Aside from durability and aesthetic issues you might want to pay
attention to the potential for off-gassing.  The danger caused by
off-gassing will depend, in part, on your collection.  Carpets,
particularly those, with rubber backings will emit formaldehyde and
organic acids that can adversely affect materials such as metal,
shell and certain pigments in paintings.  You should look at the
fabrication of both the pile and the backing.  There are websites
that identify manufacturers that make low voc-emitting carpets that I
have found helpful in the past.  Feel free to contact me off-list if
you have further questions.

Rachael Perkins Arenstein
Assistant Conservator
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University
11 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138
Tel: (617) 495-2487
Fax: (617) 495-7535
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Date:    Tue, 22 May 2001 15:33:04 -0500
From:    Dave Morgan <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: carpet on the floor

Dear List,  I know this is a topic discussed in the past and I have
looked through the archives on this list and the Cons DistList.  I am
wondering if there are any new experiences, ideas, or research regarding
the use of carpet (on the floor) in exhibit spaces.  Our exhibit
design/construction firm is pretty much insisting on using it mostly
because of budget concerns.  Our admin mostly agrees.  Are there any
overiding concerns I need to bring to the table?  Once again, thanks for
the input.

D. Morgan, Curator of Collections

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