In the world of fine art storage, preserving the appropriate environmental conditions is essential for protecting valuable artworks. High humidity levels can threaten the very integrity of artworks, causing materials like canvas, wood, and paper to expand and contract, leading to potential damage such as canvas warping and paint flaking.
Why are Humidity Levels Vital for Artwork?
Managing humidity is critical in fine art storage for several reasons:
- Mould Prevention: High humidity levels can lead to mould growth, which is detrimental to artworks and can compromise their condition and value.
- Material Preservation: Fluctuating humidity affects the materials involved in fine art, risking damages such as warping and flaking. Maintaining humidity levels at around 50% RH with a permissible swing of +/- 10% is crucial for preserving the integrity of canvases and paper.
Read more about material preservation here: Dry-air solutions for museums, archives and libraries
- Consistent Climate Control: By combining both humidifiers and dehumidifiers, a stable climate can be achieved year-round. This ensures that the artworks are shielded from environmental threats, allowing collectors and galleries to have peace of mind regarding their valuable assets.
Case Story: Humidity Control in Air Sea Packing
Air Sea Packing, an international shipping and logistics company - located just outside Oxford - known for its white-glove service — specialised, high-care handling of valuable or delicate items, faced a pressing humidity control issue when transforming a warehouse office into a fine art storage facility. Controlling humidity was crucial, especially given the various factors that can cause fluctuations, including building structure, weather changes, and frequent air changes from people entering the store.
The storage area, measuring 27m x 6m x 2.7m, faced challenges due to an existing fresh air system that introduced 800m³/h of air, which caused humidity spikes and necessitated precise climate control measures.
Following an assessment by a humidity control expert from Cotes’ partner, Humidity Solutions, it became evident that the storage space required a tailored solution involving both a dehumidifier and a humidifier due to seasonal humidity fluctuations. An additional challenge emerged when it became evident that the suggested units wouldn't fit in the closest plant room, necessitating an alternative solution.
The proposed solution involved relocating equipment outside the storage room, making use of ductwork to deliver conditioned air while allowing maintenance access without risking damage to the items. At the same time, a Cotes C35 4.5 PLC dehumidifier would tackle high humidity levels during the summer months, achieving the desired humidity control necessary for art preservation - humidity of 50% RH with a swing of +/- 10% RH, within a temperature range of 17-22°C. Additionally, a humidifier would ensure adequate moisture during colder months.
Humidifier and dehumidifier in Air Sea Packing’s plant room
To address the issue of fitting the units in the nearest plant room, it was proposed to relocate them to a larger plant room, which had sufficient space to accommodate both units. Ductwork to transport the wet/dry air from the plant room into the art storage area was also installed.
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Close up of the newly installed galvanised steel ductwork in Air Sea Packing’s art storage room |
Air Sea Packing’s art storage room with new ductwork |
The Best Dehumidifier for Fine Art Storage
The Cotes C35 4.5 PLC dehumidifier exemplifies the technology needed to maintain the perfect environment for fine art. By managing to handle high humidity levels effectively, it fosters a safe space for art storage while ensuring longevity and quality of artwork. Air Sea Packing can now maintain precise temperature and humidity levels, demonstrating that cutting-edge technology in climate management is essential for the preservation of specialised items.
Cotes C35 unit
Designed to handle high demands, Cotes dehumidifiers are known for their robust construction and reliability, making them ideal for environments where maintaining strict humidity levels is non-negotiable, such as fine art storage facilities. This particular model also proves to be energy-efficient, which, after thorough market analysis against competitors, revealed significant annual savings of approximately £2.000 for Air Sea Packing, if the dehumidifier is working for 12h/day. The chosen solutions not only ensure safety and quality for the art but also highlight the long-term financial sensibility of investing in effective humidity management systems.
Do you have issues with humidity?
If you would like to determine whether you need for a dry-air solution in your production or if you would like to explore what a custom dry-air strategy could do for your business, please reach out to one of our trusted partners near you.
