How we care for our collections

We care for and protect our collections from damage by employing a multi-disciplinary, risk-based approach to collection care that aims to reduce the likelihood of damage occurring.

Risks to collections fall into distinct categories, which are referred to as the 10 agents of deterioration. These are:

• Physical forces – includes natural disasters, isolated incidents such as dropping of a collection item, or continual, minor damage like improper handling.
• Theft and vandalism – can include planned or opportunistic theft or violation of collection material through vandalism.
• Fire – can lead to total destruction of collections or partial, but irreversible, damage.
• Water – damage can occur via leaks in the building fabric or infrastructure or flooding.
• Pests – includes both rodents and insects, which can make a food source of organic collection material.
• Pollutants – includes atmospheric pollutants brought in from outside or generated within the building.
• Light – damage from visible, ultraviolet or infrared light is cumulative and irreversible.
• Incorrect temperature – high temperatures can increase the speed of chemical reactions and low temperatures can lead to damage such as embrittlement and cracking.
• Incorrect relative humidity – relative humidity relates to the moisture content in the air. Sudden, large or frequent fluctuations can lead to chemical and dimensional change in objects made of organic materials.
• Custodial neglect and dissociation – this occurs when collections are not stored well, adequate records are not kept, and oversight of the collection is not maintained.

At the centre of our preservation programme are the following preventive conservation initiatives which aim to reduce these risks. These are informed and enhanced by research and scientific analysis.

Environmental monitoring

We monitor environmental conditions in the building through a system of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors which utilise Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) networking protocol. These wireless sensors record continuous, real-time environmental data on temperature, humidity, light, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. This enhanced data set allows us to understand conditions and microclimates and how they may impact on collection material.

Alongside these advanced sensors, we are exploring the advantages of creating a digital replica of our repositories. This will allow us to create and test various environment simulations using game engine technology, enabling us to better understand what potential impact they may have on our spaces and collection material. Through this, we aim to enhance our decision-making processes.

Integrated pest management

We monitor insect and non-insect pest activity across the building using a network of non-toxic sticky blunder traps. We examine these traps quarterly to understand which species are prevalent, why they might be present and how best to manage them.

Document handling

As our collections are publicly accessible, they are vulnerable to the risks posed by handling. We provide training and advice on good document handling practices to reduce the risks of damage occurring. Find out more about how to handle different archival materials and formats in our comprehensive handling guidance.

Advice and guidance

As archive sector leaders, we remain at the forefront of preservation research and offer advice and guidance on a range of topics to our reading room users, the wider archive sector, and other cultural heritage organisations. Read our guidance on how to mitigate risks to archival collections to find out more. The National Archives’ has additional guidance available on caring for mixed collections and protecting collections from disasters.