BS EN 16790-2016 pdf free download.Conservation of cultural heritage — Integrated pest management (IPM) for protection of cultural heritage
5.4 Training and education
5.4.1 Information and training General information on IPM and the purpose and implementation of the policy programme shall be given to all staff. Specialist training on IPM preventive procedures shall be given to all staff responsible for IPM implementation with oral presentations and/or hand-outs, for example explanatory posters with images of pests. A follow-up to the initial training shall be carried out at regular intervals. This includes information about the most common pests that might be a threat to cultural heritage. IPM literature and help with recognition of pests shall be provided and easily accessible on the institution’s intranet or similar. In addition, help with identification can usually be obtained from scientists (biologists, entomologists) in natural history museums, universities, or from private and public consultants.
5.4.2 Health and safety As part of information and training, all relevant staff shall recurrently be made aware of health hazards regarding pests, for example, allergies and infections. Training shall be given on safe application of treatments. Awareness of former treatments, such as lindane, naphthalene, DDT, and derivates of arsenic and mercury, possibly applied to collections in the past and still hazardous, shall be part of the training. Information shall be given on potential health hazards of treatments. EU and national legislation regarding hazardous substances applies and shall be taken into account in information and training.
6 IPM procedures
6.1 Developing preventive measures Prevention shall be based on an evaluation of the environment, material composition and condition of objects, taking into account organisational aspects of the institution’s activities. Evaluation shows what type of biogenous risks the objects are likely to be vulnerable to and defines the priorities of preventive and/or remedial actions to be set up. Monitoring data and mapping, in combination with assessment of the vulnerability of the objects (see 6.2), allows definition of risk zones (very high; high; low; very low/no). For information on risk zones, see Annex B.
6.2 Assessing material vulnerability Almost any collection and building may contain materials that can be damaged by pests. The inherent vulnerability of objects depends on material, fabrication, historical context or conservation conditions. The vulnerability of the objects shall contribute to the risk assessment. Materials and individual objects that are at high risk and/or have been infested recurrently shall be identified and given heightened priority in IPM measures. Data collected from monitoring can help to map the scale, type, location and seasonal cycles of a pest problem.
6.3 Assessing outdoor environment The building as such and its surrounding environment may significantly affect the interior environment and may result in more pests coming into the building. Hazards can be unnotedly be taken into the building by people and equipment travelling through the landscape or by the intake of air for the HVAC. Undergrowth, climbing plants, branches overhanging roofs and roof vegetation are risks that should be managed. Inadequate drainage will result in increased humidity, which will benefit the growth of pests. Outdoor equipment, waste bins or firewood shall be properly stored, not leant against outer walls of buildings. Birds, rats and mice can access buildings housing cultural heritage and cause damage. Nesting, that may harbour insect pests, shall be discouraged and removed. Legislation regarding endangered species shall be taken into account. Exterior night lighting should be placed so as not to attract pests without compromising security of the building. Outdoor sculptures or other outdoor features are very vulnerable to pests. IPM measures should apply.
6.4 Blocking pest access Blocking pest entry to the building shall have high priority and take place at different levels without compromising the integrity and significance of the historic context of the building/interior or building fabric, storage rooms, storage shelving, exhibitions, reading rooms, cafeterias, offices, public spaces, and other enclosures. The outer perimeter of the building consisting of roofs, attics, cellars, gutters and walls is the first line of defence. It shall be continuously maintained, as shall external pipes. Cracks large enough for pest entry shall be sealed. Protective devices to prevent entry shall be fitted on vents and chimney openings (roof level). Mesh fly screens, meeting fire protection requirements, should be fitted for windows allowed to be opened. Windows should be fitted with blade seals/sealing barriers, or strips/bristle strips of pest resistant materials.
Regular inspection and maintenance shall take place at entry points for pests, such as internal pipes, ducts, sewers and drains. Bristle strips should be mounted at all external doors to prevent the entry of pests of different sizes, as well as dust and rubbish from the outside, and should also be used in doorways between collection spaces and other areas (especially in high risk zones). The interior structures (e.g. display cases, cabinets, doors) of the building shall provide a second defence around the collections.
6.5 Setting indoor environmental conditions Suitable levels of moisture and temperature for the constituents of the objects shall be maintained continuously, and inform IPM. It is difficult to provide guidelines for correct levels of relative humidity and temperature to avoid pests. Recommendations depend on whether a building is heated or not, its use, and other factors such as type of objects, number of visitors, etc. Nevertheless, high relative humidity and high temperature encourage threats of pest infestation/contamination of the objects. Low temperature and/or low relative humidity slow down the development of pests. Poor ventilation increases the risk of microclimates favourable to pests. Microclimates can occur outside the set climate parameters and shall be properly taken into account, for example behind paintings hanging on exterior walls. When air-conditioning is used, regular control and maintenance shall be in place. An action plan for any malfunction/accident such as a HVAC-breakdown, burst pipes, or water leaks shall be in place. Light exposure, as well as absence of light, shall be considered relatively to some pests. Depending on the type of light, light-induced heat can create microclimates favourable to pests.BS EN 16790 pdf download.