ICS 97.195  
 
Reference number  
DRS  451-1: 20 20 
© RSB 2020  
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
451-1  
 
First edition  
2020 -mm-dd 
Conservation of cultural heritage — Part 1 
Specifications for location, construction 
and modification of buildings or rooms 
intended for the storage or use of heritage 
collections  
   
DRS  451-1: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2020  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS  451-1: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Principles and strategies  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
4.1 Principles  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 5 
4.1.1  Sustainability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
4.1.2  Risk management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  6 
4.2 Strategy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  7 
4.2.1  Environmental strategy ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  7 
4.2.2  Environmental monitoring strategy  ................................ ................................ ............................  8 
4.2.3  Facilities management strategy  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 9 
5 Building specifications  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  10 
5.1 Building location  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  10 
5.1.1  Hazards identification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  10 
5.1.2  Natural hazards  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  11 
5.2 Site cap acity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  11 
5.2.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  11 
5.2.2  Self-containment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  11 
5.3 Building structure and environmental protection  ................................ ................................ ... 12 
5.3.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  12 
5.3.2  Construction materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  12 
5.3.3  Building acclimatization  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  12 
5.3.4  Passive or low -energy environment structures  ................................ ................................ ...... 13 
5.4 Air quality  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 15 
5.4.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  15 
5.4.2  External pollutants  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  15 
5.4.3  Internal pollutants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  15 
5.4.4  Ventilation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 16 
5.5 Mechanical environmental control  ................................ ................................ ...........................  17 
5.5.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  17 
5.5.2  Air conditioni ng for storage repositories  ................................ ................................ ................  18 
5.6 Prevention of infestation by pests and mould  ................................ ................................ ........  19 
5.7 Protection against water  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  20 
5.7.1  Design and materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  20 
5.7.2  Rainwater discharge systems  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 20 
5.7.3  Drainage and piping work  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  20 
5.8 Windows and lighting  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  21 
5.8.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  21 
5.8.2  Glazing and li ght levels ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  21 
5.8.3  Artificial lighting  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  21 
5.8.4  Lamps  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  22 
5.9 Emergency electrical supply  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 22 
5.10 Ceilings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  22 
5.11  Floors and load distribution  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 22 
5.11.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  22 
5.11.2  Calculation  of floor loads  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  23 
5.12  Storage space arrangements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 23 DRS  451-1: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  iv 
 6 Fire protection and prevention  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 23 
6.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  23 
6.2 Fire risk assessme nt ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  24 
6.3 Structural fire protection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  24 
6.3.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  24 
6.3.2  Structural fire resistance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  25 
6.3.3  Lightning conduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  25 
6.3.4  Fire compartments ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  25 
6.3.5  Doors and other openings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  25 
6.3.6  Vertical openings  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  26 
6.3.7  Minimizing fire hazard in an electrical system  ................................ ................................ ....... 26 
6.4 Minimizing fire hazards in ventilation plant and equipment  ................................ .................  26 
6.4.1  Ductwork  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 26 
6.4.2  Dampers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 27 
6.5 Fire detection and firefighting  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 27 
6.5.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  27 
6.5.2  Detection and alarm systems  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 27 
6.5.3  Monitoring  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 27 
6.5.4  Portable fire extinguishers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 27 
6.5.5  Protection of areas adjacent to collection spaces  ................................ ................................ . 28 
6.5.6  Smoke extraction  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  28 
6.5.7  Fire control and mobile shelves  ................................ ................................ ...............................  28 
7 Security specifications  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  28 
7.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  28 
7.2 Security risk assessment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  28 
7.3 Site security  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  28 
7.4 Protection against intruders  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 29 
7.5 Entrances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 29 
7.6 Services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 29 
7.6.1  Windows  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 29 
7.7 External doors to the building  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 29 
Annex  A (Informative)  Automatic Fire fighting systems  ................................ ................................ ... 31 
Annex  B (Informative)  Examples of internal pollutants and their sources  ................................ ...... 33 
 DRS  451-1: 2020  
v                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task o f technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS nnn-1 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 033, Tourism and Hospitality . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
BS EN 16893:2018 Conservation of cultural heritage — Specifications for location, construction and modification 
of buildings or rooms intended for the storage or use of heritage  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Tourism and Hospitality (RSB/TC 
033) in the preparation of this standard.  
Ministry of Youth and Culture  
Institute of N ational Museum of Rwanda  
Commissio n for the Fight against Genocide  
Rwanda Development Board  
Standards for Sustainability  
Rwanda Development Board  
International Tours and Travel ltd  
Life Long Education Group Ltd  
Lemigo Hotel  
I3-Consultancy Ltd  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS  451-1: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction  
Cultural heritage collections are intended to be kept for future as well as current generations. Their long -term 
conservation can only be achieved if the sites and buildings that house them support this goal and do not place 
them at risk. Bui lding features that are intended to protect collections are primarily structural, involving resilience 
against external and internal hazards including fire, water, pests, criminal activity and environments that interact 
with heritage materials.  
Environmen tal considerations for collections are influenced by the nature of their materials, their condition and 
the uses to which they are put. They are also influenced by policies relating to conservation objectives, such as 
longevity of collections, and by the n ature and costs of energy required to achieve these objectives.  
This standard assists custodians of cultural heritage collections by defining the criteria and information 
necessary to make policy relating to conservation that will in turn influence the ou tcome of building construction. 
It is also intended to help them define the specifications necessary for the construction or modification of 
buildings such that they can safely house collections.  
These specifications should be used by architects, engineer s and others responsible for the design and 
construction of new archives, libraries and museums, or modifying spaces within existing buildings for these 
purposes.  
 DRS  451-1: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Conservation of cultural heritage  — Part 1 Specifications for location, 
construction and modification of buildings or rooms intended for the 
storage or use of heritage collections  
1 Scope   
This Rwanda  Draft Standard gives specifications and guidance for the location, construction and arrangement 
of building specifically intended for internal storage of all heritage collection types and formats.  
This Rwanda  Draft Standard  applies to buildings wh ere collections are housed permanently and can be used 
as guidance for shorter -term display spaces where appropriate. Throughout the document, where specifications 
relate exclusively to storage spaces, these are defined as such. Where specifications can al so be applied to 
areas such as display galleries or reading rooms, these applications are referred to explicitly.  
Clauses relating to risks associated with security, environmental hazards, fire, water and pests apply to 
buildings as a whole and to any roo m in which collections may be held.  
2 Normative references   
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the re ferenced document 
(including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 15686 -1 Buildings and constructed assets — Service life planning — Part 1: General principles and 
framework  
ISO 15686 -5. Buildings and constructed assets — Service life planning — Part 5: Life -cycle  costing  
ISO 16890 -1 Air filters for general ventilation — Part 1: Technical specifications, requirements and classification 
system based upon particulate matter efficiency (ePM)  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms  and definitions apply  
3.1  
air-conditioning  
mechanical system that maintains predetermined control of temperature, humidity, air quality and air distribution  
3.2  
air infiltration   
uncontrolled leakage of air through unsealed points and permeable building materials into a building envelope   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  2 
 3.3  
aspirating smoke  detector  
smoke detector, in which air and aerosols are drawn through a sampling device and carried to one or more 
smoke se nsing elements by an integral aspirator (e.g. fan or pump)  
NOTE  Each smoke sensing element may contain more than one sensor exposed to the same smoke sample.  
3.4  
automatic fire -fighting system  
integrated system within a building, designed to control, s uppress or extinguish a fire, activated by detection 
systems  
3.5 
Building Management System (BMS)  
computer -based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and 
electrical equipment such as ventilation, light ing, power systems, fire systems, and security systems  
3.6  
bund  
structural upstand that can contain water within a defined space in the event of a flood  
3.7  
Closed Circuit Television  (CCTV ) system  
system consisting of camera equipment and/or other im age-capture devices, detector(s), monitoring and 
associated equipment for transmission and controlling purposes  
3.8  
collection  
group of objects having shared or combined significance  
NOTE  The term “collection” is mainly used within “movable cultural heritage”.  
3.9  
conservation  
measures and actions aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage while respecting its significance, including its 
accessibility to present and future generations  DRS  451-1: 2020  
3                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 NOTE  Conservation embraces preventive conservation, remedial conservation and restoration. All measures and 
actions should respect the significance and the physical properties of the cultural heritage item.  
3.10  
cooling load  
power demand (measured in kilowat ts) that is imposed upon an air -conditioning system in maintaining a room 
at the req uired level of temperature and relative humidity (RH)   
3.11  
environment  
surroundings of an object, some aspects of which may affect its condition  
NOTE  Such aspects could  be of human, physical, chemical, biological or climatic origin.  
3.12  
environmental control  
management of one or more factors of the environment  
NOTE  This applies to temperature, relative humidity, light, pollution, etc.  
3.13  
fire resistance  
ability  of a building component or construction to withstand the passage of flames and hot gases and 
temperature rise for a stated period, including load -bearing capacity, integrity and insulation  
3.14  
monitoring  
process of measuring, surveying and assessing t he material properties of objects and/or factors of the 
environment over time  
3.15  
object  
single manifestation of tangible cultural heritage  
NOTE  The term “object” is used in this draft for cultural heritage, both immovable and movable. In specific professional 
contexts, other terms are used  (e.g. artefact,  artwork,  cultural property, item, ensemble, site, building, fabric )  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  4 
 
3.16  
pre-action sprinkler  
dry sprinkler system or one in dry m ode in which the alarm valve can be opened by an independent fire detection 
system in the protected area  
3.17  
preventive conservation  
measures and actions aimed at avoiding or minimizing future damage, deterioration and loss and, consequently, 
any invas ive intervention  
NOTE 1   In the field of movable heritage, “preventive conservation” is generally indirect; namely, these measures and 
actions are carried out within the immediate environment of the object.  
NOTE 2  Examples of preventive conservation are appropriate measures and actions for registration, storage, handling, 
packing and transportation, security, environmental management (light, humidity, pollution and pest control), emergency 
planning, education of staff, public awareness, and legal  complian ce. 
3.18  
relative humidity (RH)  
ratio of the actual water vapour pressure to the saturation vapour pressure  
3.19  
remedial conservation  
actions applied directly to an object to arrest deterioration and/or to limit damage or reinforcing their structure  
NOTE1  These actions are only carried out when the items are in such a fragile condition or deteriorating at such a rate, 
that they could be lost in a relatively short time. These actions sometimes modify the appearance of the items.  
NOTE2  Examples of remedial conservation are disinfestation of textiles, desalination of ceramics, de -acidification of 
paper, dehydration o f wet archaeological materials, stabilization of corroded metals, consolidation of mural paintings, 
removing weeds from mosaics.   
3.20 
restoration  
all actions directly applied to a single and stable item aimed at facilitating its appre ciation, understandi ng and 
use 
NOTE  These actions are only carried out when the item has lost part of its significance or function through past 
alteration or deterioration. They are based on respect for the original material. Most often such actions modify the 
appearance of t he item.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
5                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 3.21  
risk assessment  
identification, analysis and evaluation of threats that might alter significance, and the probability of their 
occurrence  
3.22  
sprinkler system  
system of water pipes fitted with sprinkler heads at set intervals and height s, designed to detect, control or 
extinguish a fire by the automatic discharge of water  
3.23 
storage  
designated area where objects are housed providing the necessary conditions required for preservation, safety 
and security while not on display  
NOTE  The term “repository” is used in archives and libraries.  
3.24  
UVA  
ultraviolet radiation of wavelength 315 nm to 400 nm, which is present in sunlight and some artificial light and is 
damaging to many heritage collection materials  
3.25  
Whole Life Cost (WLC)  
total cost of ownership over the life of an asset, in this context a building  
NOTE  Typical costs include planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renewal, eventual demolition, 
build cost and depreciation.  
4 Principles and strategies  
4.1 Principles  
4.1.1  Sustainability  
4.1.1.1 As cultural heritage collections are intended to be preserved indefinitely, buildings intended to 
house them shall be designed to have a long life.  
4.1.1.2 Whether planning a new building or the refurbish ment of an existing building, the Whole Life Cost 
(WLC) shall be evaluated and used as a basis for decision -making.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  6 
 4.1.1.3 The projected energy use, water consumption, carbon emissions and maintenance costs over the 
life of a building shall be included, in addition to capital costs.  
4.1.1.4 Planning for any new or refurbished building or space shall be directed at determining whether 
collections can be protected through passive or low energy means wherever possible.  
4.1.1.5  Wherever a collection requir es ongoing energy use (e.g. heating, freezer storage), the use of 
renewable energy sources should be explored in the first instance.  
4.1.1.6 Since the success or otherwise of a passive climate building design strategy over time may not be 
predictable at t he planning stage, options for retro -fitting controls in the future shall be taken into account.  
4.1.1.7 Consideration of a site shall also take account of the potential energy consumption of users 
travelling to the location. For example, a remote locatio n may be low risk but it may increase energy 
consumption, so the balance of risk over ease of accessibility should be assessed.  
4.1.1.8 Assessment of costs associated with construction shall comply with ISO 15686, Parts 1 and 5.  
4.1.2  Risk management  
4.1.2.1  General  
4.1.2.1.1 A risk assessment shall be carried out when deciding where to locate a new building or collection 
space intended to house cultural heritage collections, whether for storage, display or other use, as defined under 
Clause 5 below.  
4.1.2.1.2 Exist ing buildings or rooms housing collections shall be re -assessed against risks periodically, 
particularly when new hazards are known to have emerged.  
4.1.2.1.3  Information and data need to be gathered and assessed in order to formulate a policy for the 
intended environment, security, fire and flood protection inherent in the building design or its continued use.  
4.1.2.1.4  As part of the risk assessment, the methodology and steps below shall be included. The risks set 
out in the following clauses shall be c onsidered when:  
a) planning and constructing the building or collection space (including risks associated with the construction 
works themselves, in an existing building);  
b) equipping the building; and  
c) managing the building once in use.  
4.1.2.2  Hazards to collection s  
4.1.2.2.1 The nature and use of the collections to be housed shall define requirements for the qualities and 
design of a building or room in which they are to be placed.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
7                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 4.1.2.2.2 The organization shall identify the hazards that affect its collections and assess the likelihood and 
impact of those hazards occurring.  
4.1.2.2.3 The following hazards are common to cultural heritage collections and shall be assessed:  
a) environment (internal and external): temperature, humidity, light and pollution including gaseous and 
particulate ( see Annexe B for examples of internal pollutants and their sources) ; and 
b) bio-deterioration (pests and mould); theft, robbery; vandalism; fire s; water (fresh water supply and 
wastewater); natural events (torrential rain, flooding, landslide, earthquake, etc.).  
4.1.2.2.4 The hazards associated with the location of a building shall be ide ntified in accordance with 5.1.  
4.1.2.2.5 The location with in a building of activities and services that may create a hazard, e.g. kitchens, 
laboratories, shall be taken into account in the risk assessment.  
4.2 Strategy  
4.2.1  Environmental strategy  
4.2.1.1  General  
4.2.1 .1.1  An environmental management strategy for the collectio n shall be developed, based on an 
assessment of the needs of the collections.  
4.2.1 .1.2  The strategy shall include a statement of the expected collection lifetime and the energy demand 
arising from the environmental conditions needed to achieve this, tak ing into account the sensitivity, significance 
and use of individual collection items.  
4.2.1 .1.3 The strategy shall make clear the balance the organization intends to aim for between conservation 
requirements, collection use and energy economy.  
4.2.1.2  Collectio n information  
As a minimum, the information relating to the collection shall include the following:  
a)  the significance of the collection or collection items therein;  
b) the current and expected usage of the collection, including display, handling, tra nsit and loan;  
c) the condition of the collection, its structure and component materials;  
d) the past environment of the collection and its sensitivity to relative  humidity ( RH), tem perature, light and 
pollutants as detailed in any existing records, noting in particular changes over time; and 
e) the expected growth and development of the collection.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  8 
 4.2.1.3  Specifications for environmental protection  
4.2.1 .3.1 Any environmental specification has to be set with the aim of preserving the collection concerned. 
Environmental specifications shall be established after a review of:  
a) the preferred collection lifetime and associated energy demand;  
b) the risk assessment of  environmental hazards conducted in 4.1.2.1.4  a); and 
c) the information collected in 4.2.1.2 . 
4.2.1 .3.2 The environmental specifications for collections shall include:   
a) the permissible upper and lower limits for temperature and a desired seasonal average;   
b) the permissible upper and lower limits for RH and a desired seasonal average;  
c) the permissible upper limit for light exposure, upper limit for illuminance and upper limit for UV to light ratio 
if relevant; and 
d) pollutants expected to cause unacceptable  risk. 
NOTE  See also 5.4.3.2.   
4.2.1 .3.3 Environmental specifications shall be set for general storage, cooled storage, cold storage, display 
and transit, as appropriate based on the collection type. Separate environmental specifications shall be set for 
any microclimates.  
4.2.2  Environmental monitoring strategy  
4.2.2.1   General  
4.2.2 .1.1 An understanding of how well a collection will be protected and preserved can only be achieved by 
continuous monitoring of the environment in which material is held.  
4.2.2 .1.2 All spaces intended for future installation of collections shall be monitored before installation in 
order to understand how the spaces behave and how they may need to be modified.  
4.2.2 .1.3 Monitoring shall also be carried out in existing locations that already hold collections, in order to 
understand the present state of the collections, particularly if they are to be moved to a new location.  
4.2.2 .1.4 The information derived from monitoring shall be reviewed regularly and the implications of trends 
in RH, temperature, light and, where necessary, atmospheric pollutants shall be interpreted by a conservator or 
other specialist with knowledge of the collection and the building and its infrastructure.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
9                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 4.2.2 .1.5 Monitoring alone does nothing to improve pres ervation conditions; it is essential to respond to 
evidence from monitoring that shows conditions are or will be outside recommended ranges and to rectify the 
situation or plan for improvements.  
4.2.2.2   Methodology  
4.2.2 .2.1 Monitoring devices for environmental  hazards shall be provided and used within collection space, 
whatever the method of environmental control.  
4.2.2 .2.2 Monitoring of temperature and RH should typica lly be carried out continuously.  
4.2.2 .2.3 Even if a building management system (BMS) is in use, independent monitoring devices shall be 
used to verify its correct operation.  
4.2.2 .2.4 Monitors and their sensors shall be situated to provide readings that represent the typical conditions 
in which collections are held or will be held but account sh ould also be taken of extreme or abnormal conditions 
that could occur, for example near outside walls or close to a source of heating or ventilation.  
4.2.2 .2.5 For comparative purposes, the outdoor temperature and RH shall be monitored and pollutants 
where necessary.  
NOTE  Because indoor pollutant concentrations rarely change abruptly, seasonal monitoring will be sufficient unless 
pollutant -related damage is obs erved or if furnishings or building features change substantially.  
4.2.2 .2.6 Where collections are packaged, monitoring the room environment will not provide sufficient 
information about the environment around objects. Sensors should also be placed inside  selected packages.  
4.2.2 .2.7 Monitoring data shall be inspected regularly, at least once a week if they are being relied upon to 
establish how an uncertain environment is behaving, or for known environments and longer -term analysis at 
least once every th ree months. Data shall be retained indefinitely in a retrievable form.  
4.2.2 .2.8 Where readings show that conditions are outside those selected, the reason for any discrepancy 
shall be investigated and plans made to remedy any identified problems.  
4.2.2.2.9 Monitoring devices shall be calibrated according to the manufacturers’ instructions. They may also 
be checked against independent devices such as a hand held digital hygrometer, in case they require calibration 
or develop a fault.  
NOTE  Even electronic  sensors tend to drift and need recalibration from time to time, which is why some independent 
monitoring is desirable. It is advisable to carry out calibration in a laboratory equipped for that purpose.  
4.2.3  Facilities management strategy  
4.2.3 .1 Facilities management strategy shall reflect the nature, purpose and use of the building and the 
operations and collections that are housed within.  
4.2.3 .2 Where used, Building Management Systems (BMS) shall incorporate continuous environmental 
monitoring and control of the BMS and its ongoing development shall be undertaken in close partnership with 
collections specialists.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  10 
 4.2.3 .3 Environmental and energy data generated by BMS shall be archived in a retrievable form.  
4.2.3 .4 If a BMS is in use it is also recommended to have some independent monitoring devices, e.g. for 
inside packages, showcases and for back -up monitoring. BMS can be set up to pro vide multi -location 
monitoring.  
4.2.3 .5 Collection management staff and other staff working in the building (e.g. security, maintenance of 
technical systems, general building service, cleaning) shall be involved in the planning of a new building.  
5 Building specifica tions  
5.1 Building location  
5.1.1  Hazards identification  
5.1.1 .1 When selecting a site for a new construction or reviewing an existing building a risk assessment 
shall be undertaken to identify and document the hazards of each potential site and the likelihood of  each of the 
identified hazards causing damage.  
5.1.1 .2  When selecting spaces within an existing building for re -use for heritage collections, a risk 
assessment needs to be undertaken with reference to the strategy outlined in Clause 4.  
5.1.1 .3  The risk  assessment shall include an evaluation of whether preventive measures can be 
implemented to minimize the risks identified and whether after measures are put in place the level of risk is 
likely to be acceptable.  
NOTE  National planning and environmental r egulations will always influence where a building is located. No site can 
be completely free from hazards, but when selecting and planning for a new construction, the probability of certain hazards 
causing loss or damage to heritage materials is to be asse ssed and taken into account.  
5.1.1 .4 When selecting a site, a risk assessment shall take account of hazards that result in the sudden 
loss of, or extensive damage to collections (e.g. the collapse of the building, fire, flood or serious contamination 
resulting in the site becoming inaccessible) and those hazards that can result in damage over time (e.g. insect 
attack, pollution or climate).  
5.1.1 .5 The risk assessment shall include hazards associated with the following:  
a) road, rail or similar tunnels under or close to the building or elevated roadways, railways or tramways (e.g. 
collapse or excessive and regular vibration);  
b) landslides, sink holes, uplift, seismic and volcanic activity;  
c) flooding, including current and pro jected water levels;  
d) sites or areas used for the storage or processing of highly flammable materials (e.g. petrochemicals, 
explosives, paint and tyres) at risk from fire or explosions, or at risk from water or chemicals used to deal 
with such hazards;  DRS  451-1: 2020  
11                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 e) sites on or adjacent to a place emitting harmful gases, pollutants, smoke, dust, etc. or vibration sources, 
such as open cast mining, incinerator, cement works, etc.;  
f) sites adjacent to a place or activity that will attract rodents, insects and other pests, such as food storage 
or processing, waste management, etc.;  
g) nuclear power stations, plants or other radioactive facilities;  
h) airports and their associated flight paths;  
i) high voltage power lines and substations (e.g. collapse or fire); or  
j) defence and oth er target establishments.  
5.1.1 .6 In addition to assessing the likelihood and impact of the above, an assessment shall be made of 
the accessibility of the site to emergency services at all times.  
5.1.1 .7 The accessibility to the site includes the likely call out time of fire and other emergency services. 
This is especially important if the building site is remote or accessible only through dense traffic or narrow 
streets. For example, remote buildings may need additional fire protection measures to allow for additional time 
for fire investigation.  
5.1.2   Natural hazards  
5.1.2 .1 In order to minimize the harmful effects of exposure to sunlight and strong winds that affect air 
infiltration, careful attention shall  be paid to orientation, landscaping and the site's microclimate.  
5.1.2 .2 Where a history of springs and underground watercourses exists, these shall be taken into account 
as heavy and prolonged rainfall may reactivate them.  
5.2 Site capacity  
5.2.1  General  
5.2.1 .1 In planning a new heritage collection building, the projected growth of collections according to the 
obligations of the institution shall be assessed and additional capacity for this shall be included.  
5.2.1.2  Wherever practicable, the site of a new bu ilding shall be large enough to allow for subsequent 
extension.  
5.2.2  Self-containment  
5.2.2 .1 Where a self -contained unit within a larger structure is selected for housing collections, any 
additional risks imposed by the larger building shall be assessed and mitigated as much as possible, so that the 
collection unit's security, structural integrity and fire protection are not compromised.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  12 
 5.2.2 .2 Risks shall be regularly reassessed, particularly if the nature of activity undertaken in the larger 
building chang es.  
5.3 Building structure and environmental protection  
5.3.1  General  
5.3.1.1 This clause covers specifications for the construction of a purpose -built new building intended to 
provide a protective environment for cultural heritage collections and should also be used when planning to 
remodel an existing building or room in order to improve its qualities sufficient for it to be used for collections. It 
should be noted that the changes needed to achieve these environmental specifications may be prohibited in a 
protected historic building.  
5.3.1.2 Where an historic structure already ho uses heritage collections, such as an historic library, archive 
or house, a detailed risk assessment shall be carried out to determine its capacity to provide a protective 
environment.  
NOTE  Collections integral to a protected historic interior can need t o remain in situ  unless the environment has become 
damaging to them (e.g. where a local water table has risen, causing water to penetrate).  
5.3.1.3 Expert advice shall be sought from appropriately experienced building design professionals when 
the design or re-design of a building is planned.  
5.3.1.4 The fire and rescue service, security experts and police authorities shall also be consulted to 
prevent conflict between security and fire protection measures and the safety measures for both people and 
collections.  
5.3.1.5 The different parties involved might have different priorities and it is essential that discussions take 
place at the outset of the building construction. Building constructions shall be compliant with 6.3.   
5.3.1.6 The scope and nature of a collection, as defined following 4.2.1.2 , shall be used to determine the 
kind of environments that a building or space should provide.  
5.3.1.8 If an appropriate environment can be achieved by passive means, these shall be adopted. Some 
sensitive collection materials may require additional mechanical  control such as freezer storage or heating.  
5.3.2  Construction materials  
5.3.2 .1 Walls, floors and ceilings shall be made of materials that conform to the specifications in 5.3.4 and 
5.4.3.   
5.3.2 .2 Internal finishes shall not impede the function of the therm al and hygroscopic capacity of the 
building to stabilize conditions and shall not produce dust.  
5.3.3  Building acclimatization  
5.3.3.1   In the case of newly constructed buildings, drying time for building structure and off -gassing of 
internal finishing, paint and varnishes shall be calculated and this drying time incorporated in the construction 
schedule to enable the internal environment to stabilize before any heritage objects are placed there.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
13                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5.3.3.2   This drying time shall not be shortened or omitted in t he event of construction delays but shall be 
incorporated into the project schedule.  
5.3.3.3  The environment inside the building shall be monitored during this drying period and only when the 
specified conditions are achieved shall heritage materials begi n to be introduced.  
NOTE 1   Where two or more diverse forms of constructions are to be used in a building, it is particularly important that 
the construction schedule takes drying times into consideration. A wet form of construction, intended to provide h igh thermal 
inertia (for example, in situ  cast concrete floors, masonry walls) takes longer to dry out than, for example, a lightweight 
prefabricated dry form of construction that can be used for public and staff facilities.  
NOTE 2  Transfer of collection s to a new building can influence the internal environmental conditions and in 
such instances a further acclimatization period can be necessary. This can have a short -term negative effect 
on the performance of any air -conditioning plant if it is used. Move ment of heritage materials also creates dust 
and so it is important to check the condition of ductwork, filters and other equipment after the move.  
5.3.4  Passive or low -energy environment structures  
5.3.4.1  General  
5.3.4.1.1  Most collection types can be stored and used in an environment (RH and temperature) that changes 
gradually over an annual seasonal cycle, which can be achieved through passive means. The maxima and 
minima in an annual cycle shall be determined by the allow able specifications for collection types.  
5.3.4.1.2   If a new building or the renovation of an existing room is being planned, it shall not be assumed 
that mechanical environmental control systems are required without a full investigation of all available  options 
to achieve specified conditions.  
5.3.4.1.3  Dynamic thermal and hygroscopic modelling shall be used to determine how changes in external 
environment, such as extreme weather conditions, could affect internal conditions and the building structure 
designed to remain within required conditions when these changes occur.  
5.3.4.1.4  The specification for the building structure (insulation and hygroscopic properties) shall also take 
account of the length of time that it will take for the environment to go  out of the required range following failure 
of any control equipment.   
5.3.4.1.5  The insulation and hygroscopic properties of a new building designed to provide an environment 
requiring climate control shall be capable of maintaining specified conditions in the event of the failure of the 
equipment for a minimum of 48 h or until alternative arrangements can be made.  
5.3.4.2  Storage spaces  
5.3.4.2.1   Environmental stability in a storage space shall be achieved by a location and construction that 
ensures that the temperature inside the space is not rapidly or substantially influenced by the temperature 
outside, has low air infiltration rates, has a barr ier to prevent moisture penetration from outside and incorporates 
hygroscopic materials on the inside to moderate internal RH fluctuations.  
5.3.4.2.2   Heating infrastructure (pipework) that is not intended for the storage space shall not pass through 
or under the space.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  14 
 5.3.4.2.3   A new storage building or space shall be built to maximize air tightness. Air infiltration shall be less 
than 0,5m3 per square metre per hour at 50 Pa.  A storage space within an existing (not historic) building should 
meet the s ame standard and if necessary shall be improved in order to meet it.   
5.3.4.2.4   Tests intended to assess the air infiltration rate of a proposed storage space shall not involve the 
sealing up of likely air passage locations such as doors and ductwork sinc e these, if they are not to be changed 
or removed, will continue to affect the rate of infiltration once the collection is in place.  
5.3.4.2.5   The extent of internal hygroscopic characteristics shall be informed by the hygroscopic nature of 
the collectio ns held within and the ratio of space to the collections.  
5.3.4.2.6   The construction type and building fabric chosen, with low air infiltration and high thermal stability, 
shall not cause condensation to occur within it or on its surfaces.  
5.3.4.2.7  Passive microclimate packaging should be used for RH sensitive collection materials to further 
reduce the rate of change to the object contained.  
NOTE  Hygroscopic organic materials respond to changes in RH which in turn cause changes in dimensions and 
mecha nical properties. The response time of collection items to RH change depends on the materials and varies according 
to thickness and permeability. Packaging and buffered frames and display cases slow the response time of a collection item, 
depending on the air-tightness and buffering capacity of the enclosure.  
5.3.4.2. 8  Where two storage repositories are connected, or a storage repository links directly to another 
room or corridor that is not maintained at the same environmental conditions, airlocks shall be used.  
5.3.4.2. 9 The layout of the airlock shall allow for the movement of staff and collections.  
5.3.4.3  Display and reading spaces  
5.3.4.3.1   Air infiltration rates and temperature in a display gallery or reading room will inevitably be higher 
than in a sto rage space, especially if they are to be comfortable for users.  
5.3.4.3.2  When planning to use collections in any building, the relationship between building orientation, 
weather patterns, sunlight and the intended collection use shall be considered.  
5.3.4.3.3   In display spaces that do not provide hygroscopic stability, buffered cases and frames shall be 
used to protect RH sensitive collections.  
5.3.4.3.4   Lighting installations shall be in accordance with 5.8.3 and produce minimal heat.  
5.3.4.3.5   Any heating infrastructure (pipework) that has to pass through or under the space but is not 
intended to warm the space shall be insulated in order to minimize thermal gain .  
5.3.4.3.6   Windows shall have filtration to block UVA radiation and have blinds fitte d or other means of 
reducing or removing direct sunlight and solar heat gain.  
5.3.4.3.7   Localized heating shall be fitted with manual controls. The seasonal pattern of sunlight in display 
spaces should be modelled or recorded and the use of collections a djusted accordingly to avoid risk of light 
damage.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
15                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5.4 Air quality  
5.4.1  General  
5.4.1.1  Existing buildings and sites intended for collections shall be assessed for pollution risks.  
5.4.1.2  New buildings shall be constructed using materials that do not emit poll utants harmful to collections.  
5.4.1.3  Collections should be assessed to identify their different sensitivities to pollutants and whether they 
themselves produce internal pollutants.  
5.4.2  External pollutants  
5.4.2.1  In planning a new building, published data on local outdoor gaseous pollutant concentrations shall 
be examined to determine which pollutants, if any, need also to be monitored indoors.  
5.4.2.2  Collection items shall be evaluated to identify materials know n to interact with outdoor generated 
gaseous pollutants.  
5.4.2.3  If an outdoor gaseous pollutant concentration is high, and sensitive collection items are held on 
display, pollutants shall be monitored indoors to guide action to mitigate any risks identif ied.  
5.4.2.4  If risks of pollutant/material interaction are identified, collection items shall not be installed until 
pollutant levels have been reduced and/or risks eliminated.  
NOTE  External pollutants of most concern include ozone, nitrogen oxides, su lphur dioxide and dust.  
5.4.2.5  Air intakes (e.g. for ventilation) shall not be located close to sources of pollution, excessive moisture 
or heat.  
5.4.2.6  Where external air pollution levels entering through ventilation systems are high enough to place 
collections at risk, air intakes should incorporate chemical filtration.  
5.4.2 .7 Dust entering the building via air intakes shall be collected through a coa rse filter  and a fine filter in 
accordance  with ISO 16890 -1.  
5.4.3   Internal pollutants  
5.4.3.1  Building materia ls  
5.4.3.1.1  Collection items held in passive storage spaces or furniture shall be evaluated to identify materials 
sensitive to gaseous pollutants generated within or by the building materials, surfaces, storage enclosures or 
cases.  
NOTE  Pollutants such as acetic acid (ethanoic acid), formic acid (methanoic acid), formaldehyde (methanal), reduced 
sulphur gases and volatile organic compounds generally have higher concentrations in enclosures compared with the 
external environment. Pollutant interactions wi th heritage materials are promoted by high RH and temperature levels.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  16 
 5.4.3.1.2  The materials used to construct enclosures and display cases shall be evaluated to determine that 
they do not emit gaseous pollutants to an extent that would be expected to ca use unacceptable irreversible 
change in the contents of the enclosure.  
5.4.3.1.3  Paint, varnishes and coatings that do not emit volatile organic compounds shall be used in 
construction of building components in areas intended to hold collections.  
5.4.3.1 .4 Any equipment (including filtration) that produces ozone shall not be installed or operated near 
collections, as ozone can be harmful to heritage materials.  
NOTE  Emissions from surfaces and coatings can continue for years after application, especially in a well-sealed , low 
air-exchange space. Gum, gelatin, casein and silicate paints can be used for brickwork, masonry and concrete as safe 
alternatives.  
5.4.3.1.5  Paints, varnishes and sealants can emit pollutants at high concentrations wh ile maturing after 
application. Collection items shall not be brought near maturing coatings until emissions have fallen below 
thresholds.  
NOTE 1   For examples of internal pollutan ts and their sources see Annex B .  
NOTE 2   Pollution emission from building  and storage enclosure materials can be reduced by the application of barrier 
materials and/or protective coatings or lacquers.  
5.4.3.2  Emissive collections  
5.4.3.2.1   Some collection materials emit volatile compounds of a nature and volume that place themselves  
and other collections at risk. An assessment shall be made to establish the level of risk of any emissive 
collections and where these are deemed sufficiently high, ventilation shall be incorporated into storage and 
display.  
5.4.3.2.2  In mechanically vent ilated systems carbon filtration shall be placed on recirculated air to absorb 
these pollutants.  
5.4.3.2.4  Dedicated storage spaces shall be constructed or used for highly emissive collections to ensure 
that people and other collections are not harmed.  
5.4.3.2.5  The selection of which ventilation system, whether natural or mechanical, shall be determined by 
factors including safety and energy consumption.  
5.4.4  Ventilation  
5.4.4.1  The building shall have a controllable means of ventilation in order to change air that has become 
polluted or following a change in atmospheric conditions resulting in high internal RH or temperature.  
5.4.4.2  Methods of ventilating that do not use electr o-mechanical equipment shall be specified in order to 
allow for ventilation when no power is available, e.g. natural ventilation systems, and shall be blocked off when 
not in use.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
17                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 NOTE  Natural ventilation, either wind driven or buoyancy (stack) effect, u ses naturally occurring pressure differences 
to reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy costs.  
5.4.4.3  Ventilation using external air shall incorporate filtration to reduce external pollutant concentration 
levels to conform to 5.4.2.   
5.4.4.4  Fresh air intakes for ventilating shall not be located close to sources of pollution, excessive moisture 
or heat.  
5.4.4.5  Materials used for filters shall not be damaging to heritage material. Filter performance should be 
regularly monitored and filters sh ould be maintained according to manufacturers’ instructions.  
5.4.4.6  Any filtering equipment that produces ozone shall not be used, as this can be harmful to heritage 
materials.  
5.4.4.7  Ventilation shall provide even distribution so that all areas of the  space are reached.  
5.4.4.8  Air diffusers used to distribute air evenly shall be located inside a storage space such that they 
allow for air circulation around loaded shelves.  
NOTE   Ventilation systems can be used to distribute and balance air across sp aces where conditions in localized zones 
are temporarily outside the required ranges, but are not be used as a permanent environmental control strategy.  
5.4.4.9  The sides and backs of both fixed and mobile shelves shall allow the free circulation of air. There 
shall be a sufficient distance between the floor and the lowest shelf, as well as between the ceiling and the 
average line of upper edges of objects stored on the top shelf.  
5.4.4.10  There shall also be a sufficient distance between the top of the h ighest object on each shelf and 
the bottom of the shelf above.  
5.4.4.11  Where a ducted air distribution or control system is to be installed, account shall be taken of the 
space required for the ductwork connected to the plant.  
5.4.4.12  Plant shall be si tuated outside storage spaces. An alarm system shall be installed to alert staff to 
any malfunction in the plant.  
NOTE   See also 5.12.   
5.5 Mechanical environmental control  
5.5.1  General  
5.5.1 .1 Environmental control shall be achieved through building design or building improvements that 
meet the specifications in 5.3 and the use of packaging and buffered display cases and frames, etc.  
5.5.1 .2 For collections that require specific environments th at cannot be achieved by building structure 
alone (e.g. cold storage) mechanical control equipment such as air conditioning can be installed.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  18 
 5.5.1 .3 Sources of damp, excess air infiltration or weaknesses in insulation in an existing structure shall be 
identified and remedied first before considering the use of mechanical means of control.  
5.5.1 .4 Plug-in mobile dehumidification units, humidifiers, heaters or other electrical equipment can 
increase the risk of fire or flood. Such equipment should only be used temporarily where no other means can 
be found of bringing an existing space within suitable RH or temperature ranges and in conjunction with suitable 
safety cut -out equipment in the event of a malfunction and whenever possible should be switched off w hen the 
building is closed.  
5.5.1 .5 A new storage repository shall not be designed to incorporate plug -in mobile electrical units to be 
placed within it as a means of controlling the environment.  
5.5.2  Air conditioning for storage repositories  
5.5.2 .1 The dec ision to include air conditioning to control conditions inside a storage repository shall be 
based on a decision that the specified environment for collections cannot be achieved and maintained without 
it.  
5.5.2 .2 The rate of air circulation designed to b e delivered by air conditioning plant shall be determined 
from the cooling load to maintain the required temperature and RH in the repository.  
5.5.2 .3 In order to prevent unregulated air from being drawn in and thereby undermining the intended 
control ove r RH and temperature, positive pressure shall be maintained by including sufficient fresh air make -
up into the airflow ahead of the air conditioning unit and by operating return fans at a slower rate than supply 
fans.  
5.5.2 .4 Where an air -conditioning unit is designed to use a chiller battery to remove moisture, the control 
system shall always give priority to humidity levels and not to temperature levels, in order to prevent 
dehumidification cooling from being switched off whe n the required temperature level of room air is reached. 
Off-coil air shall be re -heated when dehumidification cooling takes it below the specified room temperature 
levels, followed by controlled re -humidification when resulting conditions require it.  
5.5.2.5 Return -air temperature, RH and internal pollutant sensors linked to the air conditioning controls 
shall be incorporated, in order to regulate the room environment. Return and supply ductwork passing through 
spaces outside the repository shall be insul ated to reduce changes of temperature affecting sensors used for 
controlling air conditioning units, especially if sensors are located in return ductwork.  
5.5.2 .6 Air conditioning and ventilation controls shall be designed so that, when sensors determine that 
temperature, RH or pollutant levels are within the required conditions, fans and controls shall switch off 
automatically and remain off until conditions start to go outside the required conditions.  
5.5.2 .7 Air conditioning control strategy shall not result in rapidly and widely fluctuating RH for collections 
that cannot be readily packaged and are suscepti ble to fluctuation .  
5.5.2 .8 During installation, an inventory of critical replacement parts (such as fan belts, filter bags, heater 
elements and hu midification bottles, electronic fuse and switching modules etc.) shall be identified and acquired 
as stock to be kept on site at all times so that the failure of such parts does not result in periods of down -time 
while replacements are sourced.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
19                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5.5.2 .9 Heritage materials may be at risk of damage in high or low temperatures and RH. Mould can rapidly 
spread if RH is above 65 % for periods of a week or more, so equipment failure down -time should be avoided.  
5.5.2 .10 Air-conditioning installations shall be kept clean and in good working order and this shall be taken 
into account in their design.  
5.6 Prevention of infestation by pests and mould  
5.6.1  Vegetation shall not be incorporated into the structure of a new building or against external walls.  
5.6.2  The exterior of existing buildings shall be kept free of vegetation wherever possible.  
5.6.3  Cracks and holes in existing structures shall be sealed to prevent pests migrating into the building.  
5.6.4  The points at which any new wiring or trunking enters and  leaves the building shall be sealed against 
pests, as well as against air infiltration and dust.  
5.6.5  Ventilation or air -conditioning supply and extract vents shall be fitted with filters or screens to prevent 
the entry of pests into the building. Doors  shall be installed and seal tightly in their frames.  
5.6.6  The level of pest activity inside and around a building shall be monitored and assessed  and w here 
necessary, a programme of pest management initiated.  
5.6.7  Areas shall be kept clean and unused space shall be accessible for cleaning.  
5.6.8  Materials and activities that could provide a food source for pests for example food and drink, pot plants 
and wool carpets, shall never be introduced into a storage space.  
5.6.9  Heritage objects shall not be  brought into the building until they have been checked for pest or fungal 
contamination and treated where necessary. A separate area shall be provided for this purpose and precautions 
shall be taken to confine contamination to it.  
5.6.10  Damp objects sha ll never be placed into an otherwise dry store as localized damp conditions promote 
the growth of mould.  
5.6.11  Rooms with cold or damp walls or unregulated air vents shall not be used to store collections. Existing 
buildings or spaces intended for conver sion to use as collections spaces shall be surveyed and any structural 
weaknesses remedied before collections are installed.  
5.6.12  Areas of damp penetration or poor insulation shall be identified and improvements made in order to 
prevent the risk of moul d or moisture damage.  
5.6.13  Where the physical or mechanical deficiencies causing damp penetration or condensation in an historic 
structure cannot be remedied, collections shall be kept away from the area affected.  
5.6.14  Storage equipment such as shelv es and drawers shall be placed to allow for a gap between heritage 
materials and the surface of walls.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  20 
 NOTE 1  A colder zone in a storage space could give rise to RH conditions that are higher than the ambient conditions 
in the rest of the space. This can  cause condensation and a higher moisture content within collections, promoting the growth 
of mould.  
NOTE 2   If mould is germinating, specialist advice is to be sought about the health risks and the spread of mould spores.  
5.7 Protection against water  
5.7.1  Design and materials  
5.7.1 .1 Rooms where moisture is penetrating through the walls, floor, ceiling or openings shall not be used 
for collections.  
5.7.1.2 Buildings or rooms intended to hold collections shall be designed, and the materials for their 
const ruction chosen, such that the risk of damage to the collections from water is reduced to a minimum.  
5.7.1.3 Where an assessment indicates a high risk of external water ingress, such as in below -ground 
accommodation, forms of protection shall be used, for example waterproof coatings or the construction of a 
bund. Equipment for removal of ingress of water such as sump pumps shall be installed and checked frequently. 
Leak detection with an alarm shall be installed.  
NOTE  See 5.5.1.   
5.7.2  Rainwater discharge syste ms  
5.7.2.1  The design shall include a provision for sufficient weir overflows to prevent water entering a building 
when an outlet is blocked.  
5.7.2.2  Rainwater discharge systems shall be located outside of the building and floor drainage systems 
shall di scharge away from walls.  
5.7.2.3  Rainwater gutters and pipework systems shall be designed to enable regular and easy access for 
clearance.  
5.7.3  Drainage and piping work  
5.7.3.1  Storage spaces, display or collection spaces shall not be constructed with water supply or drainage 
running through them.  
5.7.3.2  Provision shall however be made for the controlled rapid removal or exit of any water that might 
accumulate in a building during firefighting or sprinkler operation .  
5.7.3.3  There shall be no obstructions to the dispersal of floodwater via drains.  
5.7.3.4  The lowest level of a storage compartment (shelf or drawer) shall be at least 150 mm above the 
floor.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
21                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5.7.3. 5 Drains in non -collection spaces (or in existing spaces used for storing or using collections)  shall be 
fitted with one -way valves to prevent water backing up into the building and shall be designed and located to 
prevent the risk of flooding or providing a means of entry for polluted air or pests.  
5.7.3. 6 The need for emergency pumping systems, e ither as an alternative or as a supplement to drains, 
shall be assessed.  
5.7.3. 7 Drainage access points, pipe -work or other sources of water shall be regularly monitored and fitted 
with flood sensors and alarms that are audible outside the building.  
5.8 Wind ows and lighting  
5.8.1  General  
Exposure to light can damage objects. The level of the light reaching a surface (illuminance), the exposure 
(duration) and the spectral distribution of the light source shall be controlled, especially in display areas and 
reading  rooms.  
5.8.2   Glazing and light levels  
5.8.2.1  Windows and roof -lights shall not be incorporated in new storage spaces (see 7.7). In other new 
spaces intended to house heritage objects, windows shall be at least double glazed, with a UVA filter 
incorporated in the glass or provided as a screen. In addi tion, shutters, louvres or blinds shall be used wherever 
practicable to control light levels and in the interests of security.  
NOTE  See also Clause 7.   
5.8.2.2  Windows in existing storage spaces shall be blocked up. Windows in other areas shall include a 
UVA filter or be covered, e.g. with blinds. UVA filters should be tested at least once a year and replaced when 
internal UVA transmission is detected.  
NOTE  It cannot be permissible or practical to place UVA filtering on historic glazing.  In these circumstances 
alternatives such as the use of blinds are to be considered.  
5.8.3  Artificial lighting  
The following specifications shall be observed when designing lighting services for storage spaces:  
a) lighting shall be installed such that it can be switched off either manually or automatically when not required. 
Large storage spaces in particular shall be divided into separate lighting zones;  
b) lighting shall be fitted al ong the length of each aisle and gangway and at right angles to mobile shelf runs, 
unless integrated into the mobile shelf system. Lighting shall not obstruct access to the shelves;  
NOTE  Lighting can be attached to storage equipment. For mobile shelves o r screens, lighting can be arranged to 
switch on and off as individual aisles are opened and closed.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  22 
 c) any potential hot spots (see also 6.3.7.3)  shall be identified in any lighting scheme plans and wherever 
possible these are avoided;  
d) the heat output of t he lamps and the effect on the thermal environment shall be assessed and wherever 
possible heat output reduced in scheme design and equipment specification.  
5.8.4   Lamps  
5.8.4.1  Lamps should not emit UVA radiation (i.e. of wavelength below 400 nm). Lamps or bu lbs located 
in existing spaces shall be tested and replaced if found to emit UV radiation. Fluorescent lamps emit UVA 
radiation and shall not be installed in new constructions. The energy efficiency of lamps shall be identified and 
low energy lamps specifi ed and installed.  
5.8.4.2  Light levels in storage spaces shall be  determined and should be designed to switch off when not in 
use.  
5.9 Emergency electrical supply  
Batteries or other secondary generation equipment shall be installed to support emergency ligh ting and any 
environmental control systems in the event of electrical supply failure.  
5.10 Ceilings  
5.10.1  False ceilings shall not be used in storage repositories as they create voids that might harbour hazards 
such as pests. Where the use of false ceilings i s unavoidable in non -storage area, they shall be constructed of 
materials of limited combustibility.  
5.10.1  The minimum internal height of a storage space shall take account of the racking height and the service 
zones above, in compliance with 5.12.  
5.11 Floo rs and load distribution  
5.11.1  General  
5.11.1.1  Floors in storage spaces and between stores and reading rooms or display galleries shall be level 
and uninterrupted by steps, door sills, heating grilles or mats, in order to allow the safe passage of collections 
and moving equipment. Where a change in flo or level is unavoidable, an assessment shall be made as to the 
safest means of transition (ramp or step) for the objects that need to be transported.  
5.11.1.2  Floor surfaces shall be resilient be of materials that reduce the built -up of a static charge.  
NOTE 1   Heritage collection loads are generally in place for many years and it is therefore important that 
the long -term behaviour of the building is considered. Suspended concrete and timber floors experience long -
term deflections (creep) that could exce ed the initial floor deflection. This means that a floor that was initially 
acceptable could become unacceptable over time. This can be a particular problem if mobile storage is adopted.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
23                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5.11.2  Calculation of floor loads  
5.11.2.1  A high degree of accuracy is ne cessary for floor load calculations, particularly in storage spaces and 
where mobile shelves are to be installed. False floors should be avoided in new constructions. The mass and 
distribution of the heritage objects, which might be stored, and of static o r mobile shelves, shall be calculated.  
5.11.2. 2 Where the use of mobile shelves is considered, an assessment regarding its suitability for the floor 
and building structure should be made by a structural engineer in conjunction with the storage equipment 
manufacturer.  
5.12 Storage space arrangements  
5.12.1  The shape, dimensions and layout of a storage space shall be determined by the need to provide 
maximum capacity and ease of withdrawal and replacement of heritage objects.  
5.12.2  For new constructions, it is recommended that the structural solution, in particular the column grid, 
should allow for the most efficient storage equipment layout. Wherever practicable, areas shall be designed to 
be free from obstructions especially if, fo r example, high -density mobile shelves and drawer chests are to be 
used.  
NOTE  It is inadvisable to store items or containers so tightly on shelves that they cannot be removed easily, so space 
is to be allowed for to ensure ease of retrieval.  
5.12.3  Openi ngs of doors through which loaded trolleys or other handling equipment are to pass shall be 
adequate for the collections housed within.  
5.12.4  Space around doorways and ends of storage equipment shall allow for manoeuvring the largest objects. 
Where mezza nine floors or galleries are incorporated within a storage space, easily accessible straight flight 
stairs only should be provided to give access to the upper spaces.  
5.12.5  Gangways and stairs shall be wide enough to allow the largest heritage objects st ored to be removed 
and replaced without difficulty. Suitable manual or mechanical means of transferring items to a mezzanine 
gallery shall be provided appropriate to the collections being housed.  
5.12.6  Ceiling height in storage spaces shall be designed t o provide sufficient clearance between the highest 
shelves and the ceiling or lowest suspended element (including lamps or ducts, etc.) to permit the safe 
placement of items onto the shelves (see also 5.4.4).   
NOTE  High bay storage will require ceiling cle arance sufficient for safe use of mechanical lifts and their occupants.  
6 Fire protection and prevention  
6.1 General  
6.1.1 A fire strategy shall be developed in any new or refurbished building or space where heritage collections 
will be held that includes spe cific measures relating to the protection of the collections in addition to those 
standard provisions relating to human safety.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  24 
 6.1.2 Fire precautions shall be designed to protect the contents and structure of the building both from the 
fire itself and fr om damage caused by firefighting operations, as well as protecting staff.  
6.1.3 The fire strategy for collections shall be designed with the advice and support of fire experts.  
6.1.4 Most heritage objects are made of combustible materials and therefore should be kept away from all 
sources of flame such as smoking or hot working.  
6.1.5 The probability of fire occurring shall be reduced to the minimum level practicable by a combination of 
design and management.  
6.1.6 Fire risk assessment and plans involving the heritage collections as part of a wider disaster recovery 
plan shall be drawn up in collaboration with the local fire and rescue service and fire insurers in order to provide 
the fire and rescue service with information in the case of an emergency.  
6.1.7 The fire risk assessment and plans shall include a warning that the indiscriminate use of extinguishing 
agents used by fire services, for example water, can cause serious damage to heritage collections.  
6.2 Fire risk assessment  
6.2.1 A fire risk assessment shall be undertaken to inform the fire strategy for the building and its contents 
and to ensure that adequate provision of the necessary fire prevention and protection measures ar e in place.  
6.2.2 This shall be undertaken by a qualified and experienced fire engineer or other professional with the 
necessary experience and competence in protecting cultural resources from fire.  
6.2.3  The assessment shall be performed:  
a) at the des ign stage of a new build;  
b) at the design stage of an alteration of an existing building;  
c) when planning any modification of a collection building and its contents;  
d) when changes that occur externally to the collection building might increase the r isk of fire.  
6.2.4 The fire risk assessment shall establish a hierarchy of risk, for example distinguishing between higher 
risk spaces such as publicly accessible rooms, medium risk areas such as staff spaces and the most fire 
resistant spaces such as sto rage spaces.  
6.3 Structural fire protection  
6.3.1  General  
6.3.1.1  Fire precautions shall be discussed with the fire and rescue service and insurers. Experts such as 
fire engineers, fire consultants and insurers shall be asked to advice about particular problems or risks.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
25                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 6.3.1.2  The aim is not only to minimize the possi bility of a fire breaking out within the building itself, but 
also to make collection spaces as impregnable to fire as is practicable in the event of a fire originating in areas 
adjacent to, above or (in a building of several storeys) beneath the collectio n space. For this reason, it is 
recommended to carry out an overall fire risk assessment at the design stage (see 6.2).   
6.3.2  Structural fire resistance  
6.3.2.1  The elements of structure of the building or collection space shall be designed to minimise the 
spread of fire.  
6.3.2.2  Construction shall provide a level of fire resistance against a fire occurring outside a collection 
space appropriate to the findings of a risk assessment.  
6.3.2 .3 Fire resistance, particularly for collection stores, shall be against  both heat transfer through walls, 
floors and ceilings and collapse of these elements.  
6.3.2 .4 For new storage buildings or rooms, no wall, floor or ceiling of the store shall form a partition 
between the heritage collection institution responsible for th e contents of the store and another organisation not 
under the management of the collecting institution.  
6.3.2 .5 Fire risk assessments shall cover adjacent premises (e.g. shared buildings or neighbouring 
buildings with a party wall) to assess conformity w ith the fire resistance specification (see also 5.1).   
6.3.3  Lightning conduction  
Lightning conductors shall not run within a fire compartment, particularly inside a display area or storage 
repository.  
6.3.4  Fire compartments  
6.3.4.1  For reasons of fire safety, the building shall be divided into compartments with the advice of relevant 
experts.  
6.3.4.2  Internal/external walls, floors, ceilings and doors between single rooms and compartments and 
between collection spaces and other area s of the building shall be constructed in such a way that fire, water 
and smoke are prevented from spreading into a neighbouring unit. The fire resistance of storage compartments 
in particular should conform to 6.3.2.   
NOTE  Fire compartments can have an i mpact on the internal environment and this can be especially significant in a 
storage space.  
6.3.5  Doors and other openings  
6.3.5.1  Openings including ducting in fire -resisting walls shall be protected to prevent the movement of 
smoke and be fire resistant to the same level as the walls that contain them. Doors shall be self -closing in the 
event of a fire.  
NOTE  See 7.5 and 6.4.2.    
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  26 
 6.3.5.2  If overpressure vents are fitted in a storage repository to allow for installation of a gaseous fire -
fighting system, thes e shall be sealed and not compromise the environmental stability, security and air infiltration 
standards of the repository.  
6.3.6  Vertical openings  
Stairways, lift shafts, ventilation risers and other vertical openings that might act as flues for fire, smoke,  or toxic 
gases shall be enclosed by walls, partitions or dampers and doors of material with an appropriate fire resistance.  
6.3.7  Minimizing fire hazard in an electrical system  
6.3.7.1  Cables  
6.3.7.1.1  Cable insulation should be flame retardant and be of low smoke z ero halogen (LS0H) to minimize 
the emission of harmful fumes in the event of fire.  
6.3.7.1.1  The points, at which cables enter and leave a storage or display space or pass through intermediate 
walls, shall be fire stopped in order to maintain the fire res istance of the walls.  
6.3.7.1.1  Electrical circuits shall not pass through a storage repository unless they serve it.   
6.3.7.2   Master switches  
6.3.7.2.1  Except for those switches providing fire detection and protection or emergency lighting, there shall 
be a master switch or switches outside storage and display spaces to isolate electrical circuits out -of-hours.  
6.3.7.2.1   The master switch shall be label led and secured against vandalism and tampering and shall be 
fitted with a warning light to indicate when the power is on.  
6.3.7.3  Electrical fittings  
6.3.7.3.1  Where fluorescent lamps and systems are fitted these shall be replaced with LEDs to reduce fire 
risk associated with heat from ballast units.  
6.3.7.3.2  Electrical light fittings selected shall not create a concentration of heat (hot spots) which might 
present a fire risk.  
NOTE   See 5.8.   
6.4 Minimizing fire hazards in ventilation plant and equipment  
6.4.1  Ductwork  
No ventilation or other ductwork system for a storage repository should at any point connect with ducts serving 
premises outside the repository, nor should ducts serving other premises pass through the repository.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
27                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 6.4.2  Dampers  
6.4.2.1  Where a collec tion space is served by ducted ventilation, ducts shall be installed with fire and smoke 
dampers.  
6.4.2.2  Fire and smoke dampers of a rating to match the compartment fire rating shall be installed, for 
example, where the ductwork passes through fire compa rtment walls or floors.  
6.4.2.3  An automatic fire detector of the smoke sensitive type shall be installed at the outlet side of the fan.  
6.5 Fire detection and firefighting  
6.5.1  General  
Where practicable, automatic fire detection, alarm and automatic fire -fighting systems shall be consolidated into 
one continuous system that detects a fire, sounds an alarm, allows a set time for people to check whether the 
alarm is genuine and to leave the building, and then sets off any automatic fire -fighting system. Automated  fire-
fighting systems should operate independently (see 6.3.4).   
6.5.2  Detection and alarm systems  
A higher sensitivity smoke detection system shall be installed in collection spaces. This can be either an 
aspirating detection system (ASD) or high sensitivity point detectors. The system shall be supported by an 
appropriate level of monitoring (see 6.3.3).  If an ASD is selected for a passive climate storage space, the air 
extracted for sampling should be returned to the room in order to avoid creating negative p ressure in the space.  
6.5.3  Monitoring  
6.5.3.1  A fire risk assessment shall be carried out both inside and outside a space or building holding 
heritage collections to determine whether an automatic fire -fighting system (also known as fixed fire -fighting 
system s) should be installed in the collection space. Risk includes emergency services response time.  
6.5.3.2  Depending upon the type of system employed, these systems can act to suppress, control or 
extinguish fires, both those starting within the spaces and t hose starting outside in adjacent spaces. A system 
should not be one that will cause damage to the heritage collections in the event that it is used. Space and 
infrastructure constraints, sustainability and maintenance costs shall also be considered.  
NOTE    See Annex A.   
6.5.4  Portable fire extinguishers  
Portable fire extinguishers provide the opportunity for the rapid extinguishing of small fires; however, a risk -
based approach shall be used to select the extinguishing agents and to choose their placement and purpose 
within the building, including the nature of the collection protected. The risk assessment shall include risks to 
the co llections as well as to humans.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  28 
 6.5.5   Protection of areas adjacent to collection spaces  
6.5.5.1  Where a collection space is part of a larger building, firefighting equipment that uses water shall be 
provided outside the space and in accordance with the advice of the local fire and rescue service. Portable fire 
extinguishers shall also be provided in accordance with 6.5.5.   
6.5.5.2  Wherever possible, all collection spaces, including storage, display galleries and reading rooms, 
shall be protected from surface water run -off from adjacent areas. Storage spaces and adjoining rooms shall 
be fitted with a f ire-fighting -water drainage system.  
6.5.6  Smoke extraction  
It is important to remove the products of combustion from a collection space aft er a fire to minimise damage to 
the collection. Where a natural venting or mechanical smoke extraction system is installe d, it shall be integrated 
with any fire -fighting system, and shall be designed to avoid water entering the collection space.  
6.5.7   Fire control and mobile shelves  
To assist fire control in a storage space, the spines of double sided mobile shelf runs shall be  separated by 
solid metal partitions placed at every five or six runs. Where an automatic firefighting system is installed, the 
runs of any mobile shelves shall be set apart by not less than 25 mm when the storage repository is unoccupied 
in order to assis t the penetration of the firefighting agent to all parts of the room.  
NOTE  See 6.3.4.   
7 Security specifications  
7.1 General  
7.1.1 Collections shall be rigorously protected against theft, vandalism, unauthorized alteration and casual 
damage or disturbance caused by inexpert or careless handling.  
7.1.2  Unauthorized and unsupervised access to any room in which collections are stored s hall be forbidden.  
7.1.3 An overall security strategy based on a risk assessment shall therefore be implemented that includes 
the building, its contents and its use. The strategy shall be informed by advice from security experts.  
7.2 Security risk assessment   
The security strategy shall be informed by a security risk assessment. The assessment shall be undertaken to 
determine the levels of prevention and protection necessary to protect the heritage collections from theft, 
burglary and wilful damage, in compli ance with 4 .1.2.  
7.3 Site security  
7.3.1 Where a new building is not part of a larger building, wherever practicable it shall be on a stand -alone 
or island site with restricted access around the whole perimeter.  DRS  451-1: 2020  
29                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 7.3.2 The perimeter shall be clearly illumina ted in the hours of darkness, security gated and fenced. 
Vegetation and shrubbery on the site, which obscures visibility, shall be removed.  
7.3.3 For a building holding collections that forms part of a larger building, a security hierarchy (spaces and 
access) shall be put in place taking account of all users such as staff, visitors, cleaning and maintenance 
workers.  
7.4 Protection against intruders  
7.4.1  The building shall be secure against theft, burglary, vandalism, terrorism, other criminal acts, and an 
intruder alarm system linked to the police or an alarm -monitoring centre shall be provided.  
7.4.2  It is essential that the building is protected against intruders, whether the building is open or closed to 
the public or during emergency evacuation.  
7.5 Entran ces  
7.5.1  Means of access to a building, such as doors, lifts, stairways, windows and ventilation risers, shall be 
designed to exclude the possibility of entry by unauthorized persons and to ensure that even normal 
maintenance staff for the building can e nter only under supervision.  
7.5.2  No part of a building in which heritage material is permanently or temporarily stored shall be used as a 
corridor or emergency exit for non -storage area.  
7.5.3  There shall preferably be only one entrance for visitors to a building in which collections are situated. 
Doors into or between secure areas shall be lockable.  
7.6 Services  
7.6.1  Windows  
7.6.1.1  Wherever practicable, an existing storage space shall not have windo ws and no new storage space 
shall be designed to incorporate them.  
7.6.1.2  Where windows are present in display or reading areas or in historic or existing storage buildings, 
in the interests of security these windows shall be un -openable, barred and glaz ed with security glass . One way 
glass may be used, where necessary, to prevent people looking into the building.  
7.6.1.3  Roof lights shall never be installed in a secure storage space.  
NOTE  See 5.6, 5.8 and 7.4.   
7.7 External doors to the building  
7.7.1  Doors, frames, mountings and hardware shall be constructed to resist unauthorized entry. The 
resistance class shall be established based on a risk assessment, which shall take into account the value of 
heritage objects in the collection. Locks shall open fro m the inside without a key.   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  30 
 7.7.2  No door of a high security area (such as a storage repository) shall be used as an external door of the 
building or open into any part of the building to which the public has normal access. Emergency exit doors shall 
be alarmed and designed to open only from the inside and shall open onto an escape route.  
NOTE  See 5.3.4, 6.3.5 and 7.5.   
7.7.3  Loading bay doors shall be of a resistance class defined by the security strategy.  If loading areas lead 
into other secure parts of the building, these internal routes shall also be protected by the specified resistance 
class door -sets.  
 
 
 DRS  451-1: 2020  
31                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(Informative)  
 
Automatic Fire fighting systems  
A.1 General  
Automatic fire -fighting systems are most commonly specified for the preservation of human life (in offices and 
shops, for example) and consequently water sprinkler systems are most frequently selected for popu lated 
locations, since these have a long record of reliability in extinguishing fires. In heritage collection repositories it 
has been common to specify inert gas suppressant systems, including systems that maintain a permanently 
reduced oxygen environment  (hypoxic air systems) because the release of these gases is safe for organic 
material collections and is unlikely to cause collateral damage in areas beyond the seat of a fire or cause major 
clean -up and restoration expense.  
A.2 Combustible materials  
Heritage collections often represent a significant quantity of combustible material (e.g. library and archive 
collections) . Water sprinklers are a proven method of effectively controlling such fires and limiting the extent of 
fire damage but the effects of w ater damage on heritage collections should be considered. There is also potential 
for water damage from inadvertent or accidental operation. It is possible to use pre -action sprinkler systems to 
obviate this risk although the added complexity and cost of s uch systems should be considered before selecting 
one. Heritage objects in repositories that use a water -based extinguishing system should be boxed or otherwise 
enclosed for protection in the event of water discharge.  
A.3 Inert gas and chemical agent suppression systems  
There are different types of gaseous fire -fighting system used to protect repositories, including those using an 
inert gas like argon, and those using halocarbon agents such as heptafluoropropane (HFC -227),  which are often 
known as chemical agent gases. These systems are actuated automatically by an associated smoke detection 
system. Gaseous suppressant systems are designed to delay a full inflammation occurring for enough time to 
allow the source or seat of  a fire to be investigated and rendered safe. A high -sensitivity detection system also 
assists in this respect and addition of a gaseous suppressant system will add to the likely time available should 
the source of a fire not be established promptly follow ing an alarm triggered by detectors (for example at times 
when the building is closed and not occupied).  
Inert gas systems release a gas that is not harmful to heritage collections. Halocarbon gas agents produce 
break -down products on contact with fire. T hese products can be harmful to organic materials often found in 
heritage collections and the chemical agents themselves may be harmful. It is advisable to consider this when 
selecting the gaseous agents to be used in automatic fire -fighting systems. Where  the repository has air 
distribution ducting and an external exhaust, prompt ventilation after a gaseous discharge may be used to 
minimize this effect. However, in rooms that are controlled without air distribution, such rapid ventilation might 
not be poss ible.  
A.4 Overpressure  
All gaseous systems generate overpressure when discharged into a space (initially there will be both the air in 
the space and also gas to the same volume). Prior to procurement of a gaseous system, the structure of the  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  32 
 repository s hould be assessed by a structural engineer to establish whether it is able to withstand this pressure. 
If overpressure vents need to be fitted, these should not compromise the environmental stability, security and 
air infiltration standards of the reposito ry. Duct -work leading to a plant -room outside the repository can have 
vents included so that they act as a route for the escaping air.  
A.5 Reduced oxygen systems  
Reduced oxygen (hypoxic air) systems can be installed to protect heritage collections but th ese are not as well 
established as gaseous suppressant systems. When selecting such a system, care should be taken to consider 
the implications for the safety of those working in the repository as the required oxygen level required to reliably 
prevent or s uppress fire development might be lower than that permitted for unrestricted access. Such systems 
require constant replenishment of the atmosphere in the room with nitrogen or pre -mixed, reduced oxygen air. 
There are, therefore, continuous energy costs ass ociated with such systems that should be considered as part 
of whole -life costing.  
A.6 Water -mist systems  
Water -mist systems can be designed with automatic nozzles, similar to an automatic sprinkler system, or be 
designed as deluge system, where all nozz les within the protected space will distribute water simultaneously. 
The main advantage of water -mist systems over water sprinkler systems is that less water is used. Such 
systems are less well established than sprinklers or gaseous suppressant systems. At  the time of publication, 
there is no test protocol for configurations of stored materials found in repositories, and the effect of mobile 
storage equipment on water -mist dispersion is likely to be more pronounced than on sprinklers. Water -mist 
systems des igned to flood the whole space on activation of an aspirating smoke detection system can be more 
effective, but with the result that all surfaces are wetted.  
 
 DRS  451-1: 2020  
33                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Annex  B 
(Informative)  
 
Examples of internal pollutants and their sources  
Table 1:   Examples of interna l pollutants and their sources  
Pollutant   
 Example sources   
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid), solvents   Acrylic and nitrocellulose paints   
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid)   Cellulose acetate collection items, cellulose triacetate film   
Camphor  Formaldehyde (methanal)Nitrogen   Cellulose nitrate collection items and photographs   
Acid vapours   Plastics, rubber   
Reduced sulfur gases   Polyisoprene rubber (carpet backing), vulcanized rubber, 
wool and certain sulfide minerals   
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid)   Poly(vinyl acetate)   
Hydrochloric acid   Poly(vinyl chloride)   
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid), formic acid (methanoic acid), 
solvents   Resins / coatings   
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid) Formic acid (methanoic acid)  Wood   
Formaldehyde (methanal)  Wood -based panels (sealed with ureaformaldehyde or 
phenol -formaldehyde resins)   
 
   
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  34 
 Bibliography  
 [1]  ISO 11799:2015 Information and documentation — Document storage requirements for archive and library 
materials  
[2]  KS 2814:2018 Conservation tangible cultural heritage — Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition 
and preservation of objects — General requirements  
[3]  RS 0: 2019 Standard for Standards, 2019  
[4] KS 2814: 2018 Conservation tangible cultural heritage  — Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition 
and preservation of objects — General requirements, 2018  
[6] RS 186 -4:2018 Fire safety for buildings — Code of  practice —Part 4:  Selection, installation and 
maintenance of  automatic fire detection and al arm system , 2018  
[8] National Cultural Heritage Policy, 2015  
[9] Conservation of Cultural Heritage in the Arab Region, 2016  
 
[10] International council of museums (ICOM) Code of ethics for museums, 2006  
 
 DRS  451-1: 2020  
 
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