part 1 - Iccrom

MEASURING HERITAGE CONSERVATION PERFORMANCE
6th International Seminar on Urban Conservation
The diagnostic exercise of the conservation of the
collection indicated that the conservation problems
identified may be related to inadequate protection
from conditions of humidity, temperature, light
radiation and pollutants, confirming the information
collected by environmental monitoring. The
diagnostic exercise performed in the museum collection
showed that the exhibition rooms are under
suitable conditions. By the decision of the curators
of the exhibition, the documents exhibited in these
rooms are facsimiles, ensuring the preservation of
the originals. Artificial light is controlled and natural
light, coming through the windows, is filtered
through curtains of special fabric that blocks ultraviolet
radiation.
The assessment proposed in the larger research
project is still in development, and the predicted
time for the conclusion of the work is the first
semester of 2011. As the expected results, we can
highlight the identification of the causes of deterioration
of buildings and collection, and the determination
of environmental control guidelines for
the areas that house the collections. As secondary
results, the research will contribute to a reduction in
need for restoration interventions in buildings and
collections; to the improvement in team actions in
the maintenance staff, and to the development of
applied scientific research, promoting knowledge
exchange between other institutions that deal with
this issue.
The conservation assessment is an important tool
not only for the definition of conservation strategies,
but also for monitoring the effectiveness of
those actions. Through this type of assessment,
which must be periodically updated, it is possible
to set a concrete picture of the situation and to establish
conservation plans that will allow preventive
actions that are sustainable in the long run.
Cassar, May. 2006. Interdiscipinarity in preventive
conservation. UCL, London. (Available at: http: //
www.ucl.ac.United Kingdom/sustainableheritage/
interdisciplinarity.pdf).
Dardes, K., ed. 1998. The conservation assessment: a
proposed model for evaluating museum environmental
management needs. The Getty Conservation
Institute, Los Angeles.
Dardes, K. & J. Druzik. 2000. Managing
the environment: an update on preventive
conservation. The Getty Conservation Institute
Newsletter 2(15): 4-9.
Guichen, G. de. 1999. Preventive conservation:
a mere fad or far-reaching change? Museum
International 201(51): 4-6.
Putt, Neal & Slade, Sarah. 2003. Teamwork for
Preventive Conservation. ICCROM, Roma.
(Available at: http: //www.iccrom.org/
eng/02info_en/02_04pdf-pubs_en/ICCROM_
doc01_ Teamwork.pdf).
SPRECOMAH. Guidelines SPRECOMAH 2007-
2008. 2008. (Available at: http: //www.sprecomah.
eu/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=art
icle&id=63&Itemid=77).
Endnotes
1
Architectural style developed in the context of Islamic art
from the second half of the 11th century to the end of the 15 th .
The architectural complex of the Alhambra, built in Granada
(Spain) between 1238 and 1492 is the most significant example
of Moorish architecture. The Alhambra palace served as citadel
and fortress, as well as the residence of sultans, senior officials,
servants of the court and elite soldiers.
References
Association for Preservation Technology. 1992.
New Orleans Charter for joint preservation of historic
structures and artifacts. (Available at: http: //www.
apti.org/resources/charters1.cfm).
Cassar, May. 1995. Environmental Management:
guidelines for museums and galleries. Routledge,
London.
Teixeira Coelho, A. M. & .C. S. Rodrigues de Carvalho. 2012. The conservation assessment as a tool for cultural heritage identification,
monitoring, and evaluation. In Zancheti, S. M. & K. Similä, eds. Measuring heritage conservation performance, pp. 82-89. Rome, ICCROM.
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