Archive storage rooms

Protecting valuable archive materials with precision air handling

We design and install the precision-controlled air handling systems needed to preserve valuable artwork and archive items in optimal condition.

Film, paper, and photographic materials are at risk of degradation from their reaction to the air around them. By keeping temperatures constant and precisely controlling humidity, we help maintain the condition of valuable archive materials and artwork.

Emphasis on maintaining a constant temperature with minimal heat swings and controlled humidity to protect archived materials
Building in an emergency backup solution so materials do not need to be moved if systems fail
Always considering the most environmentally-friendly options with the lowest possible energy consumption and emissions

Using our vast environmental control expertise built up over the past 50 years, Arcade develops specific air handling conditions for such archives; reducing the risk of future damage or degradation.

Read about recent projects for IWM Duxford and the British Film Institute here

Thanks to our specialist expertise in Archive Storage Rooms, we can offer our clients a full turnkey solution across our suite of services – including:

An initial consultation to really understand what you need
Shared ideas and recommendations
Detailed project development plan
Comprehensive design
Installed fully operational solution
Bespoke after care maintenance package

Our work in Archive Storage Rooms is part of a wider suite of Environmental Control solutions – take a look here.

Environments that can benefit include:

Museums
Galleries
Private Collections
Institutions

Other services we offer

Service & Maintenance
Water Treatment
Consultancy Management

Want to hear more or talk through your specific requirements, then get in touch.

Contact us

Similar projects in this category

Arcade has been our go to Mechanical Contractor for a number of years. The team is diligent, amenable and proactive, and they have never let us down. Arcade takes on our more complicated mechanical, plumbing and BMS packages and are exceptionally capable at co-ordinating the M&E design alongside our design consultants. I would be more than happy to recommend Arcade for future work.

Thomas Biggins, Contracts Director, Conamar

Arcade recently designed, built and installed an air-to-water heat exchanger system for our heating/hot water system. They comprehensively detailed the return on investment, which enabled a swift approval from the Board of Directors. Then the project was accurately scheduled and executed and we’re reaping the rewards.

I can wholeheartedly recommend that you give Arcade a go for your next project.

A. Millington, Projects Manager, Precision Colour Printing Ltd

I was very impressed with Arcade. The knowledgeable team installed a new thermal oil heating and a water filtration system in a clean room used to manufacture pharmaceutical products quickly and efficiently, working closely with my site team.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Arcade for similar projects.

Adam MacKenzie, COO CannaPHARMA Ltd

I have worked with Arcade over several years on some fast paced high prestige projects, mainly in the commercial building sector. Arcade are a reliable company and provide an exceptional service from design to installation.

John O’Donnell, Contracts Director at Krypton Building Services

NCS asked Arcade to be a business partner to help deliver successful, working archive and museum stores that provide genuinely protective environments for heritage collections. This means avoiding unnecessary and potentially damaging air conditioning and poor quality construction.

Arcade’s expertise in designing, modelling and constructing passive climate structures along with a deep understanding of mechanical systems, makes them an ideal partner for NCS; developing modern, forward-thinking approaches to sustainable conservation storage, reducing institutions’ energy and maintenance costs, and contributing to a lower carbon footprint for the heritage sector.

Chris Woods, Director at National Conservation Service

The working environment of CERN on occasion imposes sudden changes to the detailed planning, but Arcade dealt with these well, showing excellent flexibility… the engineers were able to use their good design skills to define the technical solution and meet CERN’s requirements.

Michele Battistin, Section Leader in the Cooling and Ventilation Group at CERN

At Wenlock Spring, we worked with Arcade to undertake major upgrades to our bottling facility. The installation of a Biomass Boiler and ancillary services provides effective heating for our processes. Arcade’s expertise on Process Engineering has allowed us to fully automate our Dosing, CIP cleaning and Tank control.

Bruce Orme, Director at Wenlock Spring

We’re confident that the Arcade approach can provide the most effective commercial solution across our range of services and solutions. Let’s explore how we can work together.

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Our projects are

Designed to BS EN 16893 2018 standards which helps protect from the following hazards; environment (temperature, humidity, light etc.), bio deterioration (pests and mould), theft, vandalism, fire, water, natural events
Fire resistant and integrity for up to 4 hours which leads to very structurally strong construction offering
Thermally insulated with U Values in excess of 0.25w/m2/K. A passive environmental control system is highly energy efficient and uses concrete base as thermal store to maintain temperature and humidity conditions
Aggressive environmental control systems are mechanically controlled using air conditioning, humidifiers, desiccant wheels
Fire suppression solution uses gaseous fire suppression to prevent damage to artefacts
Using lighting – LED lights, non UVA radiating to stop degradation, low heat output to maintain environmental conditions
Protected from water ingress by designing wet systems away from storage area