Construction projects in cultural heritage institutions can be challenging for their collections. This 5 part presentation offers some suggestions for a successful build.

1. Under Construction:
Preservation Concerns During
Construction and Renovation
LYRASIS Preservation Services
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the
Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Preservation and
Preservation and Access.
Unit 5

2. Unit 5
– Potentially Harmful Construction Materials
– Reducing the Harm
– Post Construction
– Cleaning the Buildings

3. Potentially Harmful
Construction Materials
• Many gases, dusts, and fibers have the potential to
speed up the deterioration of collections. The can be
harmful to people as well.
• It is important to be aware of what types of
construction materials are dangerous and what can
be done to reduce the exposure to humans and
collections.

4. Potentially Harmful
Construction Materials
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are those
materials that are readily volatized (given off as
a gas) and can affect indoor air quality. Other
dangerous gases are emitted through the use of
construction equipment. Welding, for example,
can produce ozone, carbon dioxide, and
nitrogen dioxides. Ozone or nitrogen dioxide
can irritate the respiratory tract and mucous
membranes.

5. Potentially Harmful
Construction Materials
• Dust and fibers are released during cutting or
sanding. While many dusts are not harmful to
humans, others may include lead based paints
or asbestos dust, both of which could be quite
harmful. Asbestos and lead-based paint must
be removed by qualified contractors and
disposed of following EPA guidelines. Individual
states may have additional guidelines.
– http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos
– http://www2.epa.gov/lead

6. Construction Materials:
Reducing the Harm
• What can you do to
reduce the risk to
materials and humans
from pollutants?

7. Construction Materials:
Reducing the Harm
• If possible, remove staff and collections from
areas where that might be exposed to
dangerous materials, especially if either is
particularly vulnerable. If you can not remove
them, then establish responsibility and
procedures for controlling any dust or other
pollutants generated by construction. Provide
adequate ventilation for activities that generate
fumes.

8. Construction Materials:
Reducing the Harm
• It may take up to a year for materials in new
construction to finish off-gassing. A good
indicator of when it is safe for materials is when
the “new” smell has disappeared. In the
meantime, air system should be operated at
maximum outside air for 60-90 days to
facilitate the removal of construction off-gassing;
after this purging period, replace all air filters in
the HVAC system.

9. Construction Materials:
Reducing the Harm
• Finally, use non-toxic building
materials whenever possible; not
only are they better for the
environment, but they are also
better for people and collections.
• For a list of environmentally-
friendly materials:
– http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/

10. Post-Construction
• After the construction has been completed, expect and
plan for a period of adjustment, especially in areas
such as the HVAC and security systems. You will need
to work closely with facilities and security staff to help
work out kinks in the new set-up.
• Drainage should be carefully watched. Hopefully any
plumbing problems will have worked themselves out
before the end of construction, but there is always a
chance of leaks. Closely monitor the space after heavy
rainstorms.

11. Post-Construction
• It may take some time for the HVAC system to
adjust the environment to the desired
temperature and humidity. Monitor the HVAC
system closely, and avoid moving materials
until environmental monitoring indicates a stable
environment.
• Clean shelving before placing collections on
them. By cleaning and vacuuming materials
before the move, you can avoid bringing dirt into
your newly renovated space; however, cleaning
may be incorporated into the shelving process.

12. Cleaning Buildings
• Keeping spaces clean during
construction requires constant
vigilance, but it is especially
important if your collections and
people remain in or near the
space during construction. After
a project in finally complete, the
building and helving should be
thoroughly cleaned again to
remove any dirt, grime, or other
materials that may harm people
or collections.

13. Cleaning Buildings
• There are many different cleaning methods that one
can use, and all have advantages and disadvantages,
but none should be used directly on the materials
themselves.
• Water
• Chemical
• Mechanical

14. Cleaning Buildings
• Water is one of the safer means
of cleaning buildings and storage
areas. It softens dirt and rinses
deposits from surfaces without
the danger of chemicals. Be
wary of steam cleaning however,
because the high temperatures
and increase in humidity can be
harmful to collections.

15. Cleaning Buildings
• Another option is to use
chemicals that will react with the
dirt to hasten its removal;
deposits are rinsed away with
the water. Chemicals may more
easily remove dirt than water
alone, but be aware of
environmental and health
concerns to humans and
collections on the inside of the
building and to animals and
plants outside of the building.

16. Cleaning Buildings
• A final method of cleaning after
construction is mechanical in
nature and usually involves grit
blasting, grinders, or sanding
disks that remove dirt by
abrasion. Usually the surface is
then rinsed with water. The
resulting dust from this method,
when done on the outside of a
building, can enter or coat
surrounding buildings. If done
on the inside, the dust can
spread into other rooms or the
HVAC system, potentially
harming collections and people.

17. Cleaning Buildings
• Whichever method, or
combination of methods you use,
you should educate yourself on
the potential harmful effects and
try to minimize them by following
directions closely and using
methods with the least potential
for harm.
• Consult with facilities staff or risk
managers to determine which
methods are most appropriate
for your building.

18. Cleaning Historic Buildings
• Special care must be taken when cleaning a historic
building. Inappropriate cleaning or waterproofing of
masonry buildings is a major cause of deterioration at
historic sites.
• First, make sure that “dirt” is actually harmful to the
building. What you may think is dirt may in fact be
weathered portions of the building itself. Attempting to
clean it would in fact be removing part of the structure.

19. Cleaning Historic Buildings
• Another reason to determine the nature of the “dirt” is
because different types of soil and grime require
different cleaning methods. For example, soot and
smoke require different cleaning methods than bird
droppings. In addition to identifying the substances on
the building, it is important to determine what the
building itself is made of so that the cleaning products
you use do no damage to the structure.

20. Cleaning Historic Buildings
• For example, acidic cleaners can be quite harmful to
limestone or marble. If you cannot identify the
substances yourself, or for assistance in identifying
appropriate cleaning methods, contact a building
conservator, geologist, chemist, or preservation
architect. It is better to do nothing than to harm
accidentally cause harm to the building.
For more on this topic, see Assessing Cleaning and Water-
repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings, by Robert C
Mack and Anne E Grimmer available at http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-
to-preserve/briefs/1-cleaning-water-repellent.htm

21. Unit 5 Quiz
What Have You Learned?

22. Unit 5
• Question 1: What can reduce risk to materials
and humans from harmful pollutants?
– A: Use non-toxic materials whenever possible.
– B: Keep doors open when working.
– C: Remove staff and collections from areas of harm.
– D: A and C
– E: A and B
– F: B and C

23. Unit 5
• Question 1: What can reduce risk to materials
and humans from harmful pollutants?
– Answer: D: A and C
• Using non-toxic materials and removing collections
and staff are always good ideas. Keeping doors
open may not be adequate for ventilation needs.
Ventilation and proper venting should be concerns
of the pre-construction process.

24. Unit 5
• Question 2: Water is one of the safer ways of
cleaning.
– True or False?

25. Unit 5
• Question 2: Water is one of the safer ways of
cleaning.
– Answer: True
• Whatever method you use, be sure to follow
proper cleaning methods closely and use the
safest technique for the material.

26. Thank You!
Contact us if you have any
questions.
LYRASIS Preservation Services
preservation@lyrasis.org
1-800-999-8558