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Light, Temperature and Humidity
Light
It is a well-known fact that the sunlight in Southern California
is very intense. Over time, the result of prolonged light exposure
is the fading and deterioration. This is due to light intensity
and the ultra-violet component within light sources. (click on
images to see larger view)
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Seen here is a display basket. Note how direct
light exposure to the left half has faded the color from red
to pink. |
| To reduce the damaging impact
that natural light can have, museums and galleries often apply
an ultra violet (UV) window film to the interior surfaces of
windows. Film coating of windows is a relatively benign way
to filter up to 99% of the harmful UV component of light. Tinted
UV film also reduces the intensity of light and the amount of
heat entering a collection space. |
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Seen here are three tinted versions of the
same UV film.
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| In January of 2007, the Mission
contracted Sun Tamers Window Tinting to apply window-tinting
films to all windows within its collections spaces. The window-tinting
technicians spent eight days cleaning windows, measuring and
cutting film, and applying it to over 290 window panels. |
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Here, a technician cleans and applies film
to a window in the Serra Chapel.
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The adhesive for the film is activated by
water, making it easy to apply and remove with just a little
moisture.
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| Lighting within the collections
spaces was also managed by removing un-necessary lighting fixtures
and repositioning lights way from sensitive objects. |
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Before
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After
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| Many of the rooms tended to be
over illuminated. With the reduction of extra lighting assembles,
temperature levels can also be reduced. |
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Seen here are four light fixtures removed
from one room alone
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Temperature and Humidity Monitoring
The Mission has installed data loggers within many of its
interpretation spaces. These devices will establish temperature
and humidity trends in these spaces on a daily, monthly, and
yearly basis.
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| Information gathering with these
devices is ongoing. This data will not only give a sense of
problematic trends to correct, but also assist when seeking
grant-funding opportunities. |
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