Preservation
Humidity control for preservation and storage
Museums, warehouses, archives and other storage areas must maintain humidity at levels suitable for preserving valuable products and artifacts, while also keeping energy costs in check. Munters dehumidification solutions can control humidity in storage areas 24/7, protecting these items from moisture damage.
Once moisture damage occurs, restoring artifacts and valuable products to their former condition is difficult, if not impossible. Heat is a common method for trying to control damage from high relative humidity. But temperature itself has no impact on the quality of materials (except for some liquids). Depending on outdoor conditions, the relative humidity in a heated building will fluctuate between 20-70%, making this method costly and ineffective. Preserving valuable items using a dehumidifier controls the relative humidity, keeping it constant throughout the year – irrespective of the conditions outside. Moreover, minimizing the use of heat helps protect the stored materials. Using dehumidifiers instead of heaters to control humidity levels results in energy savings between 30-70%.
Munters solutions:
- Consistent indoor climate control year-round
- Preservation of artifacts and goods
- Mold, bacterial and corrosion control
- Reduced indoor air pollutants
- Good indoor air quality
- Low energy cost
Preservation of artifacts
Munters dehumidification solutions safeguard important objects in archives, museums, libraries, collections care, and other facilities, by creating and maintaining a controlled storage climate year-round. To prevent moisture damage, control humidity levels wherever objects made of paper, cotton, wood, leather, metal, film, or other sensitive materials are stored.
Other materials can warp and shrink when stored in an environment that is too dry. Without adequate moisture, certain museum artifacts can become brittle and damaged. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the proper environmental conditions to keep moisture-sensitive products at their best. Munters offers a wide range of humidifiers and other products to create a perfect climate for storage areas, which can be integrated into air handling systems or installed as standalone units.
Recommendations for humidity levels for different materials:
- Acetate film: 35°F [1°C], 30-40% RH
- Nitrate based film: 36°F [2°C], 20-30% RH
- Paper: 65-70°F [18-21°C], 30-50% RH
- Unstable materials may require more stringent storage conditions.
Warehouse dehumidification
Excessive moisture also causes problems with mold, mildew, rust, corrosion, rot and insect infestation, resulting in costly and disruptive damage to many commonly stored goods such as metals, powder, food, electronics and clothing, not to mention the equipment in the storage facility itself. Warehouse temperature and humidity monitoring is required. A Munters storage dehumidifier moves moisture-laden air outside or condenses the moisture into liquid water, ensuring stored goods remain in optimum condition.
Contact Munters to enquire about our range of products designed for energy-efficient preservation.
“Reliability is key. We opted for a direct replacement and didn’t even consider using anyone else. This is our most critical storage area, and we need a system we can trust. We know we can rely on Munters.”
Stuart Walpole, Process Manager
Floranova