Pamela,
Fred is absolutely right. Raising the temperature, according to the
laws of physics should actually reduce RH, however, it seems that there
is so much humidity entering the building, that you are relying on the
cooling system running constantly as a dehumidifier. In this case,
allowing the temperature to rise by running the A/C system less, will
result in the problem you describe.
You should try to get to to the reason for having so much moisture in
the building. I've checked out the facility on the web, it looks like a
well built three-story brownstone of a certain age. There may be leak
problems with the roof, windows and/or sashes, insulation or vapor
barrier in the outside walls and/or attic, ground water between the
walls rising from the basement, or condensation on cold water pipes
between the walls. If you can find the problem, fixing it will bring
immediate relief. You might play detective and place hygrometers in
different areas and see where is the problem most serious.
Until you can find a fix, you might try a couple of things:
1. When looking at the photo of the Honorial Wall, it seems that there
may be some electric baseboard heaters under the names. If you have a
method of heating the space while continuing to run the A/C system, you
will have at least a temporary solution.
2. If the heating system is part of the A/C system (central system)
then you might try some radiant heaters. They could be temporarily
installed portables (risky!), under-floor, over ceiling or baseboard
units. To save electricity, they could be motion activated by visitors,
since radiant heat doesn't heat the space, but like light, illuminates
surfaces it shines on; the visitors will instantly sense the heat.
3. Try installing de-humifying equipment that will collect the
humidity an generate some heat, since both of the coils are in the same
unit. You can rent these units from disaster recovery firms and others.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question76.htm
Using dehumifiers will permit you to run the HVAC system independently,
to regulate the temperature only, as it was intended.
4. There are also some chemical solutions to reduce humidity levels,
but I feel they would be impractical for an entire museum building
unless it's an emergency.
Hope this helps on some level, good luck and don't worry about the
signs. Uncomfortable visitors won't be more unserstanding and will
continue to complain no matter how good the signs are.
Best,
George Schwartz
[log in to unmask]
================================================
--- Fred Greene <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Pamela, I.N. is correct in suggesting that colder temperatures will
> reduce insect activity and the signage ideas (B. Hole and I.N.) are
> great. But, if the quantity of water vapour in a volume of air (case,
>
> room, building) does not change: when the temperature increases, the
> RH
> decreases. Inversely when temperature decreases, the RH increases (G.
> de
> Guichen, Climate in Museums, ICCROM, 1980). The amount of change you
> are
> considering (3 degrees F) is minimal but raising the temperature in
> your
> exhibition space would actually lower the RH. Fred
>
> Indigo Nights wrote:
>
> >How about a picture of a bug. Drawing, not photo.
> >The caption reads. "It's So Cold in Here, They're
> >Gonna Kill Me!"? Then simple words to explain/educate
> >that varmints will procreate and destroy the artifacts
> >if the building were warmer.
> >
> >
> >
> >--- Robert B Hole Jr <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Pamela,
> >>
> >>IMHuO, don't apologize - just explain. I read an
> >>implicit apology in
> >>acknowledging the temperature. Perhaps too, bring in
> >>other factors
> >>effecting the collections. For instance:
> >>
> >>"Climate in the exhibition galleries is carefully
> >>controlled to better
> >>preserve our collections. Temperature, humidity,
> >>light and air circulation
> >>must all be controlled and balanced to ensure the
> >>artifacts and documents
> >>can be studied and enjoyed by future generations."
> >>
> >>This might even be a good opportunity for education
> >>on conservation issues
> >>- a small exhibit, even just photographs as part of
> >>a "larger" sign, of,
> >>say, crispy or moldy paper, rusted objects, faded
> >>fabrics, whatever best
> >>suits your display collection.
> >>
> >>Also, your temp settings are considered very fuel
> >>efficient in winter so
> >>you might have winter and summer signage.
> >>
> >>Just two cents,
> >>
> >>Bob
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>At 11:05 AM 5/17/2005, you wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Visitors sometimes complain about the temperature
> >>>
> >>>
> >>in our exhibition spaces
> >>
> >>
> >>>being too cold (I keep it around 69-70 degrees).
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Because we do not have a
> >>
> >>
> >>>dehumidification system in our galleries the AC is
> >>>
> >>>
> >>what I have to rely on
> >>
> >>
> >>>to pull moisture out of the air. If I raise the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>temperature to 72 it will
> >>
> >>
> >>>also raise the RH, which is already a bit too high
> >>>
> >>>
> >>for my liking. I would
> >>
> >>
> >>>like to put up a sign in our exhibition areas to
> >>>
> >>>
> >>let visitors know why the
> >>
> >>
> >>>temperature is the way it is, but I don't know
> >>>
> >>>
> >>exactly how to word it. I
> >>
> >>
> >>>was thinking of something simple along the lines
> >>>
> >>>
> >>of, "the climate in the
> >>
> >>
> >>>exhibition galleries has been set to better
> >>>
> >>>
> >>preserve our collections for
> >>
> >>
> >>>future visitors. We apologize for any
> >>>
> >>>
> >>discomfort...."
> >>
> >>
> >>>I was wondering if anyone else had this problem
> >>>
> >>>
> >>and/or had
> >>
> >>
> >>>suggestions. Thanks in advance!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Pamela Elbe
> >>>Collections Manager and Archivist
> >>>National Museum of American Jewish Military History
> >>>1811 R St. NW, Washington DC 20009
> >>>p: 202.265.6280 x201
> >>>f: 202.462.3192
> >>><http://www.nmajmh.org/>http://www.nmajmh.org
> >>>
> >>>Don't miss our new exhibition, Reconnaissance and
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Recollection: Military
> >>
> >>
> >>>and Civilian Photographs from World War IIthe
> >>>
> >>>
> >>photographs of Sy Weinstein.
> >>
> >>
> >>Robert B Hole Jr
> >>[log in to unmask]
> >>Exhibit Supervisor
> >>Lindsay Wildlife Museum
> >>1931 First Ave
> >>Walnut Creek, CA 94597
> >>www.wildlife-museum.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >=========================================================
> >
> >
> >>Important Subscriber Information:
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >Indigo Nights
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >=========================================================
> >Important Subscriber Information:
> >
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>
> --
>
> Fred Greene
>
> Administrative Manager
>
> University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
>
> 4401 University Drive
>
> Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4
>
> Tel: (403) 329 2569
>
> Fax: (403) 382 7115
>
> http//www.uleth.ca/ff.gal/
>
>
>
>
> =========================================================
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>
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>
George Schwartz
ConservArt - Master Frame Makers and Art Conservators
http://www.ConservArt.com
8177 Glades Road #16 - Boca Raton, FL 33434 U.S.A.
Tel:(561)482-7292 - Fax:(561)482-6787
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