Storage & Preservation – Dehumidification & Moisture Removal
When storage of any materials is needed, consider how susceptible to moisture they are to temperature.
We are responsible for preserving art, antiques and delicate collections in a range of museums, historic buildings and libraries.
The storage of items, such as classic cars and possessions stored within self-storage facilities are also at risk from uncontrolled humidity.
Some of the issues that we have come across with items/objects that are being stored and preserved include:
- Corrosion and rust
- Mildew & Mould
- Damage to car interiors
- Storage / Cardboard boxes collapsing
- Leather book bindings drying out and cracking
- Degradation of photographs and documents
- High costs and energy wastage
Heating is often used to control Relative Humidity (RH) in a given environment, but this method is ineffective and costly. The energy-saving when using dehumidification compared to heating is approximately 60%.
If the RH is kept below 80%, mould will be avoided, and below 45-50%, steel will not corrode.
We are privileged to be entrusted with maintaining humidity control in several museums and National Trust properties, where costumes, photographs, books, delicate upholstery and other artefacts all need to be protected. Our specialist equipment ensures that the RH is kept to the desired level, safeguarding the longevity of these types of objects.
For the protection of classic cars, a storage condition of 50%RH will keep the vehicles in the best possible condition. Maintaining this relative humidity all year round will keep corrosion at bay, avoid mould build-up, and the moisture is not too low to adversely affect leather and veneered dashboards. We have an extensive classic cars client list, ranging from commercial vehicle storage to individual collectors.
A considerable number of commercial storage organisations have our equipment installed to protect items stored by members of the public. By controlling the humidity in these facilities, mould, mildew, and corrosion incidence are dramatically reduced. In addition, cardboard storage boxes retain their rigidity and structural integrity if they are prevented from getting damp
