Environmental monitoring is a key element of our preservation approach.
Preservation is the practice of protecting cultural heritage from damage or destruction. At The National Archives, our Preservation Team has expertise in preventive conservation, data science and heritage science. This enables us to protect our collections by employing a multi-disciplinary, risk-based approach to collection care. Through this, we aim to reduce the likelihood of damage occurring.
Preservation research
We enhance our preservation programme through research and scientific analysis. This includes data analysis of our historical environmental datasets to reveal seasonal trends, which allows us to optimise our environmental controls without compromising preservation. In this capacity, we fulfil our role as archive sector leaders and are at the forefront of innovative preservation research. We communicate our research through formal and informal channels and offer the latest advice and guidance to the sector on collection care practices.