Connecting to Collections Care

Dear community,

We are working with an instrument conservator at our Studio warehouse space. He recommends testing the indoor air quality in the space to look for Nitric Acid levels. He mentioned concerns regarding guitars with celluloid pickguards off-gassing, as well as the audio and film in the collection. If anyone has recommendations for simple testing equipment or air monitoring solutions, I would be happy to hear from you.  

Best,

Marcia

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Marcia Bassett
Archivist
New York NY
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A quick reminder that while we encourage the C2C Care Community to share it's experience with this type of equipment - posting that information here doesn't imply endorsement by the program. Thanks!

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Robin Bauer Kilgo (she/her/hers)
Connecting to Collections Care Coordinator, FAIC
c2cc@culturalheritage.org
Contract Registrar/Consultant
rbkilgo@gmail.com
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Thank you, Gillian, for your response. I very much appreciate your advice! 

Best,

Marcia

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Marcia Bassett
Archivist
New York NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2024 10:29
From: Gillian Marcus
Subject: Testing Air Quality in a large studio warehouse space

Hi Marcia,

You can test for air quality using passive samplers - I've used them to test ozone in a storage space, but you can also purchase equipment to sample HNO3 as well. Usually you're sent the sampler and pads and send them back to a laboratory for analysis. 

I haven't used this company, but Ormantine USA (https://ormantineusa.com/acid-gas-diffusion-tubes/) seems to offer acid gas diffusion tubes for testing.

Best wishes,

Gillian

Hokusai's The Great Wave

Through January 6 Hours and visiting policies

Hi Marcia!

Question - is the concern related to potential employee/guest exposure or just general air quality?

Like Gillian mentioned there are a lot of companies that offer passive air samplers for use (i.e., the sampler is opened and exposed to the air and then collected at the end of the day) and then analysis. These same companies also offer active air samplers for use (i.e., an air pump, or vacuum, is attached to the sample and pulls air through the media) and then analysis. Most companies will also loan the air pump with the sample media. And of course, there are companies that rent out the real time monitors that provide an instantaneous reading/result.

If the concern is just general air quality, then I would go the real time monitor route and set it up in various locations throughout the space and look at the logged data for how (or if) readings change throughout the day. If the concern is employee/guest exposure I would go the route of an active or passive sampling route. Passive is much easier to set-up, remove, and send in for non-industrial hygienist staff than active samples.

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Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365
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