FprEN 15999-1

Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition and preservation of objects - Part 1: General requirements

This document specifies general requirements for showcases for safe and secure display of cultural heritage objects complying with the requirements for preventive conservation. This document focuses on so-called passive showcases, those with unpowered climate conditioning systems. The role a showcase plays in preventive conservation is determinable via a site-specific risk assessment of relevant factors, which are mentioned in this document.

Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Leitfaden für die Konstruktion von Schauvitrinen zur Ausstellung und Erhaltung von Objekten - Teil 1: Allgemeine Anforderungen

Dieses Dokument legt allgemeine Anforderungen an Schauvitrinen zur sicheren und geschützten Ausstellung von Objekten des kulturellen Erbes fest, die den Anforderungen an die präventive Konservierung entsprechen. Der Schwerpunkt dieses Dokuments liegt ausschließlich auf sogenannten passiven Schauvitrinen mit stromlosen Klimatisierungssystemen, in denen die Objekte in der Umgebungsluft ausgestellt werden. Die Rolle der Schauvitrine bei der präventiven Konservierung wird durch eine Risikobewertung ermittelt, bei der mehrere in diesem Dokument genannte Risikofaktoren berücksichtigt werden. Da die Ausführung der Schauvitrine einen Einfluss auf deren Eigenschaften hat, werden einige allgemeine Überlegungen zur Ausführung der Schauvitrine angestellt. Die Beschaffung der Schauvitrine(n) und die Entwicklung der Ausführung der Schauvitrine(n) umfasst alle Anspruchsgruppen des Projekts; es wird ein strukturierter Projektplan vorgeschlagen.

Conservation du patrimoine culturel - Lignes directrices pour la conception de vitrines destinées à exposer et préserver des biens culturels culturels - Partie 1 : Exigences générales

Le présent document spécifie les exigences générales applicables aux vitrines permettant l'exposition sûre et sécurisée des biens culturels appartenant au patrimoine culturel conformément aux exigences en matière de conservation préventive. Le présent document se focalise exclusivement sur les vitrines dites passives, équipées de systèmes non mécaniques de régulation de l’humidité, qui exposent les biens culturels dans de l'air ambiant. Le rôle de la vitrine dans la conservation préventive est établi par une évaluation des risques prenant en compte plusieurs facteurs de risque mentionnés dans le présent document. Comme la conception de la vitrine a une influence sur ses propriétés, quelques considérations générales sur la conception de la vitrine sont fournies. L'acquisition de la (des) vitrine(s) et le développement de la conception de la (des) vitrine(s) impliquent toutes les parties prenantes du projet ; un plan de projet structuré est proposé.

Ohranjanje kulturne dediščine - Smernice za načrtovanje vitrin za razstavljanje in hranjenje predmetov - 1. del: Splošna navodila

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 25-May-2025
• ICS: 97.195 - Items of art and handicrafts. Cultural property and heritage
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 346 - Conservation of cultural property
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 346/WG 12 - Showcases
• Current Stage: 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
• Start Date: 08-Aug-2024
• Due Date: 06-Sep-2023
• Completion Date: 08-Aug-2024
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 15999-1:2023 - Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition and preservation of objects - Part 1: General instructions

Relations

• Revises: EN 15999-1:2014 - Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition and preservation of objects - Part 1: General requirements
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2023
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 15999-1:2014
Ohranjanje kulturne dediščine - Smernice za načrtovanje vitrin za razstavljanje in
hranjenje predmetov - 1. del: Splošna navodila
Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition and
preservation of objects - Part 1: General instructions
Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Leitfaden für die Konstruktion von Schauvitrinen zur
Ausstellung und Erhaltung von Objekten - Teil 1: Allgemeine Anforderungen
Conservation du patrimoine culturel - Lignes directrices pour la conception de vitrines
destinées à exposer et préserver des biens culturels culturels - Partie 1 : Exigences
générales
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 15999-1
ICS:
97.195 Umetniški in obrtniški izdelki. Items of art and handicrafts.
Kulturne dobrine in kulturna Cultural property and
dediščina heritage
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 15999-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2023
ICS 97.195 Will supersede EN 15999-1:2014
English Version
Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of
showcases for exhibition and preservation of objects - Part
1: General instructions
Conservation du patrimoine culturel - Lignes Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Leitfaden für die
directrices pour la conception de vitrines destinées à Konstruktion von Schauvitrinen zur Ausstellung und
exposer et préserver des biens culturels culturels - Erhaltung von Objekten - Teil 1: Allgemeine
Partie 1 : Exigences générales Anforderungen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 346.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 15999-1:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 15999-1:2023 (E)
Contents . Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Principles and components of a showcase (3.12) . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 Components and materials of the showcase (3.12) . 8
4.2.1 General . 8
4.2.2 Display space . 9
4.2.3 Technical compartments . 9
4.2.4 Installation and fixing of the showcase (3.12) . 9
4.2.5 Characteristics of construction materials . 10
4.2.6 Showcase (3.12) readiness for use . 10
4.2.7 Lining of the display space (3.4) and object mounts . 10
4.3 Expected lifetime and maintenance cycle . 10
5 The showcase (3.12) role in the preventive conservation risk management plan . 11
5.1 General . 11
5.2 Controlling risks of theft . 12
5.2.1 General . 12
5.2.2 Time of response . 12
5.2.3 The object value . 13
5.2.4 Showcase (3.12) security (3.11) class recommendation . 13
5.3 Risk assessment fire . 13
5.4 Controlling risks from pests . 15
5.5 Controlling risks from pollution . 15
5.6 Controlling the risks of damage by light and lighting systems . 16
5.7 Controlling climatic risks . 16
5.8 Controlling risks from oxygen . 17
5.9 Assessing precautions for vibrations . 17
5.10 Assessing precautions for disaster . 18
5.11 Assessing precautions for seismic events . 18
5.11.1 General . 18
5.11.2 Mitigate damage to objects . 18
prEN 15999-1:2023 (E)
5.11.3 Mitigate damage to immediate surrounding . 19
6 Showcase (3.12) practical design . 19
6.1 General . 19
6.2 Basic criteria for the design of a showcase (3.12) . 20
6.3 Access to the display space (3.4) and technical compartments for staff . 21
6.4 Visual accessibility to the display space (3.4) for visitors . 22
6.5 Showcase (3.12) design for preventive conservation . 22
6.6 Object lighting . 22
6.6.1 General . 22
6.6.2 Showcase (3.12) lighting from outside . 23
6.6.3 Integrated showcase (3.12) lighting . 23
6.6.4 Reflected light . 23
6.7 Noise . 24
7 Project planning . 24
Annex A (informative) Risk sources . 25
Annex B (informative) Showcase and exhibition design influence on air exchange rate (3.2) . 30
Annex C (informative) Glass characteristics . 32
Annex D (informative) Example of content under the responsibility of the manufacturer given in the
operation file – Operation file . 33
Annex E (informative) Example of content under the responsibility of the manufacturer given in the
operation file – Maintenance file . 35
Annex F (informative) Example of project planning . 36
Bibliography . 49

prEN 15999-1:2023 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 15999-1:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 346
“Conservation of cultural heritage”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 15999-1:2014.
prEN 15999-1:2023 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
EN 15999-1:2014:
— …
EN 15999 will consist of the following parts:
— prEN 15999-1, Conservation of cultural heritage — Guidelines for design of showcases for
exhibition and preservation of objects — Part 1: General requirements
— prEN 15999-2, Conservation of cultural heritage — Guidelines for design of showcases for
exhibition and preservation of objects — Part 2: Technical aspects

prEN 15999-1:2023 (E)
Introduction
The main purpose of a showcase for cultural heritage objects on exhibition is to reduce the risks of
total loss, physical damage, chemical and biological deterioration (e.g. by accidents, theft, vandalism,
natural disasters, humidity, temperature, dust, pollutants, light, pests).
Showcases are an important tool to preserve and protect cultural heritage objects. The role of the
showcase in the preventive conservation strategy of a heritage institution needs to take into account
many complex environmental variables along with the usage of the showcase. The type of showcase
and its properties need to be adapted to the principal risks to objects and specific environmental
conditions. A poorly constructed or selected showcase can under some circumstances cause damage
to objects.
Because of the complexity of the role of the showcase for preventive conservation but also for t
...