CEN/TC 346/WG 12 - Showcases

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.

This document classifies properties of passive showcases of cultural heritage objects for better preservation. It applies to most uses of the showcase: showcases for so called permanent or temporary exhibitions, historical or modular showcases, showcases in uncontrolled ambient environment, etc. It specifies how the performance of the showcase for the safe and secure display ⁠- as derived from needs identified during the risk assessment approach described in FprEN 15999 1:2024 - can be technically assessed by using classified properties.
Aspects of active showcases (those using electricity to directly condition their microclimates) and anoxic showcases (those containing inert atmospheres instead of air) are mentioned in this document, but their properties are not defined, nor classified.