Connecting to Collections Care

Hello Lovely People!

In June (fingers crossed) we will be finishing a complete HVAC renovation. I'll also be getting a new floor for Collection Storage after asbestos remediation. I would like to ask for any guidelines, advice, or hear any personal experience in returning your collection to storage after such an event. I'm doing my research, but nothing compares to hearing from those who have already gone though it. This will be a first for me and I'll need as much info going into it as possible so I can explain why everything can't go back right away. 

Thank you so much!!

-Bonnie

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Bonnie Seymour
Registrar and Assistant Curator
The Parthenon
Nashville
United States
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Hi Bonnie,

This is such an exciting phase - congrats on getting close to the finish line for the renovation!

I am the C2CC monitor for this period, and although I have limited experience going through a HVAC renovation myself, there are several things I would consider: 

- Environmental stabilization: New HVAC systems often take time to truly stabilize, even after install/commissioning. I would recommend continuous monitoring and waiting until temperature/RH are consistently within range (including inside cabinets/shelving, not just ambient space).

- Off-gassing and post-remediation concerns: New flooring, adhesives, sealants, and HVAC components can off-gas VOCs, and asbestos remediation can leave residual dust. Giving the space time to ventilate (ideally with filtration if available) is critical before reintroducing collections.

- Cleaning: Construction dust might get everywhere. Surfaces, shelving, and interiors of cabinets should be carefully cleaned before anything goes back.

- Phased move: Bringing collections back in stages can be really helpful. Starting with less sensitive materials allows you to monitor how the space performs before moving more vulnerable objects.

- Environmental monitoring: Dataloggers placed throughout the space (and inside enclosures) are helpful. 

- IPM reset: Construction can disrupt or introduce pest activity, so it's a good moment to reassess traps and protocols.

In my experience, it's not unusual for this process to take several weeks to a couple of months before full reoccupation, depending on how quickly conditions stabilize. I hope this is helpful!! I'll also follow up if community experts have additional experiences or insights to share.

Best,

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Kelly Liu
Paper Conservation and Museum Intern
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Skagway
United States
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Hi Bonnie, 

Kelly already mentions some very useful tips in her reply. I would like to add the notion that climatizing an empty space is very different to climatizing a space filled with hygroscopic material. The collection will return to the space with a certain moisture content, and will make a new equilibrium with the space. Not knowing what your specific situation is (type of collection, levels of degration, its use), neither what the local climate risks are or the buffering capacity of your building, I would also advice on monitoring the return of the collection closely. Not just trough the HVAC building management system, but separately with well-placed dataloggers.  Expect to space to become more stable not just because the system has been settled, but more likely through the buffering capacity of the collection. Stacked collections do not respond very fast to climate fluctuations in the surrounding air. So hopefully the settings of the HVAC are not a plus/minus but a bandwidth – this will allow the climate to settle more smoothly with less energy consumption.

Best wishes,

Foekje

 

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Foekje Boersma
Head of Collection Care
KB, National Library of the Netherlands
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-22-2026 14:49
From: Kelly Liu
Subject: Returning a Collection after a new HVAC install

Hi Bonnie,

This is such an exciting phase - congrats on getting close to the finish line for the renovation!

I am the C2CC monitor for this period, and although I have limited experience going through a HVAC renovation myself, there are several things I would consider: 

- Environmental stabilization: New HVAC systems often take time to truly stabilize, even after install/commissioning. I would recommend continuous monitoring and waiting until temperature/RH are consistently within range (including inside cabinets/shelving, not just ambient space).

- Off-gassing and post-remediation concerns: New flooring, adhesives, sealants, and HVAC components can off-gas VOCs, and asbestos remediation can leave residual dust. Giving the space time to ventilate (ideally with filtration if available) is critical before reintroducing collections.

- Cleaning: Construction dust might get everywhere. Surfaces, shelving, and interiors of cabinets should be carefully cleaned before anything goes back.

- Phased move: Bringing collections back in stages can be really helpful. Starting with less sensitive materials allows you to monitor how the space performs before moving more vulnerable objects.

- Environmental monitoring: Dataloggers placed throughout the space (and inside enclosures) are helpful. 

- IPM reset: Construction can disrupt or introduce pest activity, so it's a good moment to reassess traps and protocols.

In my experience, it's not unusual for this process to take several weeks to a couple of months before full reoccupation, depending on how quickly conditions stabilize. I hope this is helpful!! I'll also follow up if community experts have additional experiences or insights to share.

Best,

------------------------------
Kelly Liu
Paper Conservation and Museum Intern
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Skagway
United States
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Kelly, you nailed everything!
Bonnie, just one more thing I can think of is asking your Facilities Manager or the project coordinator to place an air scrubber with HEPA filters in there. Depending on your storage space, this should let you know for how long it needs to run.

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Grisel Marquez
Assistant Registrar for Collections
Mingei International Museum
San Diego
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-22-2026 14:49
From: Kelly Liu
Subject: Returning a Collection after a new HVAC install

Hi Bonnie,

This is such an exciting phase - congrats on getting close to the finish line for the renovation!

I am the C2CC monitor for this period, and although I have limited experience going through a HVAC renovation myself, there are several things I would consider: 

- Environmental stabilization: New HVAC systems often take time to truly stabilize, even after install/commissioning. I would recommend continuous monitoring and waiting until temperature/RH are consistently within range (including inside cabinets/shelving, not just ambient space).

- Off-gassing and post-remediation concerns: New flooring, adhesives, sealants, and HVAC components can off-gas VOCs, and asbestos remediation can leave residual dust. Giving the space time to ventilate (ideally with filtration if available) is critical before reintroducing collections.

- Cleaning: Construction dust might get everywhere. Surfaces, shelving, and interiors of cabinets should be carefully cleaned before anything goes back.

- Phased move: Bringing collections back in stages can be really helpful. Starting with less sensitive materials allows you to monitor how the space performs before moving more vulnerable objects.

- Environmental monitoring: Dataloggers placed throughout the space (and inside enclosures) are helpful. 

- IPM reset: Construction can disrupt or introduce pest activity, so it's a good moment to reassess traps and protocols.

In my experience, it's not unusual for this process to take several weeks to a couple of months before full reoccupation, depending on how quickly conditions stabilize. I hope this is helpful!! I'll also follow up if community experts have additional experiences or insights to share.

Best,

------------------------------
Kelly Liu
Paper Conservation and Museum Intern
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Skagway
United States
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