive or absolute.They follow objectively • microclimates call: +44 (0) 1443 336000.
around a collection. Now it is widely accepted opportunities for sustainable environmental historic properties. based standards, tailored to individual historic • cleaning of objects affected by mould
that buildings and structures influence the management provided by refurbishment properties, whose distinctiveness in each • monitoring, including alarm-based monitoring Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)
indoor environment, and that in turn the projects. Instead, the range of environmental control for example is defined by the institutional aims is the largest Agency within the Department of
external environment affects the condition and collections within historic buildings in the and statements of significance and function of Lessons learned and future actions: the Environment taking the lead in advising on,
behaviour of buildings and structures.The 5 Develop a positive attitude to reducing currently temperate climate of England should the property.This methodology, applied to • integration of building, site and landscape and in implementing, the Government’s
interdependence of the work of conservators, dependence on fossil fuels as sources of energy. aim at an RH between 40% and 65% and a each case study, demonstrates that it is • understanding cause and effect of building environmental policy and strategy in Northern
curators, conservation scientists, architects, temperature no higher than 7° above external possible to define the standards of alterations Ireland. Its aim is to protect, conserve and
engineers and facilities managers is illustrated Traditionally historic buildings, judging by conditions.This can be very cold for human environmental management required by • working with the building promote the natural environment and built
by case study 3: Secret Wartime Tunnels at today’s standards, made responsible use of occupants standing or sitting for any length of different properties, and to design • enhancing visitors’ enjoyment heritage for the benefit of present and future
Dover Castle, Kent, which demonstrates the fossil fuels, because of their scarcity and the time. We also need to be mindful of the environmental solutions appropriate to their • mechanically assisted natural ventilation generations. For general inquiries on historic
multidisciplinary nature of decision making for hard work necessary to procure them at the impact of climate change on the historic individual performance and use. buildings call: +44 (0) 28 9054 3095.
environmental control. time.Today, it is possible to build on this environment that can affect how gutters, down Principal references
principle by developing display strategies that pipes and buried drain pipes cope with the English Heritage is developing conservation Cassar, M 1994 Environmental Management
2 Whatever standards you choose to use, think do not depend on high use of energy for predicted increase in incidents of intense and management plans for many sites in its care. Guidelines for Museums and Galleries. London:
about their relevance and apply them to your environmental control. Case study 6 on prolonged rainfall. Each plan provides a useful framework for Routledge
circumstances – do not accept them in their Rangers House, Blackheath illustrates that the evidence-based decisions, including
entirety without question. use of microclimates in display cases has Good maintenance is the key to good environmental management decisions, by Chicora Foundation 1994 Managing the
National standards (BS 5454) exist for archive proved itself to be a sustainable exhibition management. Historic buildings can become placing the value and significance of the historic Museum Environment. Columbia, South
documents on exhibition and in storage, and strategy, not only in museums but also for vulnerable to the weather owing to their environment at the heart of the plan. Carolina: Chicora Foundation Inc
there are published specifications for museum-type exhibitions in historic properties. locations, construction, types of use and lack of A conservation management plan explains to

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 Case study 1 Chapel of St Project outline quantitative or qualitative evidence and data. • To utilise space within the adjacent Priest’s
Leonard, Farleigh Hungerford To further English Heritage’s policy, which These datasets must inform the original House for site interpretation and visitor facilities,
Castle, Somerset emphasises the importance of maintenance, the objective or purpose of the display and thereby avoiding excessive infrastructure and
Evaluating preventive and passive measures to site usefully illustrates the significance of interpretation of the chapel, and the activity within the chapel, which might put the
moderate the effects of the environment on preventive as opposed to corrective development of performance standards. Useful fabric at increased risk.
historically sensitive building fabric maintenance in mitigating deterioration factors, datasets include:
and in sustaining the best possible conditions Conservation and care issues: In reality, the
Aim within the chapel through passive means of • actual and planned number of visitors and capacity for preservation of historic buildings is
To understand the inherent environmental environmental control. events frequently compromised by previous
performance of the building, the condition of the • available surveys and environmental restorations and injudicious use of added
fabric and the impact of subsequent alterations Performance requirements monitoring data materials. Furthermore, the need to balance
in its use, as a means of determining strategies Site description: The chapel comprises two main • opening hours and use patterns preservation of the fabric with the capacity of
for improving the internal environment for the spaces: a large single rectangular space • diagnostic environmental monitoring to assess the building for visitor access is a relatively
benefit of both the building and its contents. By incorporating the nave and chancel under an the suitability of a space for the intended use recent challenge.This means that any
breaking the cycle of reactive repair, to initiate a open-trussed, stone-tiled roof, and a smaller conservation intervention must consider that
programme of informed building maintenance north chapel with lead roof over a vaulted It should be noted that such evidence can be the building no longer functions as it was
and management. crypt. Later additions include a small western gathered through non-invasive and non- originally designed.
porch (16th century) and a small wash building destructive methods, which should always take
Statement of significance abutting the north-east corner (now priority. Solution concept: Typical of many medieval
The Chapel of St Leonard is nestled among the incorporating public toilets on the ground floor, structures, the chapel was not designed with any
ruins of Farleigh Hungerford Castle, an and the ticket office and shop above). The objectives for the presentation of St deliberate means of environmental control, but
extensive fortified building dating from the late Leonard Chapel could be described as follows: rather has relied on the passive buffering of the
14th century. Originally the local parish church, Encircled on its north and west by a modern structure. Equally common, the chapel has been
the Hungerford family converted it into their perimeter wall, the chapel is partially embedded • To communicate the complex and cumulative subject to numerous physical alterations, not
private family chapel in the 1440s. Despite into the sloping crest of land, with the main nave history of the chapel within the context of least the blocking of the nave windows, the loss
numerous periods of neglect and disrepair, and some 1.2m below ground at the west end, while Farleigh Hungerford Castle and its grounds, of external render, and modern re-pointing with
extensive alterations to the fabric, the chapel at the east end, the floor of the chancel is highlighting its architectural and artistic beauty. cementitious mortar.
stands virtually intact and contains a series of almost 2m above external ground level. • To minimise additional technological The chapel interior retains sensitive historic wall
important medieval wall paintings, numerous interventions, such as lighting and climate paintings, which are integral to the fabric, so the
family tombs and a small collection of late Presentation and interpretation: Before a solution control, while enhancing the visitor appreciation nature of the building envelope and its
Jacobean wooden furniture.The crypt contains concept and control strategy can be developed, of the quality of the interior, fixtures and fittings. limitations needed to be assessed before
arguably the finest collection of 16th- and 17th- activities that can affect the interpretation of the • To undertake necessary repairs to the building designing the right control strategy.
century anthropomorphic lead coffins in chapel need to be assessed, because sound fabric in a sympathetic way that can assist in
England. environmental management must be based on controlling relative humidity and temperature. The introduction of fixed mechanical
environmental control is neither feasible, nor
desirable for this site. Previous interventions
Fig 2 East end of the chapel including wall painting of St George.
have been limited to the introduction of a few
basic storage heaters, whose heat output • Taking further action to enhance passive • research on the physical history of the site
compared to the air volume of the chapel does control: this involves capital expenditure. Works and its buildings;
not have a significant impact on internal stability. improved the capability of the building to resist • a condition survey of both the building and
There has never been any agreed operational the weather, such as enhancing the rainwater key significant features;
regime for the heaters, but the custodian could goods and improving the stability of internal • a survey of microbiological staining on the
have nominal control by switching them on and conditions with a new, insulated, roof in 2001. site;
off.The development of an environmental • Taking additional routine measures to maintain • a survey of the different site levels for the
control strategy can offer passive remediation, control: for which an additional expenditure will efficacy of water drainage;
and in combination with targeted repairs and be required.This requires an effective building • a liquid moisture (as opposed to water
maintenance can assist in reducing the rates of maintenance programme to sustain the vapour) survey;
deterioration to the chapel and its interior. condition of the chapel. However, at Farleigh • moisture profiling of the walls using drilled
Hungerford, where the maintenance budget for samples;
Control strategy: An environmental control the chapel is part of the maintenance budget of • and initiation of a monitoring programme.
strategy must be based on an in-depth a larger site, its needs have to be compared
understanding of the changes that have occurred with other urgent issues, such as collapsing walls, They demonstrate the complexity of the
to the building in the past.The following three which have health and safety consequences, and environmental issues surrounding the chapel
measures summarise the process of developing a priorities decided. and that the whole building was intended to
control strategy: benefit from any adaptation to avoid
English Heritage carried out a number of key condensation risks.
• Understanding the inherent features that technical studies to characterise the
promote environmental stability in a historic environment in and around the building before Achieving and maintaining an acceptable
building: these are given, but they must be deciding on the control strategy appropriate to solution
understood if they are to be used to their full the chapel.These studies comprised: Ground drainage: Where problems above
potential. ground (such as damp lower portions of walls)
Fig 1 Chapel of St Leonard.

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 building and the environmental impacts on it
through in-depth study of what is actually
going on, but also the importance of a post-
works review to check the efficacy and success
of any intervention.

Points to consider
In summary, the following were points or steps
in St Leonard Chapel project plan:

1 Understanding through in-depth

interdisciplinary study the interactions between
the exterior and interior environment across
the different elements of the building: roof,
walls and floors.

2 Implementing diagnostic monitoring in order

to ensure that the causes of problems were
Fig 4 Relative humidity (RH) and temperature at low and high level at the wall-painting surface.
understood before solutions are devised.
through the installation of an automatic door the physical history of the individual
closure device. components of the site, but not of the site as a 3 Ensuring that the correct range of advisers,
whole. It can be difficult to make connections specialists and consultants were engaged in the
Re-roofing to improve environmental stability: between parts of the heritage that ought to project and to provide the means by which
Previous historic roof repairs had never been belong together and to analyse how problems they could be encouraged to collaborate
deliberately designed to attempt to improve with one might affect the other, as well as effectively.
environmental conditions inside the chapel. whether solving the problems in one might
Rather, since the late 17th century, in six improve the other also. An integrated 4 Identifying the potential synergy of repairs
programmes of repair (1610, 1780, 1840, 1900, Conservation Management Plan for the whole that would provide opportunities for
1930 and 1950) responded to specific damage site would ensure that environmental environmental improvement.
and disrepair, largely due to periods of neglect, management addresses the relevant issues
which included repeated partial collapse.The throughout the site. 5 Utilising the opportunity provided by
Fig 3 Enclosure around Chapel of St Leonard, showing ground sloping towards the chapel.
extent of repair ranged from nearly a complete intervention to demonstrate the value of
are evident, drainage may need to be repairs following long periods of neglect can Diagnostic monitoring is continuing at St re-roofing, to localised repair of holes in the Understanding cause and effect of building routine maintenance, applying the principle of
characterised in order to isolate any problem create extreme cycles that may not stabilise the Leonard Chapel with the purpose of roof. It is only the most recent, and more alterations: The need for substantive re-roofing ‘little and often’, in order to keep historic
caused by underground conditions. In the case building or benefit the integrity of the structure. understanding the effectiveness of the new collaborative, building repair programme, derived was identified following the condition survey of buildings physically sound and weatherproof.
of St Leonard Chapel this should not have The principle of ‘little and often’ should ideally be insulated roof of the chapel.Vertical profiles of from a comprehensive building condition survey the fabric, and was originally considered as part
huge resource implications. applied to historic buildings to keep them conditions are being recorded at intervals from in 1996, that identified the potential synergy of of general building maintenance. In parallel, 6 Maintaining the site beyond the footprint of
physically sound and weatherproof. Keeping a the roof to the ground in the south-east corner repairs that would provide opportunities for concerns over the condition of the wall the building in order to divert moisture
Maintenance in context: Maintenance of the building in good condition ensures that it is able of the chapel in which the St George and the environmental improvement and demonstrate paintings, as well as other internal fixtures, problems away from the structure.
chapel cannot be restricted to just the visible to resist the weather for its own survival and Dragon wall painting is located. Dependent on the importance of routine maintenance. highlighted the need to address environmental
structure when the condition of the land contributes towards stabilising internal conditions the results of these records, monitoring issues.The relative significance of the wall 7 Undertaking a post-works review to check
around it and the underground drainage are so for the decorative wall finishes, fixtures and decisions will be made on the need and design Reduced air infiltration was achieved through paintings, and the efforts made to evaluate their the efficacy and success of any intervention.
critical to its well-being.The chapel is situated in fittings. of any permanent system of monitoring. complete re-tiling and the design of internal condition, provided the driver for improving the
a hollow surrounded by a battlemented timber boarding, which also offered a potential environment of the chapel as a whole. Most References
retaining wall.This creates a local context for Unfortunately, this was not something that Ventilation: Ventilation is often challenging in the insulating layer to improve thermal buffering. All important in the development and design of the Padfield,T Conservation Physics.
the building.Vegetation and silting of the drains happened to the chapel in the past, although context of historic structures. At one extreme, details were carefully considered from an building works, these overlapping concerns http://www.padfield.org/tim/cfys/website
are critical issues for the chapel’s maintenance. since being taken under the care of sealing a historic building is both practically aesthetic and historical perspective, and agreed prompted the need to gain an in-depth
A regular programme of preventive English Heritage, more detailed evaluation of the impossible, and can actually accelerate damage with the Historic Building Inspector.The resulting understanding of the interaction between the Anon (ed R Gowing and R Pender 2007 All
maintenance is necessary to reduce water more vulnerable points in the chapel that require through raising internal relative humidity. At the stability in conditions, and the reduction in levels exterior and internal environments and the Manner of Murals. London: Archetype
ingress into the walls. Gullies must be kept regular and routine inspection have taken place. other extreme, draughts created by open doors of high humidity entering the chapel, were behaviour of the fabric of the building. A range Publications Ltd
clean and free from vegetation if they are not and windows can be equally deleterious, as they designed to reduce substantially the risk of of specialists from English Heritage, both
to retain liquid moisture and cause damp Evaluation through monitoring: It is important in the provide for almost uncontrolled air exchange. surface condensation on the wall paintings, regional and central, and external consultants Ashurst, J and Dimes, F 1990 Conservation of
penetration.This building has a gully along the complex circumstances of the chapel to consider marble tombs and other stone tombs. became involved.They included architects, Building and Decorative Stone. Oxford:
west wall. various solutions as responses to understood At St Leonard Chapel, the diagnostic facilities managers, building services engineers, Butterworth Heinemann
causes, rather than to rush to a conclusion on investigations identified that rapid exchange of Lessons learned from the Chapel of St building scientists, conservation scientists and
Maintenance of the fabric: As early as 1839, a the basis of slim or misleading evidence. moisture-laden external air through gaps in the Leonard conservators.Through persistent collaborative
trust was set up to maintain the chapel, and Monitoring had established that the building had roof, exacerbated through keeping the west Integration of building, site and landscape: The two working among these specialists, an integrated
which may have been associated with one of little thermal buffering, especially through the door open throughout the day, resulted in reports that were prepared in 2000 and 2003 approach to the environmental improvements
the roof repairs in 1840. Nevertheless, in 1844 open-tiled roof, which led to almost immediate periods of prolonged condensation as the air focussed separately on the castle ruins and and management of the chapel gradually
a plaster fall occurred and revealed the air exchange between the interior and the came in contact with cold internal surfaces. context, and on the chapel, respectively.These developed.The project not only demonstrates
medieval wall paintings. Extensive and intrusive exterior of the building. Immediate improvements were achieved reports have been important in understanding the need to understand the condition of the

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 Case study 2 Brodsworth Hall, English Heritage in 1990.The National Today, Brodsworth Hall is managed jointly by Solution concept: Successful conservation and BMS can include fire detection and security inspections take place and are acted upon.
South Yorkshire Heritage Memorial Fund purchased the two part-time curators, three visitor presentation of a historic property, in a protection. The asset management project presently
Demonstrating environmental management as collections and English Heritage agreed to operations managers and two conservation physical state that denotes the passage of time, running within English Heritage will develop
an integral part of a refurbishment project spend the equivalent sum of money on repairs cleaners.The day-to-day running of the requires close and constant collaboration The installation of a BMS improves the building maintenance programmes, among
and other work, in order to be able to open property is hugely dependent on the work of between the curator and conservators. management of a complex building when other functions and ensure that the
Aim the property to the public. a large group of volunteers. Materials deteriorate at different rates and the technical support is assured. At Brodsworth appropriate resources are available.
‘a gentle approach’ (English Heritage amount of conservation needs to be carefully Hall, the environmental control strategy
Commissioners and Executive Board) Brodsworth Hall was presented to show its Performance requirements balanced with the need to avoid visual involves a BMS managing relatively simple Achieving and maintaining an
To conserve and present to the public the whole history, including the effect of time, The aim of environmental improvements and differences between materials in the same heating equipment that is intended to work in acceptable solution
history of Brodsworth Hall, including the rather than try just to recapture the management, once the written conservation historic room setting. harmony with the environment and to assist
effect on materials of the passage of time, by appearance of its earliest years. plan was completed, was to stabilise conditions the building’s natural buffering capability. If a The quality of environmental management at
arresting years of progressive decay without and slow down decay. Operational success was Control strategy: The need for different levels of BMS is being used in an unusual way, then Brodsworth Hall was assured by a clear
destroying its special character. At Brodsworth, different approaches were to be achieved by supplementing the existing environmental control for different uses was management needs to be aware that they will strategy to divide the building into
taken to the different elements of the project: technology within the property, with a modern recognised right at the start of the project.The need to be more heavily involved in its environmental zones.
The real significance of Brodsworth Hall is the building itself was ‘restored’ – the exterior environmental control system. Planning for installation of a Building Management System operation and that external expertise may be
that it represents the evolution of a country was restored in order to render it physically environmental improvements had to consider (BMS) in the property was seen as key to the required. Project planning must therefore It is not unusual for different members on a
house, not just one period, but a palimpsest, sound and watertight; the collections were the comfort needs of the small core group of operational management of different areas: consider both the capital cost of physical major project such as Brodsworth Hall to
with evidence of changes through time. ‘conserved’; and the garden was ‘developed’. staff and volunteer stewards. conservation heating in the display areas and installation and the revenue consequences for have different perceptions of when a project
Because it gradually fell into disuse, Today a written conservation plan for a comfort heating in the rest and services areas. downloading of datasets, routine is finished. Often the pressure to open to the
Brodsworth Hall contains not only fine property earmarked for a major project is Planning for comfort: In project planning terms, it A BMS consists of sophisticated engineering environmental management and maintenance. public means that work continues in different
furnishings and fittings, but also many of the done first, to resolve in advance any tensions is important to consider not only the software that is designed to control areas for some time after opening to the
more mundane items essential to any owing to differences in approach. environmental requirements of the building and automatically a range of environmental Maintaining the building: The consequence of public has actually occurred. However,
country house. A conservation plan should ensure that its collections, but also how the comfort services including heating, cooling, ventilation, neglect is rapid deterioration from water unfinished work is often given lower priority
proposed improvements are assessed within requirements of staff, volunteers and visitors will humidification and dehumidification. penetration and pest ingress, leading to a range after opening, and budgets may even be cut
Project outline the context and vision for the property, and be met. It is imperative that any environmental Monitoring the environment through the BMS of serious problems from dry rot to collapsing or diverted elsewhere. All essential work,
To further its policy of educating visitors on benchmarked against performance standards control system for human comfort – such as is relatively unusual because the software ceilings or floors. One of the main aims of the particularly the commissioning, testing and
the evolution of the historic house, based on agreed conservation objectives for heating – does not cause excessive dryness in normally discards data after an engineer has Brodsworth Hall project was to weather-proof handover of equipment such as the BMS,
Brodsworth Hall was acquired by the whole property. any historic areas adjacent to staff areas. made sure that the control equipment is the building to ensure that it is able to resist must be completed before the official
operating correctly. A radio telemetry-based the weather for its own survival. Essential re- opening.
temperature and relative humidity, RH roofing at Brodsworth Hall took place to make
monitoring system was also installed to give the building watertight and so that later it The success of a project in stabilising the
independent verification of the performance of could contribute towards stabilising internal environment within a property, and the
the BMS controlled heating. Such systems also conditions for the exhibits. effectiveness of subsequent environmental
allow placing of sensors closer to vulnerable management system can best be determined
objects, whereas the position of the wired-in Fundamental to good management is ongoing through diagnostic monitoring. Monitoring of
sensors for the BMS can require substantial maintenance. A building maintenance internal and external relative humidity and
thought and compromise. Other features of a programme will ensure that these regular temperature was undertaken throughout the

Fig 5 Brodsworth Hall and gardens. Fig 6 Visitors and volunteers. Fig 7 Bedroom abandoned in 1919, conserved as found.

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 project. Early monitoring demonstrated the Evaluation and feedback assure that there is 3 Being prepared to explain any differences in Case study 3 Secret Wartime
improvements in internal conditions future learning, and in a climate of scarce conservation approach to front-of-house staff Tunnels, Dover Castle, Kent
compared to outside.This also revealed how resources, provide an opportunity to learn and the public, using it as an educational Demonstrating the multidisciplinary nature of
successful the refurbishment of the building from one another’s rich experience. By opportunity. decision making for environmental control
had been in reducing draughts, unwanted air establishing a link between the first evaluation
infiltration and fluctuations in relative and subsequent routine condition assessment 4 Carrying out a risk assessment of the Aim
humidity and temperature, even if objects of objects and buildings, a way of monitoring property as a whole in order to prioritise To understand the nature and environmental
and building fabric can take several years to the success of a project can continue conservation needs and resources. performance of the Secret Wartime Tunnels at
acclimatise to the new environment. indefinitely. Dover Castle, in response to a particular set of
5 Being aware of overlaps and possible problems in order to produce a workable
Information management: In projects such as These reviews are in addition to a rolling tensions among the different conservation solution to meet the requirements of all parties.
Brodsworth Hall, involving several inputs, and programme of condition checks, routine programmes for collections, buildings and
particularly where collections are removed maintenance (such as an annual ‘deep-clean’), gardens. Statement of significance
from the building to enable major repair the national ten-year audit and the ‘Dover Castle is the only medieval castle to have
work to be done, it is not only important for quinquennial survey of the historic estate, all of 6 Ensuring that the different programmes are had layers of tunnels excavated under it during
individuals to maintain personal records which will ensure that there are regular clear to all in the project and those responsible the Second World War to form a Combined
(such as logbooks, treatment and survey inspections of buildings and collections. for the proper on-going operation. Headquarters and a Forward Dressing Station …
reports), but it is also imperative that project The castle also had a Regional Seat of
information is properly managed. Some of Lessons learned 7 Ensuring that the level of technology that is Government [set up within the tunnels], which
the questions that should be addressed are: At Brodsworth, opening to visitors had introduced to manage the environment of the functioned from c 1962 to 1984 and which still
conservation consequences that were not property is commensurate with the skills and contains significant amounts of contemporary
• Who is recording what information, in foreseen during the planning process, because resources available at the property itself. equipment.’ (‘Dover Castle the key to England:
what form and where is it being kept? the project lacked the services of a dedicated a conservation statement’, Jonathan Coad,
• Who has access to individual project conservator, a vacancy that has now been filled 8 Providing local training to ensure smooth revised March 2004, English Heritage).
records? through the appointment of a regional running of instruments and equipment. The role of the wartime tunnels in national
• Do these records belong to the individual conservator. When the shutters, which had not affairs during the Second World War has
or to the property? been used for years, were opened, an 9 Instigating a clear policy for recording project Fig 8 Secret wartime tunnels
• Should records be held centrally, locally or unexpected amount of daylight entered the decisions and documenting the progress of a
in both places? property.The situation was remedied by the project in order to ensure that the ‘corporate
• Who is responsible for updating records? use of neutral density film, as well as by memory’ of a project is available to provide a
• When should records be weeded and moveable blinds, for daylight control. Neither learning resource for the future.
archived? was there sufficient appreciation of the extent
to which the fragile interior of the property References
Records should not remain in individual files would suddenly be subjected to heavy use. Richard Kerschner, R 1992 ‘Practical approach
after a project is completed.To ensure Part of the project management needs to be to environmental requirements for collections
operational continuity and corporate consideration of how the property will in historic buildings’. J American Instit
learning, an appropriate information function when the project is complete and the Conservation 31, 65–76
management system should be set up. skills, time and resources routinely available in
the property to support it. Staniforth, S, Hayes, B and Bullock, L 1994
Evaluation and feedback: All projects must be ‘Appropriate technologies for relative humidity
evaluated and the conclusions fed back into Points to consider control for museum collections housed in
the organisation to allow it to learn. Best In summary, the following were points or steps historic buildings’. Pre-prints of A Roy (ed)
practice recommends that a project should in Brodsworth project plan: Preventive conservation: practice, theory and
be reviewed after different time periods. research. Ottawa congress, 123–128
Environmental management information also 1 Ensuring that an experienced project
needs to be assessed as part of these manager is appointed to oversee the whole Jeffrey, Kate (ed) 2000 Brodsworth Hall and
reviews. Although environmental effects can conservation project including collections, Gardens. London: English Heritage
be rapid and obvious with highly unsuitable building and gardens.
environments, many processes lead to The National Trust 2006 Manual of
gradual accumulations of damage that are 2 Discussing the conservation approach to be Housekeeping. Oxford: Butterworth
insidious, and often difficult to detect, over a adopted by different elements of the property Heinemann
few years.This slow accumulation process – collections, buildings and gardens – as soon
devalues artefacts significantly in the longer as the project is conceived.
term.

Fig 9 Plan of Casemate Level.

10 11
 contributed significantly to the long and Presentation and interpretation: The objectives turn off the fans in the Casemate level and to ventilation equipment, and how it might affect can encourage rapid mould growth, and can result in potentially damaging high levels
stirring history of Dover Castle.The tunnels for the presentation of the Secret Wartime rely on natural ventilation, prompted by the human health and comfort. therefore mechanical ventilation was re- of RH and harmful carbon dioxide levels.
survive as a unique testament to military Tunnels could be described as follows: continued mechanical failure of that plant. In • Ensure that solutions, whether technologically instated in the Casemate tunnels to make the Relying solely on natural air exchange
planning, defence and operations, as part of • To communicate the history of the tunnels 2001 a spectacular outbreak of mould growth sophisticated or simple, can be operated easily environment less conducive to mould growth. between the exterior and interior seeping
the forward operations centre for the within the context of Dover Castle. in those tunnels occurred, which appeared to by staff without a large extra burden. The following measures were taken: through cracks and gaps in the fabric has
eventual invasion of northern Europe on • To highlight significant historical be the result of this action. Investigations were often been found to be inadequate, while
June 6,1944. developments that are associated with major undertaken to understand and solve the Any control strategy needs to be sustained by • Airborne mould was sampled and identified. opening windows is not an acceptable
events in history. environmental problems. an effective monitoring, renewal and • Effective cleaning regimes were introduced solution because of safety, security and
Project outline • To demonstrate important architectural and maintenance programme. to reduce the level of mould spores in the air, pollution risks, and its adverse effect on the
To further English Heritage’s duty to civil engineering advances that are unique to Control strategy: An environmental control and the importance of maintaining a good stability of the indoor environment. Instead,
preserve one of its most visited and this site. strategy must be based on an in-depth To address the mould problem, from 2001the housekeeping regime emphasised. controlled ventilation can be achieved by:
significant monuments, and to maintain a safe • To keep technological interventions for understanding of natural and deliberate South East Region of English Heritage • Every infected object was removed from the
environment for visitors and staff. lighting and environmental control to a changes that have occurred in the tunnels and instigated a multidisciplinary action plan affected area, and cleaned in a controlled • mechanically assisted natural ventilation –
minimum, and to maintain the quality of the systems in the past.The following measures involving key local, regional and central staff manner. the installation of fans in unobtrusive places
Performance requirements interior fixtures and fittings. summarise the process of developing a control and consultants. It commissioned a number of • Monitoring the moisture profiles from the to draw air from or into an interior;
Site description: Some of the chalk wartime • To sustain continued use of historic objects, strategy: key technical studies to characterise the tunnel walls confirmed that evaporation would • and by mechanical ventilation – the
tunnels are lined either with brick or with which are essential to the presentation and environment in the tunnels: generate high RHs if there was insufficient installation of fans, filters, ductwork and
steel.The Napoleonic Casemate barracks understanding of the spaces. • Bring together key local, regional and central ventilation to carry the moisture away. perhaps also heaters and coolers to
were extended and two other levels of • To maintain the fabric and collections in a English Heritage staff and their consultants to • a microbial and building health survey; • Air flows in critical areas were measured and condition the air before it is supplied to an
tunnels, known as Dumpy and Annex, were sympathetic way, while controlling relative develop a coherent action plan. • environmental risk assessment studies; improved where necessary. Many moulds have interior. (A historic ductwork system already
constructed to house the operations humidity (RH), ventilation and temperature. • Understand and communicate in full the • and an environmental monitoring survey. been found unable to germinate their spores existed in the Secret Wartime Tunnels, so this
headquarters and an underground hospital. • To enhance the interest and the educational inherent features and condition of the and grow in air velocities greater than 0.2m-?, could be utilised.)
The tunnels at Casemate contain features relevance of the tunnels to a wide range of structure that promote environmental stability, The results of these studies demonstrate the even at very high RH.
and items of equipment known to have visitors, while reducing the adverse impact of including responses to weather conditions. complexity of resolving environmental risks In comparing these two options, the extent
remained in place since their original these visits on the tunnels. • Understand and communicate the impact of surrounding the tunnels and their contents, Natural ventilation or mechanical ventilation?: of potential control, invasiveness to the
installation when the tunnels became change to links between spaces within the staff health and comfort and the demand on Ventilation is often a challenging issue in the building fabric and cost were found to be
operational. Annex accommodates a rare Solution concept: The tunnels contain a variety tunnels, and how this might affect resources. context of an enclosed historic site. Natural air different: the first option moderates natural
example of a British underground military of historic artefacts made from a range of environmental stability. Explain how open currents are not an acceptable alternative to conditions less invasively and less expensively
hospital, although its original equipment had materials.They are, in themselves, a complex doors encourage natural airflow, the Achieving and maintaining an acceptable controlled ventilation, while neither is sealing than the second option.The first option has
been removed and it is now fitted out with environment with various ventilation routes. importance of which was not fully appreciated. solution an occupied and lit space to control RH and also been tried elsewhere with some success,
contemporary equipment from other Natural ventilation was improved using original • Understand and communicate the wider It is important to define what is ‘an acceptable temperature, or to prevent the ingress of dust, while the second is generally considered to
collections. fans and ducting. However, it was decided to impact of changes in the operation of solution’ in the context of the tunnels. High RH air pollution and pests. Inadequate ventilation be intrusive to a historic site.The level of

Fig 10 (above) Mould growth on telephone exchanges Fig 12 (above) Original ventilation ductwork in tunnel
and under plotting table. casemate.
Fig 11 (right) Mould growth on telephone exchanges and Fig 13 (right) Environmental Conditions in the tunnels;
under plotting table. screen shot of part of the wireless monitoring system.

12 13
 ventilation control promised by the second specialist equipment for cleaning. It is Points to consider Case study 4 Royal Garrison Performance requirements • localised and centralised environmental
option is theoretically greater, but in practice important that this significant investment is not In summary, the following were points or steps Artillery Barracks, Dover Castle Site description: The Royal Garrison Artillery improvements;
the risk of a breakdown in equipment, and wasted and that an ongoing cleaning regime is in Secret Wartime Tunnels project plan: Demonstrating environmental control for storing Barracks store is an early 20th-century stone • use patterns and duration;
the subsequent cause of environmental put in place to keep objects and the tunnel archaeological and historic material in a building building constructed originally as • and external weather conditions in
fluctuations may be unacceptable. environment clean and free from the risk of 1 Accepting that there may be situations and not constructed for this purpose accommodation barracks. As such, it has rows particular rain, particularly wind-driven rain,
further outbreaks of mould. locations where environmental management of sash windows on both storeys at each solar radiation, wind speed and wind direction.
Re-instating the original mechanical will be challenging and that the best efforts Aim elevation.The building is orientated
ventilation in the tunnels in the Casement Monitoring: Monitoring of airflow, RH and might only achieve modest improvements. To understand the nature and performance of north–south, with the south-facing elevation The priorities for the regional archaeological
level was considered an acceptable way temperature, and diagnostic studies of mould Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks at Dover orientated towards the English Channel.The store could be described as follows:
forward.This ensured that the airflow could growth have been essential to understand the 2 Recognising that ‘museum’ conditions for Castle, and its suitability for the storage of timber windows frames on the south-facing
be better controlled and that the fluctuating environmental conditions within the tunnels. It collections may cause serious damage to collections. elevation show signs of the ravages of the • To make the collections safe and accessible
conditions experienced with the natural is important to realise that the weather, unusual structures, such as chalk tunnels. weather, in particular from salt-laden wind, rain to a wider range of users.
ventilation system would be reduced. geology and resulting moisture levels in Statement of significance and sun.The interior of the building is a • To complete the documentation of the
Additionally the ventilation system was the chalk heavily influence the tunnel 3 Understanding that the best solutions are The Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks, are one combination of open plan and smaller rooms, collections.
considered appropriate to the authentic environment. developed through constructive team working of the most recent barracks to survive at with solid floors, which makes it suited for • To provide the environmental conditions
atmosphere of the Tunnels. to bring together unusual strands of expertise, Dover.They are important for their link storing heavy objects on the ground floor. Solar appropriate to the different stored materials.
A real-time monitoring system has been such as mould identification. with coastal artillery, specifically to man heat gain in the south-facing rooms is not a • To monitor RH and temperature, to analyse
Maintenance of the fabric: In this instance it is installed to give early warning of conditions coast batteries.The interior of the barracks is problem because the windows are shaded and the data and to act upon on the information.
impossible to maintain ‘museum’ conditions conducive to mould spore germination. It will 4 Remembering that environment capable of sympathetic adaptation to the more environmentally sensitive materials – • To implement an integrated pest
for the collections material without causing also enable a more pro-active approach to be management often requires complex decision- collection storage. such as the archives and modern materials management plan.
serious damage to the chalk tunnels. taken with the management and maintenance making, centred around risk reduction of associated with 20th-century artefacts are
Significant heating or dehumidification would of the tunnels and their collections. damage to shelters and to the collections, staff, Project outline stored in the rooms that face north. Solution concept: The nature of the structure
lower the RH, but increase the flow of and visitor health and comfort within the Mission: The Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks and its limitations need to be assessed in
moisture through the chalk.The condition of Lessons learned context of available resources. have been used almost unaltered as a regional Storage: Before solution concept and control order to design the right control strategy.The
the chalk tunnel fabric is managed through The biggest lesson that can be learned from store for archaeological and more recent strategies can be developed, the conditions building has a number of large windows and
regular monitoring and maintenance.The the Secret Wartime Tunnels project is that no 5 Being open to advice from a variety of material since the mid-1970s.This material is required by the stored material need to be sunlight could cause seasonal heating of the
following table identifies the major issues: single discipline on its own could have solved sources, both internal and external, while available for study by appointment to external assessed.This can be a complex process for interior air.The poor condition of the timber
the problem. Everyone was concerned about critically evaluating the benefits. researchers and is a rich resource for archaeological collections, as their burial on the south-facing windows will allow
vulnerabilities specific issues and the problem for different reasons: English Heritage local, regional and central staff. conditions and history can make objects of the ingress of air, dust and transport pollution,
concerns 6 Ensuring that an environmental control A study room has recently been provided for same material type have a range of stabilities. and could allow insect pests to enter the
walls and roof leaks through the porous • staff were concerned about health issues; strategy is based on an in-depth understanding this purpose. For example, limestone laden with salt from store. It is also important to assess the
chalk substrata • curators and conservators were concerned of the natural and deliberate changes that burial is easily damaged by fluctuating relative vulnerability of the stored collections, and
about the objects; occurred to the shelter systems in the past. Function: To further English Heritage’s duty to humidity (RH), whereas a similar limestone ideally to assign them to rooms known to
collection items damage from mould • and facilities managers were concerned manage its collections, while making minimal with little or no salt is less vulnerable.The provide the best environments for their
growth and high RH about the condition of the chalk fabric. References and further reading impact on the building in an effort to improve storage strategy is best informed with protection.The most vulnerable elements of
levels Florian, M L 1997 Heritage Eaters. London: environmental conditions.The material stored information about: the stored collections were considered to be
A solution was developed through James and James in the Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks the Second World War and Cold War
site team cold, damp and draughty constructive team working, bringing together consists of small boxed archaeological finds, • the collections to be housed, and any plans collections and archives.These are stored in
and visitors conditions in winter, several disciplines and strands of expert English Heritage 2008 Conservation Principles. large archaeological finds, architectural for expansion or new acquisition; the rooms that face north, have windows in
health risks from mould advice. Open discussion of past experience http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ reference materials, 20th-century artefacts • internal storage boxes and systems; the best condition, and hence the best
enabled lessons to be learned. All parties server/show/ConWebDoc.13556 (particularly from the Second World War and • the condition and buffering capacity of the buffered, and receive the least solar gain.
Cleaning of objects infected by mould: Once a worked together to find an acceptable solution the Cold War), textiles and paper archives, building;
mould outbreak has occurred, the affected to the problems that existed at that time, English Heritage 1999 Conservation Plans in including many archaeological plans from the • available studies and internal environmental Control strategy: An environmental control
objects must be thoroughly cleaned.This can respecting each other’s areas of expertise and Action. London: Proceedings of the Oxford south-east region of England. monitoring data; strategy must be based on an in-depth
be a time-consuming and costly exercise. knowledge, and not attempting to allocate Conference
The large amount of complex wiring in ‘blame’ or to criticise past decisions, which had
period telephone exchanges required been based on the best available information
at the time.

Fig 14 (left) The Royal Garrison store at Dover Castle.

Fig 15 (above) The enclosed entrance at the barracks
creates a wind vortex, which deposits wind-driven rain
onto these walls.Therefore, no collections are stored
inside (on the opposite side) directly against these damp
walls.

14 15
 Fig 16 The relative humidity
(RH) inside polypropylene
boxes is reduced to below
30% by the addition of
sufficient dried silica gel.The
room RH is kept below 50%
with a dehumidifier, which
significantly extends the
period between changes of
the silica gel.

Fig 17 The relative humidity (RH) in the archive room is adequately controlled with a manually adjusted radiator, turning it up or down depending on the reading from the radio-telemetry
monitoring system.the silica gel.

understanding of the prevailing conditions in 8 Deciding whether diagnostic, alarm-based or resist the weather for its own survival and air exchange with the exterior. Environmental Diagnostic monitoring is currently underway in moisture content and aid in the design of
the building, and include steps to control the routine monitoring is required. contribute towards stabilising internal zoning can be used deliberately in the using dataloggers. A discreet wireless appropriate solutions to environmental
factors that influence them.The following 13 conditions for the stored items. management of a property. Diagnostic telemetric data logging system to monitor RH control.
measures summarise the process of 9 Undertaking routine sample condition monitoring may reveal that the environment of and temperature has been acquired for the
developing a control strategy for a storage checks and documenting the stored Heating and dehumidification: Monitoring of the a store could be improved if the spaces were store and the site as a whole. 5 Considering the usefulness of zoning
building: collections, concentrating on the materials environment in the Royal Garrison Artillery to be divided into a number of manageable spaces and that creating microclimates in
known to be at greatest risk from the most Barracks has shown that the RH is generally environmental zones, bearing in mind the Considerations for the future boxes is integral to environmental
1 Examining the condition of the building, severe threats. high.The RH is currently controlled by a following points: Staff resources: The pressure of work on a management with minimal energy input.
particularly the walls and windows most combination of heating and stand-alone small staff limits the time that can be dedicated
exposed to the prevailing weather (especially 10 Implementing an approach to dehumidifiers.This solution using low • that the ambient zone that staff and visitors to routine environmental and collection 6 Understanding the advantages and
wind driven, salt-laden rain) that can infiltrate environmental control in the building that is technological control has much to recommend occupy could be conditioned similar to management, including monitoring, condition disadvantages of heating and dehumidification
the building through weak points such as appropriate to the available time and skill of it, although it is important to remember that domestic premises, includes the study room checks, documentation and repacking. Although to reduce RH in stores.
badly fitting windows. the staff. some types of dehumidifiers need plumbing and offices; additional resources can be pulled together for
into the drain system to avoid flooding. • that the microclimates described above special projects, the available time for routine 7 Assessing the condition and future use of
2 Assessing the condition and capacity of the 11 Ensuring that materials vulnerable to poor Conservation heating is used in the archive collectively make up the tightly controlled zone tasks can dwindle in the face of requests for stored collections in order to establish their
rainwater goods, including gutters and down environmental conditions are stored in the room and stabilises RH between 51% and for sensitive objects; information, research, organising exhibitions vulnerability and environmental management
pipes, in order to avoid the wetting of walls. most stable parts of the building. 65%, with the temperature at about 6ºC • and that the differently oriented faces of the and administration. It is therefore important to options.
higher than outside temperature during winter. building create different environmental draw up a management plan for each store,
3 Ensuring through thorough maintenance 12 Adding additional environmental control to However, this approach needs to be balanced conditions (for example, the north face is and that one person is given overall References
that rainwater and groundwater is carried some rooms to provide more suitable against the potential to increase the more stable and the south face is less stable). responsibility and the resources to implement Brown, D 2007 Archaeological Archives: a
away from the building. environments. deterioration rate of the paper by raising the the plan. Guide to Best Practice in Creation,
13 Providing additional protection and stability temperature. In the winter the temperatures By taking advantage of naturally occurring Compilation,Transfer and Curation.
4 Checking that groundwater is not for environmentally sensitive items through the are often too low for human comfort, and conditions, additional control is made simpler Points to consider Archaeological Archives Forum:
penetrating into the storage areas or into use of passively controlled microclimates other methods, such as warm clothing or local and cheaper. In summary, the following were points or steps http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/iconte
the building fabric. within boxes. heating, will be required if staff are to work in in Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks project plan: nt/index.php [downloaded 10 August 2007]
that area. However, the archive room is not Alarm-based monitoring: Currently, monitoring
5 The previous four factors can all lead to A control strategy can only be sustained habitually occupied. consists of a couple of decades’ experience of 1 Drawing up a management plan for the Thickett, D and Odlyha, M 2005 ‘Storage of
wet walls. It is important that if rooms with through an effective renewal and maintenance Microclimates: The building’s natural RH is much observing changes in objects and intermittent store in order to overcome the inevitable archaeological iron’. Post-prints of The
wet walls have to be used for storage, that programme, with resources allocated according too high for vulnerable archaeological metals, checks of particular problem areas, or areas peaks caused by other projects. Conservation of Archaeological Materials,
sufficient gap is left between the interior of to local needs and regional priorities. such as iron or copper alloy. Microclimates can with vulnerable materials, using dataloggers and Williamsburg,Virginia, 13–18 November 2005
the wall and the collections to enable air be achieved in polypropylene boxes buffered thermohygrographs. Condition checks of the 2 Improving the environmental stability of the
circulation. Achieving and maintaining an acceptable with dry or conditioned silica gel.These collections, the building and the environment building fabric, with due care for the structure, Thickett, D, Rhee, S and Lambarth, S 2007
solution provide reliable and relatively low-maintenance also take place as part of the national audit of before introducing technological ‘Libraries and archives in historic buildings’, in
6 Deciding on the preventive conservation Maintenance of the fabric: When dealing with a control of the environment immediately collections every ten years.The archaeological improvements. T Padfield and K Borchersen (eds) Museum
threats that present the greatest risk to the store in a historic building, it is imperative that around the artefacts. materials have been in storage for long enough Microclimates. Hvidovre: L P Nielsen Bogtryk,
stored materials. the requirements of the building are not to be known to be stable, but because the 3 Giving one person overall responsibility and 145–56
forgotten.The building must be kept Zoning: All buildings have natural environmental paper archive and textile store are relatively the resources to implement the plan.
7 Undertaking routine inspection for pests weatherproofed by ensuring that it is kept in zones that behave differently owing to their recent, regular monitoring should focus on
and thorough cleaning of surfaces. good condition, following its original design and orientation on the site, the size of glazed areas, these last two. 4 That environmental monitoring data can be
construction. In this way the building is able to the volume of the spaces and the amount of analysed using psychrometry to assess changes

16 17
 Fig 19 ‘Practical
Fig 18 Chiswick House. Conservation
Guidelines for
Successful Hospitality
Events in Historic
Houses’, published by
English Heritage in
2004.

When Chiswick House is used as a venue for

events, the aim is:

• to give a sense of splendour for hospitality,

corporate and private functions, thus ensuring
that a memorable occasion is had by everyone;
• to ensure that appropriate measures are in
place to protect the furnishings, fittings and
other vulnerable surfaces during functions (low-
level paintings are glazed, perspex covers are
placed on vulnerable horizontal surfaces and
some furniture is stanchioned off or moved out
of the way or into temporary storage);
• to provide comfortable conditions for the
guests of Chiswick House;
Case study 5 Chiswick House, Project outline and colourful reception) rooms, round, octagonal • to manage the numbers of guests at any one
London “The house was intended as a temple to and apsidal-ended. On the exterior, tastefully time, in order to protect the property from
Demonstrating environmental management in a hospitality, and in its heyday the lavish rooms selected openings punctuate the neutral wall excessive wear and tear;
historic property used for private hire for events witnessed many glamorous events as the surface.The recessed Venetian windows of the rear • and to assess the impact of different functions
Burlington dynasty entertained the artists, façade were to have a long history in Palladian on the conservation of Chiswick House.
Aim politicians, and leading figures of London high building’. – Sir Banister Fletcher (A History of
To balance the management of Chiswick society.” (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk Architecture. 1996, Architectural Press, London). Solution concept: Ambient temperature, relative
House and its collections with the needs of HOME>HIRING A VENUE>LONDON humidity and ventilation need to be controlled Fig 20 (top) Wedding between 16:00 and 23:00: daily trace of temperature and relative humidity generates spike a in the
private hire, public access and conservation. PROPERTIES>CHISWICK HOUSE) William Kent was responsible for much of during functions, both for the comfort of temperature and shows great relative humidity (RH) variability.
Fig 21 (bottom) A day at Chiswick House with normal opening for comparison.
When considering the suitability of a Chiswick House’s interior decoration. Furniture attendants and the protection of the room
property for events, many things other than Chiswick House is the first 18th-century originally designed by Kent for the house is interiors.The impact on the internal
the environment need to be evaluated, such Palladian villa in the country. http://www.english- gradually being returned (see environmental conditions of opening windows House are both at risk from stains caused by Achieving and maintaining acceptable
as catering, food preparation, choice of heritage.org.uk/Filestore/ http://www.chfriends.org.uk/). needs to be assessed and managed. Until spillages of food and drink and wear and tear conditions
contractor, other facilities, such as toilets, hospitality/chiswick/chiswick_courtyard.jpg.The relatively recently, heating systems in historic from use.The carpets on the first floor, while “I can imagine that providing a listed building as
electrical supplies, and fire safety. For further magnificent interiors – with gilded decorations, Comfort of Occupants: While most properties properties were not designed to deal with the appearing authentic, are intended as sacrificial beautiful as Chiswick House as a function venue
information see Practical Conservation paintings and period furnishings – provide a can achieve a degree of environmental control demands of busy functions. Furthermore, the surfaces to soak up spillages. can be a difficult task to manage with all the
Guidelines for Successful Hospitality Events in unique setting for private and corporate events. for normal visitor opening, private events pose a existing warm air heating system at Chiswick understandable restrictions and excited clients
Historic Houses, published by English Heritage The balcony doors open onto 18th-century different set of challenges. For example, a large House causes large temperature differences Post-function reports are written and and suppliers and you do this very well.” (A
(2004). landscaping; and classical Italianate gardens numbers of guests accommodated in a single across the building, with a 7°C difference questionnaires are completed after every happy wedding couple, August 2003)
adorned with temples, statues and lake. room will generate greater than average heat having been recorded. event in order to evaluate their costs and
Statement of significance and humidity. A seated dinner function in winter benefits.Yet it is environmental management Fundamental to good management is good
“Chiswick House, built between 1726 and Staffing: Many additional staff are employed will require a higher temperature for comfort Control strategy: English Heritage manages other issues that are often the most intractable in a maintenance; and this is even more so in a
1729, is one of the earliest and most important during private events.This requires careful than that required for casual daytime visitors risks associated with the organisation of historic property. Chiswick House is known to historic property that is used for external
neo-Palladian villas in England.” (Chiswick House scrutiny of external suppliers and contractors in walking around the property. Functions with hospitality events by issuing a publication have high air-infiltration rates and diagnostic events where the appearance of the property
and Gardens, London, English Heritage) preparation, during the event, and when dancing may require cooler conditions; and the entitled ‘Practical Conservation Guidelines for monitoring has shown significant fluctuations in is an important factor in its public appeal. A
dismantling any special arrangements put in vibration that may cause damage to the Successful Hospitality Events in Historic relative humidity (RH) to occur. building maintenance programme should
Whether Lord Burlington knew or not, in place, such as moving of furniture by our structure will also need to be considered. Houses’ as well as a Memorandum of ensure that these regular inspections and
building Chiswick House in the Palladian style, trained staff. Additionally, clothing worn for some events is Agreement for each event. English Heritage A typical function increases the RH by 15% corrective measures take place.This is essential
he adopted a design that in its origin had likely to be lighter weight than everyday works with a limited number of vetted and the temperature by 5°C, which is similar if acceptable conditions are to be achieved
specific environmental performance Performance requirements clothing, and therefore increased heating may be caterers and suppliers in order to reduce the to the natural fluctuations experienced in and maintained.
characteristics. Site description: ‘The plan has two suites of required. In contrast, such additional heating risk from pest infestation caused by the serving these rooms. However, event-driven
apartments around an octagonal domed saloon may be offset by the greater number of people of food, inadequate cleaning or waste disposal. fluctuations of this magnitude may cause Heating and cooling: In English Heritage
with a sequence of variously shaped (sumptuous who might attend stand-up receptions. The ground and the first floors of Chiswick damage in other properties. properties, the fires are usually unused and the

18 19
 chimneys are normally capped.Ventilated Case Study 6 Ranger’s House,
capping ensures air flow through the chimney Blackheath
to avoid the risk of rain ingress, damp Demonstrating environmental control for a
penetration, disintegration of the flue lining or museum-type exhibition in a historic property
pest infestation. Alternatively, rather than
remaining unused, the chimney flues could be To display and interpret the Wernher
converted for use as vertical ducts to Collection on loan to English Heritage at
improve the distribution of conditioned air by Ranger’s House. Ranger’s House aims to give
allowing it to diffuse throughout the space visitors a stimulating and engaging experience
and be vented out of the building by natural of works of art of great variety and an insight
or assisted means. into the life of Sir Julius Wernher.

Sealing a historic building can damage the Aim

fabric and the interiors, and it could ‘We hope that this presentation will encourage
contravene legislation that requires minimum new and diverse audiences to learn more about
ventilation for the health and comfort of Europe’s rich culture of Decorative art.’
occupants.Ventilation is particularly (Dr Simon Thurley)
Fig 22 Hygrothermal computer model of Chiswick house.
challenging in buildings where the level of
occupancy can vary considerably between volumes of air into the building and with it dust, environmental problem is suggested before the Functional statement
events and times when there are only staff other pollutants and pests.Traditional buildings building and its inherent environmental design ‘The objects themselves are beautiful and
on the premises.The quality that makes as environmental systems behave very features have been considered. extraordinary in equal measure, demanding an
natural ventilation in a historic building differently to modern buildings, and therefore inspired installation and display of the highest
desirable becomes a problem when the the building design and the environmental Points to consider standards.’ (Dr Simon Thurley)
building has a large gathering in it. In such behaviour of any architectural precedents In summary, the following points should be
circumstances it is inevitable that ventilation should be investigated in order to understand considered for historic buildings used for events: Function: To further English Heritage’s policy of
will need some mechanical assistance. how they worked before trying to improve enhancing its historic houses for visitors, and to
their performance with new equipment. 1 Ensuring that reputable contractors, with save the Wernher Collection from dispersal Fig 23 Ranger’s House.
Zoning: All buildings have natural experience in working in historic properties, are after the closure of Luton Hoo in 1998.
environmental zones that behave differently Burlington modelled Chiswick House on the engaged. English Heritage negotiated a 125-year loan
due to their orientation on the site, the size design of Palladian villas, where thermal with the Wernher Foundation, a charitable
of glazed areas, the volume of the spaces and windows and doors are known to have been 2 Taking nothing for granted – the most invisible trust, for the collection to go on public view at
the amount of air exchange with the exterior. opened to encourage air flow and to alleviate of all risks, the impact on the stability of relative Ranger’s House.
The environmental differences can be the oppressive heat of the Italian Veneto. humidity and temperature of high occupancy,
accentuated by the activities that take place in also needs to be managed. Performance requirements
the different spaces.Therefore, environmental Currently the thermal windows at Chiswick ‘Each vitrine must be like a picture.’
zoning can be used deliberately in the House are kept closed because of concerns 3 Working out the carrying capacity of the (Sir Julius Wernher)
environmental management of a property. that wind-driven rain could damage the property for different events – and stick to it.
paintings hanging in the octagonal saloon and Presentation and interpretation: The presentation
Chiswick House can be considered as two could allow the ingress of pests such as insects, 4 Working out how the occupancy load can be of the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House
environmental zones: the first floor, containing squirrels, mice and birds.The use of Chiswick diffused over space and time. recreates an elegant 18th-century interior on
the decorative finishes and sensitive objects; House today is very similar to the use for which the ground floor and a museum exhibition on
and the ground floor, which contains less it was originally designed.The regulations that 5 Ensuring that all property staff are trained to the upper floor, the latter being the focus of
sensitive objects. Activities that have a high govern human comfort and the environmental anticipate and to minimise risks of damage this case study.The museum exhibition
impact on the environment, such as cooking factors that must be controlled to protect either human or from the environment. represents Sir Julius’s museum room in Bath
and dancing, are only allowed in specific interiors and furnishings in a historic property House, with its Renaissance-style furniture, Old Fig 24 Showcases at Ranger’s House.The design is based on the showcases originally commissioned by Julius Werhner for his
collections.
rooms on the ground floor. need to be clearly understood. 6 Communicating your instructions clearly Master paintings, gothic ivories, Renaissance
through methods that are most appropriate for bronzes, finely detailed enamels, majolica and The objectives of the exhibition at Ranger’s • To be able to cope effectively with coach
Monitoring: Diagnostic monitoring of Understanding the architectural history of a site the different recipients of it. other ‘objets d’art’. English Heritage generally House were as follows: parties, private views and other functions,
temperature and relative humidity can help can also help to ensure that the environmental prefers displays in its properties uninterrupted such as lectures, parties and dinners linked to
evaluate the effects of functions and their control potential of the building fabric is References and further information by display cases. Nevertheless where required, • To give a sense of the opulence of the Red the Friends and the Wernher Foundation.
impact on collections and interiors. When exploited as part of any design decisions. A English Heritage 2004 Practical Conservation display cases are used to improve the Room in Bath House through the use of
occupancy can influence environmental computer model has been generated of Guidelines for Successful Hospitality Events in environment and security of vulnerable objects. original and reproduction display cases. Solution concept: The reference to display cases
conditions, it may be advisable to monitor Chiswick House, and it will be used to test Historic Houses. London: English Heritage • To juxtapose contrasting types of objects, as in these objectives gives a strong indication
another environmental parameter, namely proposed heating strategies for a complete refit Geva, A 2005 ‘The use of computerised energy Displays: Before a strategy based on solution preferred by Sir Julius, instead of being that the focus of the solution had to be on
carbon dioxide, before, during and after of the services. It is not a change in use that simulations in assessing thermal comfort and and control can be developed, activities that grouped together by date or type, as was the appearance and technical performance of
functions, in order to establish the adequacy often necessitates the use of technology to energy performance in historic buildings’. could affect the displays need to be assessed. customary in museums at the time. the cases. Ambient temperature control would
of ventilation provision. boost the inherent design features of a building Structural studies, repairs and maintenance of These are: • To use discreet display lighting to enhance provide comfortable conditions for staff and
that was originally designed for hospitality, but heritage architecture IX, 587–96 the quality of the objects. visitors, while passive RH-control in the cases
Future actions rather the expectations and regulations that • occupancy, use, functions and loans • To use a passive method of relative humidity would provide humidity control for the
Working with the building: Opening doors and govern human comfort and health in buildings • construction work, refurbishment, disaster and temperature control within the display objects. Both ambient and case lighting would
windows to improve ventilation moves large today.Too often a technological solution for an prevention and maintenance routines cases. be needed.

20 21
 construction and dressing materials for
display cases.

3 That determination of suitable RH

conditions for vulnerable objects should
ideally be based on relevant published
research, specialist evaluation of the condition
and stability of the object, and an
understanding of the behaviour of water
vapour in the air and its interaction with
materials (known as psychrometry).

4 That the performance of RH-controlled

display cases should always be monitored to
Fig 26 Conditions in a showcase with Limoge Enamels and in the room. assess compliance with the specified
conditions and improvements that need to
historic property can be made easier through a combination of display lighting, occupancy be instigated if the display case fails to
diagnostic monitoring showing that the spaces and solar radiation, all of which together had perform.
Fig 25 Plan of Ranger’s House showing locations of collections. can be mapped as smaller, distinct upset the thermal balance within the building.
environmental zones, comprising: Yet natural ventilation by opening windows is 5 That object lighting needs careful
not an acceptable long-term solution because specification: in particular, internal lighting of
Control strategy: A sustainable control with a radio-telemetry system); number of management and maintenance • the ‘ambient zone’ that staff and visitors of safety, security and pollution risks, and its display cases and glare from natural light on
strategy was developed, based on the • pollution control, using activated charcoal consequences both for the house and for the occupy; adverse affect on the stability of the internal the glass can obscure the displays.
following two measures, taken in this order: cloth; museum exhibits: • the ‘microclimates within display cases’, which environment.
• and lighting that causes a temperature collectively make up the zone occupied by 6 That the heat gain from large amounts of
1 An understanding of the inherent features increase of no more than 5°C per eight hours, 1 The chimney pots above unused fireplaces objects; Future actions to enhance visitor lighting also needs to be considered.
of a historic property that promote using fibre optic cabling and low-voltage should be capped in a manner that enables • and the different faces of the building that enjoyment of Ranger’s House Overheating of cases can seriously affect the
environmental stability: these are given, and tungsten halogen room lamps. ventilation of the stack to continue, while correspond to cardinal directions (for example, Mechanically assisted natural ventilation: The environment within them and this problem
are free.The strategic choice of Ranger’s avoiding the risks of rain wetting the inside of the north-east face is cooler, while the south- fireplaces and chimney flues in Ranger’s House should be addressed at the design stage.
House for the display of The Wernher Achieving and maintaining an the stack, damp penetration, disintegration of west is warmer at Ranger’s House). have already been compared to vertical ducts.
Collection coupled with the selection of the acceptable solution the flue lining and pest infestation. One potential approach is to enhance 7 That the positioning of the cases is another
north-east (or cooler) side of the house for Fundamental to good management is good Alarm-based monitoring: Relative humidity and ventilation, by installing a motorised fan at the important consideration, both within the
the display of organic objects and the south- maintenance, and this is important for a 2 Chimney flues could be re-used as vertical temperature are monitored using a discreet top of the chimney to draw fresh air into the building, and in particular places within the
west (or warmer) side for the display of historic property that is used as a museum ducts.They have the potential, with some wireless telemetric data-logging system, which rooms. On summer nights when the external room (ie avoiding extreme conditions such
inorganic and metallic objects, ensuring that exhibition. A building maintenance mechanical assistance, to bring fresh air into is used widely in English Heritage’s historic air is cooler than daytime temperatures, as direct solar radiation, which can stress the
full use was made of the inherent programme should ensure that regular the house when external conditions are properties.The graph above shows a two- combined RH/temperature sensors installed efficacy of cases).
environmental zones of the property. inspections take place.This is essential if cooler.This can help alleviate any effects of month winter monitoring period of conditions inside and outside can switch the fan on to
acceptable conditions are to be achieved and overheating caused by display lighting and in a room and a case containing Limoges purge the rooms with cooler air. A particle 8 That wireless telemetric data-logging
2 Taking any further actions to enhance maintained. human occupancy. enamels.The yellow box delineates narrow filter can be installed to reduce the ingress of systems are ideal for monitoring conditions in
passive control would mainly involve capital relative humidity control limits of between dust, debris and pests, if a heavier-duty fan is cases and rooms within historic properties.
expenditure. Works were carried out to Sound environmental management decisions At Ranger’s House, heating is provided by a 35% and 42%. RH has been set low enough to feasible. While the feasibility of such a system is
improve the capability of the house to resist must be based on quantitative, semi- system of hot-water radiators located under retard alkali migration from the gel layer, and investigated, suitable mobile cooling units that References
the weather.These included repairs to the quantitative or qualitative evidence and the windows. Heating is managed in an high enough to stop the gel layer from can be securely vented externally have been Thickett, D, David F and Luxford N 2006 ‘Air
roof, chimneys and rainwater goods. data, all of which can be useful in exemplary way with comfort heating to meet dehydrating and cracking. installed. exchange rate; a dominant parameter for
environmental management decision-making. the needs of visitors during the day and showcases’.The Conservator 29, 19–34
English Heritage produced a specification for Quantitative environmental data and close humidistatic control of heating at night, when Ventilation: Ranger’s House had a combination Points to consider Kerschner, P 1992 ‘Practical approach to
the procurement of display cases for the inspection of exhibits are necessary to the primary function of environmental control of draughty fireplaces and windows, which In summary, the following points or steps were environmental requirements for collections in
Wernher Collection.The environmental determine the early sign of deterioration. is preventive conservation for the collections. were initially sealed to prevent the ingress of raised as the Ranger’s House project was historic buildings’. J American Instit Conserv
specification included the following English Heritage advisers value effective and The buffering capacity of the display cases dust, pollution and pests. Overheating during implemented: 31, 65–76
requirements: clear presentation of environmental effectively protects vulnerable objects from the the summer, exacerbated by vented display
monitoring records for diagnostic purposes. variations in the operation of the heating case lighting, meant that the windows had to 1 That naturally occurring zones in buildings Weintraub, S 2002 ‘Demystifying silica gel’.
• that all materials were tested to ensure This enables anyone unfamiliar with a problem system. be unsealed and opened to provide natural can be used to provide environments suited AIC Objects Speciality Group Postprints 9,
that there were no corrosive emissions to grasp its significance quickly and to provide ventilation. When openings are closed but not for sensitive objects. 1–24
(including the coating of wooden elements the appropriate advice. Zoning: The environmental differences that sealed, air infiltration seeped through the
to reduce emissions); naturally occur in different parts of a building cracks and gaps around closed windows and 2 That display cases can provide significant Ryan, J L 1995 The Atmospheric
• provision of humidity control with silica gel Heating and cooling: As in most can be used deliberately in the environmental doors as in an ordinary house. During summer environmental protection for their contents, Deterioration of Glass. University of London,
conditioned to certain material-dependant English Heritage properties, none of the open management of a property. Managing the Ranger’s House could not rely solely on provided that they are carefully designed. Imperial College of Science,Technology and
RH bands (ie silica gel cassettes, monitored fires at Ranger’s House are lit.This has a environment of a museum exhibition in a natural air leakage to reduce overheating from Particular care is required for the selection of Medicine: unpubl PhD dissertation

22 23
Authorship
These guidelines were written by May Cassar,
Centre for Sustainable Heritage, Bartlett
School Of Graduate Studies, University
College London UK ([email protected]).

These guidelines should be cited in

bibliographies and references as follows:
Cassar, M 2009 Environmental Management
Performance Standards: Guidelines for
Historic Buildings. Swindon: English Heritage

Acknowledgements
The production of these guidelines was made
possible by English Heritage. The English
Heritage curators Ann Marie Kemkaren-Smith,
Sarah Lunt, Cathy Power, Caroline Car
Whitworth and Rowena Willard-Right were
generous with their time, data and information
for the case studies.The advice of Roger
Amos, David Drewe, Robert Gowing, Brian
Ridout and David Thickett was instrumental in
the selection of the case study sites and
providing guidance throughout the project.
Their comments on a draft of these guidelines
helped improve them substantially. I am
particularly indebted to David Thicket who
managed the project on behalf of
English Heritage.

English Heritage is the Government’s statutory

advisor on the historic environment. English
Heritage provides expert advice to the
Government about matters relating to the
historic environment and its conservation.

For further information and copies of this

publication, quoting the Product Code,
please contact:

English Heritage
Customer Services Department
PO Box 569
Swindon SN2 2YP
telephone: 0870 333 1181
Front cover (main photograph): Rangers House, Blackheath, London.
e-mail: [email protected]
Micrographs from top to bottom:
i boat bedroom, Brodsworth House, near Doncaster;
ii mould infestation in telephone exchange, Dover Secret Wartime Tunnels;
iii Chiswick House, London.

Back cover: Interior Chapel of St Leonard, Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Somerset.

Published [add month when known] 2009

ISBN: [add number]
Edited and brought to press by David M Jones,
English Heritage Publishing
Designed by Adam Vines for English Heritage
Creative Services
Printed by [to be filled in when known]
Minimum of 75% recovered fibre, the
remainder being from sustainable sources.
Product Code 51489