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Heritage Wood pp 143–164Cite as

An Original Approach to Active Climate Control Based on Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) as Set Point in a Middle-Age Building in Palermo, Italy

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Part of the book series: Cultural Heritage Science ((CUHESC))

Abstract

In the frame of a more sustainable approach to climate control, a long term strategy has been developed and is under advanced phase of implementation by technical staff of the University of Palermo in an important building, Palazzo Steri, owned by the University. The monumental room under climate control, the Sala dei Baroni (also known as Sala Magna), has a precious wooden ceiling where the previously loadbearing elements are covered with wooden painted panels. Many of them, painted in the fourteenth c, underwent important restorations in the past due to climate related damage (cracks, warpings, paint layer delamination) and biological infestations. The room is currently undergoing an important installation, using an HVAC system designed differently from the standard approach to climate control. The adopted design approach deals with the control of the air surrounding the wooden artifact as a function of the potential Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) that the panels could achieve. EMC is a synthetic parameter useful in correlating the response of panel paintings to climate fluctuations, and the behaviour of wooden objects may be better expressed as a function of EMC than to Relative Humidity (RH) fluctuations alone. Indeed, the correlation between a specified climate expressed with a parameter that takes into account both T and RH as experienced by wood is more correct. In this case-study the benefits of such an approach are even greater: due to the fact that it is possible to obtain the same EMC values with different combinations of Temperature and Relative Humidity values, the climate can be kept stable around the objects in the way the objects would feel it, meanings that the same EMC values (or hygro-mechanical stability of the artifacts) can be obtained in different seasons by adapting the Relative Humidity to the corresponding EMC value, letting the system free to follow the Temperature seasonal variations without compromising its stability.

The expected improvements of such a design are:

  • energy efficiency,

  • greater stability,

  • better use of the HVAC systems,

  • better comfort for the visitors during the year, with smaller differences between the indoor and the outdoor climate.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been carried out thanks to the support of Eng. Antonio Sorce, Technical Area Head, and Arch. Costanza Conti, Architectural Restoration Department Head from the Technical Area of the University of Palermo. The data provided by the 2004 monitoring have been a useful support for the technical decisions adopted in this intervention and the Authors thank therefore Professors Costanzo, Cusumano, Giaconia C., Giaconia G., Trapani and Barbaro for their precious work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Free-lance conservation scientist, Massa, Italy

    Paolo Dionisi-Vici

  2. University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Daniela Romano

Authors
  1. Paolo Dionisi-Vici
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  2. Daniela Romano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paolo Dionisi-Vici .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Austin Nevin

  2. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Malgorzata Sawicki

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Dionisi-Vici, P., Romano, D. (2019). An Original Approach to Active Climate Control Based on Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) as Set Point in a Middle-Age Building in Palermo, Italy. In: Nevin, A., Sawicki, M. (eds) Heritage Wood. Cultural Heritage Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11054-3_8

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