Interfaces and conflicts between environmental human comfort and preventive conservation in buildings housing collections

Abstract

This paper discusses interfaces and potential conflicts between human environmental comfort and preventive conservation, in buildings housing collections. Environmental management guidelines for preventive conservation of collections containing wooden artifacts (in terms of temperature and relative humidity ranges) are compared with the human environmental comfort zone proposed by Givoni. As a case study, environmental monitoring results held between 2011 and 2012 in the Chapel of the Supper of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas – MG are shown. Performance indices for studied environmental security zones were derived from the monitored data. The comparison shows that the environmental control parameters aiming conservation of collections are more restrictive than those related to human environmental comfort.