[Nhcoll-l] optimal temperature

[Simon Moore]

Hi Marcela,

Some obervations on your request and answers thus far.
Most of our museums in the UK opt for about 12-15 deg C for fluid collections, which is safely below flash point for the various alcohols but not so uncomfortably cold for persons in the collection that they need to wear extra garments after 20 minutes.  You also have to consider the RH ratio relating to temperature as well as high humidity (up to 60%) which will reduce alcohol evaporation but is still just low enough to prevent fungus from growing on labels that might be on the outside of the jars (they should be inside the jars and against the glass). 
I might also add that even on a really hot day for the UK and the temperature in the store can creep up to 20 deg. C if not air-conditioned, then the actual risk of explosion due to alcohol fumes is still so low that, as far as I know, no-one has ever reported such an incident.  Mostly the temp. is reduced to keep the Health & Safety regulators happy.

For skeletons the risk of fungal growth starts at around 60% RH but lower than 45% can lead to cranial sutures starting to open up.  15-20 deg C is fine for them. 

Hope that this helps.

With all good wishes, Simon 

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com 



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marcela Cosarinsky 
  To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 4:12 PM
  Subject: [Nhcoll-l] optimal temperature


                                Hi All,
                                What temperature would you recommend for the best conservation of biological collections kept in liquids (alcohol, formalin), squeletons and embalmed animals? 


                                Many thanks, Marcela


                                Marcela Cosarinsky (Curator)
                                Sala de Colecciones - Departamento de Biodiversidad y biología Experimental
                                Facultad de Cs. Exactas y Naturales
                                Universidad de Buenos Aires
                                Argentina
                                email: marce_irene at yahoo.com.ar 
                               
                         
                   
             
       



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