Museum temperature and humidity monitoring

Document, Archives and Artifact Conservation

Control and constant monitoring of temperature and relative humidity levels are critical in the preservation of museum collections. If proper environmental levels are not maintained, expensive artifacts can deteriorate at significantly greater rates.

Chart recorders and hygrothermographs are the most common instruments used to monitor various areas and displays within a museum environment but this is rapidly changing. With the advent of newer, more powerful, and more convenient digital alternatives, data loggers are fast becoming the instrument of choice.

Challenge

A challenge in museum monitoring applications is how to use and manage all the recorded temperature and humidity data obtained from a number of important locations throughout the museum. With chart recorders, a major challenge is the staff commitment required to regularly change charts, check pens, and calibrate the units.

Another challenge is getting accurate data from locations that do not lend themselves to being monitored by a large chart recorder.

Solution

Important factors in using Veriteq SP-2000 temperature and humidity data loggers for museum monitoring applications include:

• Exceptionally small size allowing the units to fit unobtrusively in sealed display cases
• 10 year battery operation allowing placement of loggers in areas where no power source is available
• Large memory capability allowing users to minimize downloading times
• High accuracy temperature (to 0.10°C) and relative humidity (to +/-1%RH)
• Can communicate recorded information (for monitoring, alarming, and downloading) automatically over existing computer networks

Veriteq's Museum Customers

Veriteq data loggers are used in museums and archival collections around the globe.

In Tokyo, a major museum uses Veriteq SP-2000 temperature and relative humidity data loggers to continuously monitor conditions inside museum display cases. The museum uses the loggers complete with Veriteq's Palm software and infrared interface solution to allow easy wireless display and downloading of data, right through glass display cases. This eliminates the need to open up cases in order to obtain data and makes "walk-around" monitoring and collection of data easier and more efficient.

A US military museum in North Carolina uses Veriteq SP-2000 data loggers to monitor selected areas throughout its premises. The data loggers provide an effective way to track conditions inside various displays without requiring the constant maintenance and supervision associated with chart recorders.

For more information on how Veriteq solutions can protect your important archives and collections, please contact us.