Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 39. (1986)
Archive Buildings and the Conservation of Archival Material. An Expert Meeting, held in Vienna, Austria October 30 - November 1, 1985 - STEWART, William J.: Summary of Discussions
Summary of Discussions 271 Duchein: I would like to hear from our colleagues about their experiences with air conditioning, air control, and ventilation because I am convinced many of us have similar concerns. Eken: Our experience with underground stacks in Norway has been positive. We maintain the required temperature and humidity levels without difficulty. Air space between the rock cover which surrounds the outer walls helps impede heat loss, thus it is not so costly to warm the underground areas. We also have a cooling room for microfilm storage where acceptable temperature and humidity levels are maintained without difficulty. The air handling system is electrically operated. All air taken into the system passes through a series of filters. Approximately 90 percent of that air is recirculated. All stack areas maintain temperature of 20 C and 50 to 55 percent relative humidity. A special stack for holding microfilm originals is kept at 10 C and 25 percent humidity. There is a backup power supply. There are no fire hose stations in the stacks, alarms go direct to the fire brigade. Ms Nor: Malaysia’s experience may be worth recounting. One of the two chillers of the air handling unit collapsed within the first year of operation. As a result, air conditioning in the stacks was reduced to 12 hours of every 24 hour cycle so as not to overburden the one functioning chiller. While this necessary reduction caused concern, continuing examination of archival materials failed to reveal any sign of infestation or fungus. The manufacturer at first insisted on full price for a replacement chiller but I refused on the grounds it was defective, having failed after only one year’s operation. This had not been our fault. There had been a sudden power outage and thereafter the chiller failed to respond. After much negotiation, we managed to reduce the cost to one quarter. The other point I wish to bring up concerns the flow of fresh air. It was found in the laboratory area of the Malaysian National Archives building that the flow of air was severely erratic. Staff remaining in the laboratory for long periods became uncomfortable, complaining of headaches and giddiness. They would constantly need to leave the area and go outside for fresh air. You must provide for proper venting in workshop areas. Duchein:I am glad to comment on the experience of Kuala Lumpur. It is one of my favorite topics — you have read it in my books and articles — that, if possible, we should always have natural openings in our buildings. In France I refuse to have repositories without windows, because even if the air-conditioning system and artificial ventilation works well it can break down. Then we are only too happy to open the windows and let in fresh air. Of course this is possible in mild climates. It would not be so if the outside humidity is 90 percent but in my own country external temperature is about 18-20 C and external humidity very often about 50 percent. It is a matter of common sense - and you just told us about the employees in your workshop — that outside air is more healthful. People in sealed buildings complain all the time about headaches, cold, coughing spells, and other problems of this nature.
