WG 19 - Management and protection of collections

This document specifies a framework and standards for managing cultural heritage collections. It is intended for use by collecting organisations such as archives, libraries, museums and galleries. It is applicable to all types of moveable cultural heritage, whether in physical or digital formats. It promotes core essential policies and procedures that all such organisations seek to apply as a minimum and encourages a cycle of continuous review and improvement.

This European Standard gives specifications and guidance for the location, construction and arrangement of building specifically intended for internal storage of all heritage collection types and formats.
This standard applies to buildings where collections are housed permanently and can be used as guidance for shorter-term display spaces where appropriate. Throughout the document, where specifications relate exclusively to storage spaces, these are defined as such. Where specifications can also be applied to areas such as display galleries or reading rooms, these applications are referred to explicitly.
Clauses relating to risks associated with security, environmental hazards, fire, water and pests apply to buildings as a whole and to any room in which collections may be held.
Some of the clauses in this standard may be applicable in protected historic buildings that contain collections. In these settings, the scope for any alterations or achievement of conditions suitable for collections may be limited by the historic character of the structure, especially where it is protected by heritage regulations.
NOTE   This standard covers the structure of buildings containing heritage collections, whether for storage or use. For a description of technical processing spaces recommended in the design specifically of a storage building open to the public, attention is drawn to EN 16141.
This standard should be seen as complementary to national or local building regulations and specifications.

This European Standard defines Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and describes a comprehensive methodology for managing pest problems for protection of cultural heritage.
This European Standard applies to objects and buildings, housing collections, such as museums, archives, libraries, historic houses and buildings, places of worship, art dealers and auction rooms, art transport and storage companies.
This European Standard does not apply to caves, gardens, and parks.

This European Standard defines principles to be considered when transporting movable cultural heritage in accordance with EN 15946.

This European Standard specifies the characteristics and the conditions for use of showcases for safe and secure display of cultural heritage objects, reducing environmental interaction and complying with the requirements for better preservation.

This Technical Specification defines the procedures as well as the means to implement adequate lighting, with regard to the conservation policy. It takes visual, exhibition and conservation aspects into account and it also discusses the implications of the lighting design on the safeguarding of cultural property. This Technical Specification gives recommendations on values of minimum and maximum illumination levels. It aims to provide a tool for setting up a common European policy and a guide to help curators, conservators and project managers to assess the correct lighting that can assure the safeguarding of the exhibits. This Technical Specification covers lighting for heritage objects on exhibition in both public and private sites and does not consider lighting in other cultural heritage contexts such as open-air collections, etc.

This European Standard defines the characteristics of specific areas dedicated to the preservation, storage, management of, and access to collections. It lists the considerations that should be taken into account to achieve optimum storage and accessibility.

This European Standard sets out the purpose and context of condition recording for movable cultural heritage and provides a framework for a condition report. It specifies the status of a condition report and its essential contents.
This European Standard applies to all kinds of movable cultural heritage, whether individual objects or whole collections. It can also be used for immovable features in buildings or monuments.

This European Standard specifies the packing process for objects considered by the owner/custodian as ready to be moved.

This document defines the functions and characteristics of open storage facilities (collection centres). These can be independent or integrated into cultural institutions. They are dedicated to the preservation, storage, management of, and access to, collections.
NOTE For the infrastructure and technical equipment of these open storage facilities, see EN 16893:2018.