I'm not personally
familiar with the terms, but assuming you are right and it refers to weave
density, you can test with a light meter. Measure a light source, note the
reading, then place the fabric over the light source and measure again.
The second reading should be 1% of the first. Distance from the light
source to the light meter must be exactly the same for both readings, as
light intensity varies with the square of the distance, so a small
variation can make a big difference. I suggest the sun (clear, no clouds
or haze) since a variation of a few inches or feet is insignificant compared to
the millions of miles to the light source! Using such a fabric for light
control will mean that the intensity has been dropped 99% (1% transmission), but
the transmitted light will still have all of its UV present. However,
I doubt that you will actually use a fabric with a 1% transmission, as the room
will be very dark. I have trouble convincing clients to go even as low as
10% transmission for this reason. You may be better served with UV and
visible light filtering Mylar, but I'm sure you have already considered
this. Good luck!
Marc
American Conservation Consortium,
Ltd.
4 Rockville Road
Broad Brook, CT 06016
www.conservator.com
860-386-6058
*Collections Preservation
Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental
Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management
Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant
Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
Furniture
Painted Wood
Horse-Drawn Vehicles
Architectural Interiors
Marc A. Williams,
President
MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum
Program
Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator,
Smithsonian Institution
Fellow, American Institute
for Conservation (AIC)
I guess this question is directed at conservators and
collections managers on the listserve: I’m searching for Solarveil-type blinds
for our institution. Unfortunately, the manufacturer of Solarveil fabric has
gone out of business. One blind manufacturer I spoke with said I can get the
same effect (allowing some visible light in, but blocking most UV light) by
using any material with “1% openness”. My questions are: Is this accurate? And
assuming it’s a description of weave density, how the heck do I gauge
“openness? Is there another manufacturer of solarveil-type fabric that I
should be contacting?
Thanks,
--suzanne Buchanan
Suzanne
Buchanan, Director
Hingham
Historical Society
P.O.
Box 434
Hingham,
MA 02043
Phone:
781-749-7721
Fax:
781-749-0091
http://www.hinghamhistorical.org/
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