The Importance of Climate-Controlled Storage for Museums

Temperature and humidity are two critical agents of deterioration that can affect museum artifacts and specimens. Climate-controlled storage helps keep all items at a safe temperature and humidity level to protect them from deterioration.

Temperature is one key factor to monitor. If the storage temperature is too high, it can accelerate the chemical deterioration of organic materials. If the temperature is too low, it can cause desiccation and fracturing of paint and adhesives. And if the temperature fluctuates, it may cause brittle materials to delaminate or crack.

In spaces where people’s comfort is a factor (such as in exhibit or research spaces), the recommended storage temperature for most materials is 64-68°F, although it can be much lower, and some items require cold or freezing temperatures for optimal storage. The temperature should never exceed 75°F and remain as level as possible.

The relative humidity is a related factor that needs to be considered. If the relative humidity is too high, items may be susceptible to mold or rust; if it is too low, materials like wood, leather, and paper may be subject to desiccation, warping, and cracking. Fluctuating relative humidity is also dangerous, as this can cause organic materials to fracture or buckle.

Museum curators must understand that the items in their collections may have different requirements regarding temperature and humidity. For example, fragile organic materials should be kept in humidity-buffered cases, and archeological metals require dry environments. Meanwhile, cellulose nitrate film and similar items should be kept in freezer storage.

Appropriate museum cabinets go a long way in preserving various items in museum collections. For example, sealed preservation cabinets create a healthy microclimate with a stable temperature and relative humidity. They also protect stored items from contaminants, water, fire, light, and other agents of deterioration. Please read about our specialized museum drawer cabinets here. Visit our online store to see our museum storage products.

Cold Storage for Museums

Certain materials require cold storage for adequate long-term preservation. Film-based photographic materials should be stored in freezers or cold storage vaults, including photographs, negatives, slides, microfilm and microfiche, x-ray film, and motion picture film. Organic materials such as animal pelts may also be stored at cooler temperatures to slow deterioration.

When investing in cold storage space, there are several factors you should take into consideration. First, the size of your collection will determine how much cold storage space you need. An upright refrigerator or household freezer will be sufficient for small collections, while walk-in coolers or cold storage vaults are better for housing more extensive collections. The National Park Service recommends investing in a cold storage vault if your collection would occupy more than ten household freezers (150 cubic feet) or is expected to expand beyond that capacity in the future.

You should also have a way to monitor the temperature and relative humidity of your cold storage spaces so that you can intervene quickly in case of a malfunction. While cold storage vaults can be humidity-controlled, regular household freezers are not, so items stored in these units must be adequately packaged to prevent damage from fluctuating humidity. And when planning to access or remove an item from cold storage, keep in mind that it is recommended that cold storage materials sit at room temperature for approximately eight hours before removal from packaging.

Cold storage can be costly, so maximizing available space is important. While standard wire racks or shelving may be suitable for your collection, a high-density storage system is an excellent solution to store your collection in a smaller space. This allows you to save on both initial construction costs and ongoing energy costs.

Space-Saving Solutions for Museum Cold Storage

Compact storage systems, also known as high-density storage systems, mobile shelving, or compactors, are one of the best solutions for cold storage. This efficient storage system eliminates static aisle space by mounting new or existing storage cabinets on mobile carriages that slide on floor tracks. It allows you to double your storage capacity in a given footprint. Compact storage systems improve the organization by accommodating various types of shelving, cabinets, drawers, and trays to safely and efficiently store materials of all sizes, including photographic collections.

Another innovative cold storage solution is the electric lateral file cabinet, which consists of an enclosed system of vertically rotating file drawers. While typically used for storing files, the American Museum of the Moving Image installed one of these storage systems to house their extensive photography collection. The electric lateral file cabinet reduced its storage area by 40%, in addition to improving the organization and accessibility of the collection. The automated file cabinet protects stored photographs from dirt, dust, and water damage and can be specially designed for cold storage environments.