Nature
Helen:
 
Whether it is good to seal the doors depends on the materials you are putting in the closet, how you will be accessing the materials and the effects of the outer wall exposure.
 
If you have materials (such as film suffering from vinegar syndrome) that produce destructive out-gassing, sealing the closet is not a good idea.
 
In addition, the environment you are sealing into the closet when you close the closet doors will be strongly affected by the ambient conditions at that specific time.  If you are accessing the materials during times when the building AC is not working, you may actually seal in heat and moisture.
 
Finally, determine the effects of the outside wall on the space.  If you seal the closet, does heat/moisture seepage from the outside wall make the closet warmer/damper than the office space that is sometimes air-conditioned?
 
In VERY broad strokes, there are three basic goals you want to achieve when storing materials.  In order of importance they are:
 
1) Protect materials from from things that will accelerate decay such as acidic (or destructive) out-gassing, excessive moisture, biologicals, and direct sunlight.
 
2) Control (lower) temperature to reduce the speed at which decay can occur.
 
3) Control temperature and humidity fluctuations to reduce stresses caused by the expansion/contraction of materials.
 
While there are exceptions, in general, addressing item #3 by sealing a storage area before addressing # 1 and 2 will be counter-productive by sealing material in a destructive environment.  Likewise, addressing item # 2 by lowering the temperature in a storage area before addressing #1 often does not eliminate the danger of the destructive influences (unless you lower the temperature to or below the freezing point- which can present other problems).  All too often materials are destroyed by being stored in a nice cool basement that happens to be damp and a perfect breeding ground for fungus.
 
 

Peter Brothers
President
SPECS BROS., LLC
(973)777-5055
www.specsbros.com

Restoration and Disaster Recovery Service Since 1983

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Helen Wong Smith
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 7:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Closet environment for small collection (completed message)

Pardon my sending the below incomplete! 


From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Helen Wong Smith
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 1:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Closet environment for small collection

Aloha!
 
I'm to provide three levels of closet modifications for a small collection I'm in the process of processing.  It's a two-door wooden closet  within the general office area (A/C NOT 24/7)  with one side against an exterior wall.    Here's what I've come up with so far:
 
Low-cost          Coat/Paint shelves with appropriate  moisture-borne polyurethane.
 
Medium-cost     Same, install rubber gasket around the doors.
 
Higher-cost        Same, install dehumidifier and/or fan installed.
 
My question, is the environment made worse by preventing air circulation (what little there may be) with the gaskets around the door?  What order and treatments would you prescribe for this small space?
 
Mahalo piha, helen
 

Helen Wong Smith, MLIS, CA
Historical/Cultural Specialist
Land Assets Division - Kamehameha Schools
Phone/Fax:
O`ahu - 534-8193/523-6374
Hawai`i - 982-0485/982-0423

You may have the Universe if I may have Italy. --- Verdi

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