Feasibility report to help museum maintain preservation of collections. PSA helped a museum on the isle of Skye upgrade its environmental control systems to meet British Standard BS 16893 for cultural heritage conservation. We conducted a comprehensive feasibility report, assessing heating, cooling, and humidity systems. Our recommendations enabled the museum to make informed decisions to maintain its Museums Galleries Scotland accreditation while managing costs effectively.
CLIENT: Museum of the Isles
LOCATION: Skye, Scotland
SERVICES: Feasibility Report for Mechanical and Electrical Services
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
The Isle of Skye Museum sought to upgrade its heating, cooling, and humidity systems to comply with British Standard BS 16893 for Conservation of Cultural Heritage. This standard provides guidelines for environmental conditions, including temperature and relative humidity, which are critical for the preservation of museum collections. The museum’s primary goal was to maintain its accreditation with Museums Galleries Scotland, ensuring the safeguarding of its valuable collection.
OUR SOLUTION
PSA was tasked with producing a feasibility report to evaluate the mechanical and electrical systems requiring updates to meet the necessary standards. We supported the client in gaining a comprehensive understanding of all systems and associated upgrade costs, working within their available budget.
The report encompassed:
- Heating
- Cooling
- Humidifying, and dehumidifying systems.
One of the client’s biggest challenges arose from the salty damp air of its environment on the Isle of Skye. Our key recommendation was to prioritise increasing the building’s insulation, a fabric-first approach, which would help mitigate costs associated with upgrading other systems.
THE OUTCOME
Our detailed report provided the museum with crucial information needed to make well-informed decisions. This empowered them to take the necessary steps towards achieving and maintaining their accreditation status, ensuring the long-term preservation of their cultural heritage assets.
