Most museums keep their collection housing and exhibition spaces at a temperature between 59-77 degrees fahrenheit and a relative humidity between 40-60% (see ICOM guidelines) depending on collection materials. It is important to have an understanding of the types of materials in your collection in order to adhere to the best environmental conditions for the collection.

Insect activity increases in higher temperatures which is why summer is such a busy season for Integrated Pest Management staff. Keeping the internal environment of your building cool and stable can help to deter insects from entering your space and decrease the breeding and eating patterns of any insects already inhabiting your collections and spaces. Keeping a stable environment is easier said than done, and many historic houses and museums have multiple micro-climates throughout the buildings. Not every area can be climate controlled, but it is important to understand the different environments around your building so that they can be monitored as “hot spots” for different ecosystems.

A relative humidity of 65% or above is ideal for mold growth and where there is mold, there is a tasty meal for fungi eating insects. Where there are small fungi eating insects, larger insects who enjoy proteinaceous snacks, can gather. This can sometimes escalate quickly. Therefore, it is essential to monitor for RH in order to avoid a fresh moldy environment that pests will enjoy. 

Here’s a quick comparison chart of low-cost dataloggers your institution can choose from:CCAHA Environmental Datalogger Chart 

To learn how to manage a mold infestation check out this guide from the CCAHA.

HVAC systems are critical for maintaining temperatures and stable relative humidity levels. If this system is not monitored through your department it can be helpful to collaborate with the team who does manage the HVAC system. Purchasing dataloggers is beneficial to understanding conditions in your spaces and being able to notice fluctuations. Data from loggers can be used to create buy-in for your IPM program at your institution.

To purchase a guide that outlines best practices for HVAC use see ASHRAE 2019, Chapter 24 MGAL.

Many insects are drawn to lights, so lighting placement is an important consideration for IPM staff around building entry points. However, lights can also be used as a method for prevention. In areas that are inevitable hot spots for insects, such as trash collection spaces, UV light traps can be installed to keep populations under control to prevent breeding in and around these areas that are often difficult to monitor and clean. Insects Limited provided us with this helpful guide to lighting in their Newsletter (pages 5-7): “Choosing the Best Outdoor Lights to Reduce Insects.”

This information on lighting is another good educational resource to learn about lights.

Additional information about lighting is available on Manufacturing.net.

Keeping the office food and plant free is essential to preventing pest friendly environments. This is a difficult policy to implement because it involves asking people to change their habits and behavior. For tips on how to talk with different departments, visit our Creating Buy-in page.

For general information about environmental controls, the National Park Service has a chapter devoted to museum collections environments. 

For templates and tips for housekeeping procedures and food and drink policies, see the Sanitation page. 

The MPWG has created a template that can be used to create procedure documents specifically geared to your institution regarding control of climate and water sources.