[NHCOLL-L:976] Re: Environmental standards for spirit collections, what is being achieved ??

[John E. Simmons]

> I'd like to ask those who have a spare minute if they could answer the
> following questions about the spirit collections

The answers to these questions are not easy and are, at present, based on
experience rather than experimentation (as is much of what we do with natural
history collections).  Also, you need to realize that the Uniform Fire Code
(which we use in the US, and I presume other such codes will be similar) does
not address a situation similar to the storage of preserved museum collections.
The code addresses storage of bulk quantities of 95% ethyl alcohol, and the
storage of retail liquor which runs around 5-15% ETOH).  Containers of 70% ETOH
fall in between, so you will have to try to educate your local fire safety
officials as to what you have so they can help you determine what a safe storage
environment is.

>  1. What their institutional spirit collection environmental standards are?
> (e.g. temp., Rel. Humidity, light, others?)

Lower temperatures mean a lower flash point, so the fire safety people wanted us
to drop the temperature to 55 or 60F.  We had several problems with that,
including (1) that specimens would warm up every time you removed them from
storage; (2) that its expensive to maintain; and (3) that below 65 the
preservative turned milky, presumably from formation of paraformaldehyde from
the trace amounts of formalin in the ETOH or the coagulation of lipids and
proteins in the ETOH.  We compromised at 65F, which lowers flash point but does
not cause other problems.  The key thing on temperature is to avoid
fluctuations, which cause rapid failure of container seals.

Low relative humidity will dry out container seals faster, high RH will allow
for growth of mold and bacteria on the containers.  Low RH probably encourages
evaporation, though no one has experimented to determine how big of a factor
this is.  For the sake of the containers and shelving materials as well as seals
and closures, I would recommend 30-50% RH.

Low range UV will penetrate glass, fluid preserved specimens are prone to photo
oxidation, so I recommend keeping the specimens in the DARK as much as possible
and shielding all light sources for UV.

Remove all ignition sources possible, so non-sparking switches, keep wall plugs
1 m above the floor (alcohol fumes accumulate at floor level), no use of
electrical devices in the storage area, and so forth.

> 2. What control / monitoring systems do they have in place to in their
> spirit collections (e.g. dataloggers, air conditioning/cooling units, u/v
> filters, etc.)??

We have a large, four-story purpose build facility for fluid preserved
collections.  It has 100% air makeup (no reciruclation, to prevent fume build
up).  Because of poor design, we have experienced excessively high RH much of
the year to the extent that we have terrible mold growth problems in the
facility and rust on our stainless steel shelving.  Poorly designed filters have
allowed a phenomenal amount of dust and dirt to come in the system, as the air
pours in 24 hours a day.  If you must do a 100% air make-up system, insist on an
HVAC engineer who is experienced with these systems (they are common in
industry, just not in museums).

Feel free to contact me off-list if I can be of any further assistance.

--John

John E. Simmons
Collection Manager, Natural History Museum
and
Coordinator, Historical Administration and Museum Studies Program
University of Kansas
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7561
Telephone 785-864-4508
FAX 785-864-5335
jsimmons at ukans.edu