What is BS EN 16893 - Specifications for location, construction, and modification of cultural heritage about?
BS EN 16893 gives specifications and guidance for the location, construction and arrangement of building specifically intended for internal storage of all heritage collection types and formats.
BS EN 16893 applies to buildings where collections are housed permanently and can be used as guidance for shorter-term display spaces where appropriate. Throughout the document, where specifications relate exclusively to storage spaces, these are defined as such. Where specifications can also be applied to areas such as display galleries or reading rooms, these applications are referred to explicitly.
Note1: Clauses relating to risks associated with security, environmental hazards, fire, water and pests apply to buildings as a whole and to any room in which collections may be held.
Note2: Some of the clauses in BS EN 16893 may be applicable in protected historic buildings that contain collections. In these settings, the scope for any alterations or achievement of conditions suitable for collections may be limited by the historic character of the structure, especially where it is protected by heritage regulations.
Note3: BS EN 16893 covers the structure of buildings containing heritage collections, whether for storage or use. For a description of technical processing spaces recommended in the design specifically of a storage building open to the public, attention is drawn to EN 16141.
Who is BS EN 16893 - Specifications for location, construction, and modification of cultural heritage for?
BS EN 16893 on specifications for location, construction, and modification of buildings or rooms for conservation of cultural heritage is useful for:
- Construction industry professionals
- Construction companies
- Scientific and Cultural Organization
- Architects
- Local authorities
- Conservator
- Engineers
Why should you use BS EN 16893 - Specifications for location, construction, and modification of cultural heritage?
Cultural heritage collections are intended to be kept for future as well as current generations.
Building features that are intended to protect collections are primarily structural, involving resilience against external and internal hazards including fire, water, pests, criminal activity and environments that interact with heritage materials.
Environmental considerations for collections are influenced by the nature of their materials, their condition and the uses to which they are put. They are also influenced by policies relating to conservation objectives, such as longevity of collections, and by the nature and costs of energy required to achieve these objectives.
BS EN 16893 assists custodians of cultural heritage collections by defining the criteria and information necessary to make policy relating to conservation that will in turn influence the outcome of building construction. BS EN 16893 is also intended to help them define the specifications necessary for the construction or modification of buildings such that they can safely house collections.
