Environmental control and monitoring

Lancashire Archives aims to provide environmental conditions which conform with BS 4971:2017 Conservation and care of archive and library collections and BS EN 16893:2018 Conservation of Cultural Heritage – Specifications for the location, construction and modification of buildings and rooms intended for the storage or use of cultural heritage collections.

5.1 Air-conditioning systems, replaced in 2011, operate in both buildings. Lancashire County Council's Facilities Management Service maintains the plant and undertakes remote monitoring of temperature and relative humidity in the each of the eight archive strongrooms and the public areas.

5.2 Archive conservators also use electronic thermohygrograph data loggers programmed to capture environmental monitoring data every 30 minutes. We check these readings daily and analyse them monthly. Key archive staff receive emailed alerts if readings fall outside desired parameters.

5.3 Detailed investigation is made and corrective action taken if readings make a significant excursion outside the desired parameters of 35%-55% RH (relative humidity) and 14°C-20°C.

5.4. In order to reduce the risk of UV and light damage the archive storage areas have no windows. Energy-efficient artificial lighting has automatic emergency mechanisms and the fluorescent tubes are protected by diffusers. Windows in public and staff working areas are fitted with vertical blinds. An automatic presence-detection system controls the strongroom lighting and minimises light exposure for the collections.

5.5 Lancashire Archives recognises the importance of a safe clean environment in the storage areas and the value of good housekeeping in collections care. All strongrooms are cleaned regularly, on a cyclical rota, and are inspected by the archive conservators as part of the routine monitoring of these areas. This is undertaken at least twice each week.

5.6 Pest monitoring is conducted by the placement of sticky insect blunder traps within strongrooms and storage areas. These are checked and analysed monthly so that any pest discovery can be identified, the risk to collections assessed, and appropriate corrective action taken.

5.7 At Lancashire Archives collections care is the responsibility of every member of staff. Wherever possible we survey and treat potential new accessions at source to minimise the risk of infestation and of carrying and transporting contaminated material.

5.8 New accessions are stored in the Loading Bay where we inspect and assess them for further action. We clean all dirty items and rehouse them in archival packaging materials. If we discover mould or pest activity we isolate the item or collection, and the conservation team undertakes appropriate cleaning or treatment.