Developing ‘Smart’ Solutions for Light Management for Historic Collections

ABSTRACT

In 2011 Historic Royal Palaces began to investigate protective measures for historic tapestries on open display at Hampton Court Palace. The environmental exposure conditions for each tapestry were analysed and mapped to evaluate risk. An innovative method to reduce illuminance and direct sunlight on the historic tapestries using ‘smart’ technologies was developed. The design, testing and implementation of the installation of Smart Tint liquid crystal films whose optical appearance can be switched electrically from opaque to transparent, are presented. Substantial reduction (>90%) in direct light transmission could be achieved when the film is opaque. It also provides additional protection from ultraviolet (99%) and infrared radiation (98%). An entirely reversible and customised installation method had to be devised using pressure-fixed lightweight aluminium frames. An automated controller was also installed to change the individual windows from clear to opaque during different times of the day depending on their orientation and the time of the year while a dedicated wireless mesh network system enabled communication between each window and the controller. The impact of this installation is described. The use of ‘smart’ technologies offered dynamic light protection for collections on open display while maintaining the presentation of the historic room. The benefits of adopting this innovative technology include its flexible and unobtrusive installation.

KEYWORDS:

• Preventive conservation
• smart technologies
• historic tapestries
• environmental monitoring
• light management

Acknowledgements

This project was fully funded and managed by Historic Royal Palaces; we would like to acknowledge the Agents of Decay Strategy Board for the generous support and guidance on this long-term project and all our colleagues involved during the different delivery stages of this work. In particular, we are grateful to Dr Ian Gibb, Kerren Harris, Dr Marta Melchiorre and Dr Lucia Pereira-Pardo for their support and contribution as project team members.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 The 3-D laser scanning and architectural drawings were delivered by Glanville Consultants.

2 Annual visible light exposure limit is 150,000 lux-hours per year, calculated for 50 lux illuminance during opening hours (8 h per day, 364 days per year).

3 The candelabra’s incandescent lamps were replaced with LED ones as part of this project (Frame et al. 2018).

4 https://www.artratio.co.uk/glass-display-cases. Accessed 01/10/2019, 2019.

5 https://innovativeglasscorp.com/protective-smartglass-museum-display-cases/. Accessed 01/10/2019, 2019. https://www.variguard.com/. Accessed 01/10/2019, 2019.

6 https://www.smarttint.com/. Accessed 01/10/2019, 2019.

7 https://www.smarttint.com/specs/specsheet-smart-tint.pdf. Accessed 01/10/2019, 2019.

8 No light is coming from the north. Monitoring also confirmed that there was no risk from reflected light from this direction.

9 UK domestic voltage is 220V with alternating current (AC).