When heating is completely prohibited by the budget, make changes for winter. To lessen the risk of frost formation, move objects hung or placed against outside walls. Drain or empty all pipes and vessels to avoid having them freeze and burst. Construct storage shelves of wood sealed with shellac rather than metal, and inspect metal objects in the collection during the cold for the formation of frost or condensation. The worst heat and humidity problems are most often encountered in basements and attics.
Many museums use such areas for collection storage.
This means virtually every basement used to store collections needs a dehumidifier. Attics, of course, present the problem of extreme heat. A ventilating fan and sheets of foam insulation under the rafters can reduce attic temperatures 15-20 degrees. However, insulating an attic must be carefully planned. Check on the insulation s R-value, flammability, and proper installation.