part 1 - Iccrom

MEASURING HERITAGE CONSERVATION PERFORMANCE
6th International Seminar on Urban Conservation
Figure 5. Temperature and Relative Humidity graphics of Entomological Collection – room and drawer (Source:
Departamento de Patrimônio Histórico/COC/Fiocruz).
Regarding the Entomological Collection, monitoring
data collected in the room indicates high levels
of relative humidity and temperature (sometimes
exceeding 75% RH and 30°C), though the environment
does not possess any type of mechanical climate
control system. The analysis of data collected
in the drawers of the collection, however, indicate
that the entomological drawers and the sliding file
sealing system had been functioning as barriers to
the conditions identified in the room, ensuring a
more stable micro-environment with reduced values
in relation to RH and temperature (Figure 5).
To complement the survey data related to temperature
and relative humidity, data for rainfall and
wind movement in Rio de Janeiro were collected
through the site INMET (National Institute of Meteorology).
The institution has a database of measurements
that have been conducted since the 1930s, and
provides consultation on the Climatological Standards;
a selection of data from each of the indices
mentioned above were converted into monthly
averages. For the study, the most recent standards
(1961-1990) were raised. Data analysis will allow a
deeper understanding of the macro-environment of
the building and its impact on the conservation of
the building and the collections housed there.
2.2. Diagnostics of the building
and the collections
The diagnostic stage was divided into three phases:
preliminary survey data, observations and interviews
on the site, and analysing data and defining strategies.
The diagnostic process should always be started
with a review of all available information about the
building and collections, given that the literature
on a heritage may reveal information that cannot
be obtained through direct observation. During the
first phase of the diagnostic process, the existence
of abundant technical documentation was identified
relating to works undertaken in the Moorish
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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