Environmental Control

Definition

Environmental control refers to the ability to manage and manipulate the physical, chemical, and biological factors that make up an organism's surroundings. It is a crucial concept in the context of collections, as it involves the strategies and techniques used to maintain the integrity and preservation of artifacts, specimens, and other valuable materials within a collection.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Proper environmental control is essential for the long-term preservation of collection items, as it helps mitigate the effects of factors like temperature, humidity, light, and air quality.
2. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause physical and chemical changes in materials, leading to damage such as warping, cracking, or fading.
3. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a key component of environmental control, as it helps prevent and manage infestations that can compromise the integrity of collection items.
4. Preventive conservation strategies, including environmental control, are often more cost-effective and efficient than reactive measures, such as conservation treatment or restoration.
5. The specific environmental control requirements for a collection may vary depending on the nature of the materials, the intended use of the collection, and the resources available to the institution.

Review Questions

• Explain the importance of environmental control in the context of collections management.
  • Environmental control is crucial in collections management because it helps maintain the physical integrity and preservation of artifacts, specimens, and other valuable materials. By regulating factors like temperature, humidity, light, and air quality, institutions can mitigate the risk of damage or deterioration to their collections. This proactive approach is often more cost-effective and efficient than reactive conservation measures, making environmental control a fundamental aspect of preventive conservation strategies.
• Describe the key components of an effective environmental control system for a collection.
  • An effective environmental control system for a collection typically includes the following key components: 1) Climate control, which involves the regulation of temperature and humidity levels to create optimal storage conditions; 2) Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a holistic approach to preventing and managing pests that can compromise the integrity of collection items; and 3) Preventive conservation measures, such as the implementation of strategies to minimize the risk of damage or deterioration to the collection. The specific environmental control requirements may vary depending on the nature of the materials in the collection and the resources available to the institution.
• Analyze the potential consequences of failing to maintain proper environmental control in a collection.
  • Failing to maintain proper environmental control in a collection can have severe consequences, leading to the deterioration and potential loss of valuable artifacts, specimens, and other materials. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause physical and chemical changes in collection items, resulting in damage such as warping, cracking, or fading. Additionally, the lack of effective pest management can lead to infestations that can further compromise the integrity of the collection. The failure to implement preventive conservation strategies can ultimately result in the need for costly conservation treatments or, in the worst-case scenario, the irreversible damage or destruction of the collection. Proper environmental control is, therefore, a critical aspect of collections management to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of the materials entrusted to the institution.

Related terms

Climate Control: The regulation of temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors to create optimal conditions for the storage and preservation of collection items.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A holistic approach to preventing and managing pests in a collection, using a combination of physical, biological, and chemical methods.

Preventive Conservation:

The practice of implementing measures to minimize the risk of damage or deterioration to collection items, often through environmental control and other proactive strategies.