Preservation (Articles, Documents, Film)
Munters dehumidifiers are used worldwide to protect film, tapes, documents, books, and artefacts in archives, museums, and libraries.
Munters dehumidifiers are used worldwide to protect film, tapes, documents, books, and artefacts in archives, museums, and libraries. Temperature and pollutants are important factors in preserving documents. In general the humidity and temperature have to be as stable as possible and pollutants should be kept to a minimum. In some cases entire museums or libraries are climate controlled with Munters systems. A benefit of using a Munters system is that it minimises energy consumption.
Galleries, Museums and Libraries are public places requiring ventilation air that carries a low moisture load. For these types of buildings a desiccant dehumidifier treating the load at its source (i.e. fresh air before it enters the building) is most suitable. Archives have less public access and therefore less ventilation meaning that treating the return air is more appropriate.
Using dehumidification has the following advantages:
Once moisture damage, bacterial growth, corrosion etc. occurs, most artefacts never return to their former condition. With the rising investment for acquisition, maintenance and restoration of collectibles, Munters dehumidification prevents damage in the first place or arrests its onset.
The level of Relative Humidity (RH) in the air within a display or storage environment is critical to objects perishing or corroding.
Materials such as paper, textiles and wood absorb moisture and create an environment for bacterial, mould and fungal growth. By removing the moisture from the environment using Munters dehumidifiers, the damaging effects are eliminated.
Archives
The long term storage of paper and film records is perfectly preserved with Munters desiccant dehumidification. Old flammable nitrate film shrinks and decomposes with age. Humidity is a key factor affecting acetate film degeneration. The optimum conditions are 45-60% Relative Humidity at 16-19oC if the safety of stored records is to be guaranteed.
Glass and Ceramics
The maintenance of precise Relative Humidity levels is essential if 16th and 17th century Venetian glass is to be displayed and stored. When the Relative Humidity is inappropriate, ‘weeping or crazing’ occurs. Glass and ceramic objects are best protected in a Relative Humidity between 40% and 60%.
Metals
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys corrode rapidly in the presence of water vapour and the rate of corrosion is further accelerated by natural or industrial pollutants in the air. Moisture is a powerful driving force for the corrosion of metals and rises significantly over 60% RH. Bronze, can develop the phenomenon known as ‘Bronze Disease’, and metal which is already severely corroded may require the maintenance of a Relative Humidity below 40%.
Munters desiccant dehumidifiers absorb the moisture in the air onto a desiccant wheel, whilst the dry air is directed to the display or artefacts storage facility. The desiccant dehumidifier can operate efficiently even at very low temperatures and still maintain the desired humidity conditions, and is far more energy efficient than heating.
Our comprehensive range of dehumidifiers perfectly meet restrictive space and low noise requirements.
