Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: David Thickett Posted: Saturday September 6, 2025 9:24 AM Subject: RE: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows Message: Hi We have certainly had 15-20 years out of some applied films in terms of continued UV reduction, (what level are you aiming to achieve?) depending on brand and application in the UK climate. Some can get a bubbly appearance with small areas debonding from glass, which can be visible from close up, but we have not found this to affect UV reduction capability. David Thickett | Senior Conservation Scientist | Collections Conservation Rangers House Flat Chesterfield Walk, London, SE10 8QX <https://uk.content.exclaimer.net/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2F&tenantid=pti8bxdCEe6pvWBFvdKH0g&templateid=3b1dab038f79ef119c3600224841a690&excomponentid=rMLoLtV1DY4u5kZtzPfXbqexVpZjrvwPYlt4kFd6nBA&excomponenttype=Image&signature=mhpMFf18uw_S0OJQXu4Mt3v8hRrMMlvFlUIIlqBaKQfTgzUtILfCORq1sKaEqM0ytUPaYUWXmg9YbFxFdaBn6fgKOGodb3p3NmdZthhQ-_QnUf9zYWH6PDwL7sUAwCd4LSmXOyTkWR8u27PL0_6xaax58ihmAwvevPWs8Vm_4H_9ps9nDB6KwLw7p-owzweVtLjj2DCL0ht8OEvSPf0dDnFG4hKtjm_G26NKyeDVSYst3lo1gtCh8Yi-7r7okCgUuzQWqNf2AzbdnYyKXqVh9_gtQMOUm7XFQAFsgNVOvU2afexIHlpTP6kRkLwNb_DM3Z6NKTECfZhmo7U66NJLXQ&v=1&imprintMessageId=d1ea5e2c-a513-4ce4-a632-bbdead16cbd7>Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage. That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create. The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Our registered office is The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon SN2 2EH This email (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 9/5/2025 10:47:00 AM From: Dale Kronkright Subject: RE: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows Michaela - I am very interested in your comment above that the UV absorbing glass films have a lifespan of 5 - 10 years. 3M films are warranted to perform to specification for 15 years, which suggests that the manufacturers expect a longer life. Is the "life span" you are referring to a visible quality, a UV absorbing quality or an adhesion quality? Thanks so much for expanding on this part of your post. ------------------------------ Dale Kronkright Head of Conservation Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Research Center Santa Fe United States ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 09-02-2025 12:02 From: Michaela Neiro Subject: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows We have used UV film in certain locations at some sites. My concerns with film is that it has a much shorter lifespan (5-10 years) than plexi (25+ years), damage can be done to glass upon its removal, and it blocks significantly less UV than plexi. The film certainly looks better when well applied and is much easier for staff to maintain and operate windows. This is the quandary. We will likely continue to use a combination of film and plexi depending on location, size of window etc. I would love to hear more about successes or failures with film and plexi. Thank you Michaela Neiro She/Her Director of Conservation Historic New England 151 Essex St Haverhill, MA 01832 (617) 994-6635 Become a member <https://www.historicnewengland.org/get-involved/memberships/> | Support our work <https://www.historicnewengland.org/get-involved/donate/> | Learn more <https://www.historicnewengland.org/> JOIN US at the Historic New England Summit <https://summit.historicnewengland.org/> November 13 & 14 in New Haven, CT, and Livestream <https://summit.historicnewengland.org/> Original Message: Sent: 9/2/2025 9:38:00 AM From: Ian Loughead Subject: RE: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows I was wondering if you had considered UV blocking film? We have had good success using that at our historic homes. Advantages, less obvious to visitors and allows for the operation of the windows if needed. We found that some staff would remove the plexi sheet barriers in homes that needed cross ventilation and therefore we lost all UV protection, while an open window was at least 50% covered. When temperatures get hot inside homes with no moving air, staff will find a way to make it cooler. The films usually are available in clear with only UV blocking, or levels of light blocking as well. The downsides to the film is the time it takes to install the film, which is much more labour intensive and possibly (we have not found this to be true) the chance of damage to very old glass as it is stuck on with an adhesive. Technically these also come in safety films, which make the windows more shatter resistant as far as theft and vandalism goes. ------------------------------ Ian Loughead Senior Conservator Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History Halifax Canada ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 08-27-2025 15:18 From: Michaela Neiro Subject: UV blocking Acrylic sheet for windows I am looking for available brands of Acrylic/plexi sheet to hang in the windows of our Historic House museums to block UV while the sites are open in the summer. I currently have quotes for Optix UVF and Acrylite OP-3. Is anyone familiar with these products or do you have others to recommend? Thanks for your input, Michaela Neiro Director of Conservation Historic New England You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. 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