RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I can vouch for this – many of my museum’s collections storage areas are carpeted (a situation I inherited rather than chose). Despite having desperately low RH in the building most of the winter, we still often see silverfish in the carpeted rooms – a moldy microclimate under the carpets, I’m guessing. Dee Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, CAPC Conservator The New Brunswick Museum Saint John, New Brunswick Canada E2K 1E5 tel: (506) 643-2341 www.nbm-mnb.ca From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Margaret Geiss-Mooney Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 1:12 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Good evening, PestList’lers – I also point out that a large expanse of any floor covering made from a natural fibre, whether sisal or wool, cotton, jute, etc., will also absorb and hold a lot more moisture out of the environment where it is installed than a floor covering made from one of the synthetic fibres (i.e. acrylic, nylon, etc.). So if your floors do not have a vapor barrier properly installed, the floor covering will act like a giant sponge, sucking up moisture from the floor/ground. If your building does not have the relative humidity controlled, the natural fibre floor covering will make it even more complicated to control. Mould/mildew spores will love it and flourish with abandon….ugh…especially on the side in direct contact with the floor and away from the light (mould/mildew is considered a ‘pest’, right?). Any finish applied to a floor covering, whether fire retardant or stain repellency, will be rubbed off as the floor covering is walked on/have stuff dragged across it. Meaning it would have to be reapplied periodically. So the carrier fluid would be contaminating the space again, whether water (raising the RH in the environment) or some other fluid which would off-gas in to the space as it dries. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need further clarification. Regards, Meg . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Collections Management Consultant Professional Associate - AIC 707-763-8694 mgmoo...@moonware.netmailto:mgmoo...@moonware.net I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any potential off-gassing of the foam. I am also concerned that a fire retardant applied to the sisal may be necessary from a safety point of view. I will off course follow-up with an exam of the MSDS sheet of the fire retardant. But basically my question has to do with whether or not a large expanse of sisal is of concern to nearby collections on display. I don't want to be a PEST! -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.netmailto:imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.commailto:l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.commailto:l...@zaks.com -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email
RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Dee, you are correct. In addition any of the floor coverings mentioned in the previous posts will capture and hold dust (in all of its components) eventually providing a food source for other pests (including mold). Since Ingrid is talking about the director’s office there will be less traffic and hopefully good housekeeping. There is a legitimate need for the office to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing so, in this situation the synthetic or sisal would probably be best. Just make sure that there is proper cleaning – including under the floor covering. That brings up a question I have – how would a sisal rug get cleaned? Is vacuuming sufficient – or does it have to be taken out and beaten? Because of the nature and previous discussion –I would be hesitant to damp clean. Just wondering – this affects the IPM question. Gretchen Gretchen Anderson Conservator Carnegie Museum of Natural History Pittsburgh, PA From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Dee Stubbs-Lee Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:47 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I can vouch for this – many of my museum’s collections storage areas are carpeted (a situation I inherited rather than chose). Despite having desperately low RH in the building most of the winter, we still often see silverfish in the carpeted rooms – a moldy microclimate under the carpets, I’m guessing. Dee Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, CAPC Conservator The New Brunswick Museum Saint John, New Brunswick Canada E2K 1E5 tel: (506) 643-2341 www.nbm-mnb.cahttp://www.nbm-mnb.ca From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Margaret Geiss-Mooney Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 1:12 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Good evening, PestList’lers – I also point out that a large expanse of any floor covering made from a natural fibre, whether sisal or wool, cotton, jute, etc., will also absorb and hold a lot more moisture out of the environment where it is installed than a floor covering made from one of the synthetic fibres (i.e. acrylic, nylon, etc.). So if your floors do not have a vapor barrier properly installed, the floor covering will act like a giant sponge, sucking up moisture from the floor/ground. If your building does not have the relative humidity controlled, the natural fibre floor covering will make it even more complicated to control. Mould/mildew spores will love it and flourish with abandon….ugh…especially on the side in direct contact with the floor and away from the light (mould/mildew is considered a ‘pest’, right?). Any finish applied to a floor covering, whether fire retardant or stain repellency, will be rubbed off as the floor covering is walked on/have stuff dragged across it. Meaning it would have to be reapplied periodically. So the carrier fluid would be contaminating the space again, whether water (raising the RH in the environment) or some other fluid which would off-gas in to the space as it dries. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need further clarification. Regards, Meg . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Collections Management Consultant Professional Associate - AIC 707-763-8694 mgmoo...@moonware.netmailto:mgmoo...@moonware.net I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any
Re: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I can't imagine that RH levels are crucial in an office. In any case, the presence of lots of hygroscopic material makes it easier to keep RH levels even, not harder, because it acts like a buffer. Barbara Appelbaum On May 24, 2012, at 12:12 AM, Margaret Geiss-Mooney wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Good evening, PestList’lers – I also point out that a large expanse of any floor covering made from a natural fibre, whether sisal or wool, cotton, jute, etc., will also absorb and hold a lot more moisture out of the environment where it is installed than a floor covering made from one of the synthetic fibres (i.e. acrylic, nylon, etc.). So if your floors do not have a vapor barrier properly installed, the floor covering will act like a giant sponge, sucking up moisture from the floor/ground. If your building does not have the relative humidity controlled, the natural fibre floor covering will make it even more complicated to control. Mould/mildew spores will love it and flourish with abandon….ugh…especially on the side in direct contact with the floor and away from the light (mould/mildew is considered a ‘pest’, right?). Any finish applied to a floor covering, whether fire retardant or stain repellency, will be rubbed off as the floor covering is walked on/have stuff dragged across it. Meaning it would have to be reapplied periodically. So the carrier fluid would be contaminating the space again, whether water (raising the RH in the environment) or some other fluid which would off-gas in to the space as it dries. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need further clarification. Regards, Meg . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Collections Management Consultant Professional Associate - AIC 707-763-8694 mgmoo...@moonware.net I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any potential off-gassing of the foam. I am also concerned that a fire retardant applied to the sisal may be necessary from a safety point of view. I will off course follow-up with an exam of the MSDS sheet of the fire retardant. But basically my question has to do with whether or not a large expanse of sisal is of concern to nearby collections on display. I don't want to be a PEST! -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com Appelbaum Himmelstein 444 Central Park West New York, NY 10025 212-666-4630 (voice) 212-316-1039 (fax) aa...@mindspring.com website: aandhconservation.org -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com
RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List.To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netTo unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email.--- I REALLY appreciate everyone weighing in on this issue!! Your opinions are very interesting to me and those involved in the ordering of the Director's rug. This is as good example as anyof the many tangential issues that as conservators we are involved with in any museum. Gratefully, Ingrid Neuman -Original Message- From: p...@rancholosalamitos.com Sent: May 24, 2012 12:50 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List.To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netTo unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email.--- <ZZZ!--[if 9] mso gte><ZZZ![endif]--><ZZZ!--[if 9] mso gte><ZZZ![endif]--> I’m not a conservator or an entomologist, but the largest infestation of silverfish I ever saw was beneath a 9’ round sisal rug on a travertine tile floor. Ugghhh! Pamela Young Lee Curator of Collections Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch Gardens Long Beach, CA 90815 --To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.NetTo unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put:"unsubscribe" - no quotes please.You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode.To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body:set mode digest pestlistAny problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com --To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.NetTo unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put:"unsubscribe" - no quotes please.You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode.To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body:set mode digest pestlistAny problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com
RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I guess the big question is what is the proximity of the director’s office to the collections on exhibit or in storage, especially the more vulnerable materials? The shorter the distance, the more urgent the problem. That should help put the risk in the appropriate context. Dee Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, CAPC Conservator The New Brunswick Museum Saint John, New Brunswick Canada E2K 1E5 tel: (506) 643-2341 www.nbm-mnb.ca From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Ingrid A. Neuman Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 4:15 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net; pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I REALLY appreciate everyone weighing in on this issue!! Your opinions are very interesting to me and those involved in the ordering of the Director's rug. This is as good example as any of the many tangential issues that as conservators we are involved with in any museum. Gratefully, Ingrid Neuman -Original Message- From: p...@rancholosalamitos.commailto:p...@rancholosalamitos.com Sent: May 24, 2012 12:50 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I’m not a conservator or an entomologist, but the largest infestation of silverfish I ever saw was beneath a 9’ round sisal rug on a travertine tile floor. Ugghhh! Pamela Young Lee Curator of Collections Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch Gardens Long Beach, CA 90815 -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.netmailto:imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.commailto:l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.commailto:l...@zaks.com -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.netmailto:imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.commailto:l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.commailto:l...@zaks.com -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com
RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I strongly suggest advocating for synthetic carpet as a first choice. If that is unacceptable, try for the sisal with the lowest wool blend you can find. Plant fibers are less likely to be consumed than animal fibers, but they are still a viable alternative (for Dermestids, moths etc.) if there is no other feeding material available. A wool/sisal blend with a high wool ratio would be the worst option from a pest prevention standpoint. I say this as one who was recently involved in replacing several wool-blend carpets (fortunately not collection items) that were quite attractive to Varied carpet beetle larvae. From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Ingrid A. Neuman Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 3:35 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net; pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any potential off-gassing of the foam. I am also concerned that a fire retardant applied to the sisal may be necessary from a safety point of view. I will off course follow-up with an exam of the MSDS sheet of the fire retardant. But basically my question has to do with whether or not a large expanse of sisal is of concern to nearby collections on display. I don't want to be a PEST! Ingrid Neuman -Original Message- From: Rachel Malloy Sent: May 3, 2012 11:36 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I have found three Gopher snakes in the past three years inside the facility. They were happily released into the sagebrush to see another day. I wonder if the door seals will prevent snakes as well. That's a question to ask the pest control company. I would also like to prevent scorpions from entering as well. Rachel Kaleilehua Malloy Anthropology Collections Manager Nevada State Museum 600 North Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 Phone: 775-687-4810 x229 Email: rmal...@nevadaculture.orgmailto:rmal...@nevadaculture.org From: ad...@museumpests.net [ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Peggie Stromberg [peggie_...@cityofelgin.org] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 8:20 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- If you have that many mice, are you also plagued with snakes? Margaret (Peggie) Stromberg Executive Director Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology 847-741-6655 peggie_...@cityofelgin.orgmailto:peggie_...@cityofelgin.org The mission of the Elgin Public Museum is to enhance knowledge of the natural sciences and anthropology through the use of exhibits and interactive experiences. From: ad...@museumpests.net [ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Rachel Malloy [rmal...@nevadaculture.org] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 10:00 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.netmailto:pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email.
Re: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- There are no pests which will attack sisal. The sisal/wool is much more attractive to fabric pests. Tom Parker Sent from my iPhone On May 23, 2012, at 3:34 PM, Ingrid A. Neuman berk...@earthlink.net wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any potential off-gassing of the foam. I am also concerned that a fire retardant applied to the sisal may be necessary from a safety point of view. I will off course follow-up with an exam of the MSDS sheet of the fire retardant. But basically my question has to do with whether or not a large expanse of sisal is of concern to nearby collections on display. I don't want to be a PEST! Ingrid Neuman -Original Message- From: Rachel Malloy Sent: May 3, 2012 11:36 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- I have found three Gopher snakes in the past three years inside the facility. They were happily released into the sagebrush to see another day. I wonder if the door seals will prevent snakes as well. That's a question to ask the pest control company. I would also like to prevent scorpions from entering as well. Rachel Kaleilehua Malloy Anthropology Collections Manager Nevada State Museum 600 North Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 Phone: 775-687-4810 x229 Email: rmal...@nevadaculture.org From: ad...@museumpests.net [ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Peggie Stromberg [peggie_...@cityofelgin.org] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 8:20 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- If you have that many mice, are you also plagued with snakes? Margaret (Peggie) Stromberg Executive Director Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology 847-741-6655 peggie_...@cityofelgin.org The mission of the Elgin Public Museum is to enhance knowledge of the natural sciences and anthropology through the use of exhibits and interactive experiences. From: ad...@museumpests.net [ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Rachel Malloy [rmal...@nevadaculture.org] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 10:00 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] RE: Rodents and Door Seals This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Hi Abby, We are also speaking with a pest control company regarding door seals for mice. The Museum's off-site facility is located in open desert with few buildings, so mice are a concern. Last fall we had an unusually high infestation. Since we are in the high desert, other insect pests do not seem to be as prevelant as other climates. I would be interested in hearing the responses you receive off-list. Thanks, Rachel Rachel Kaleilehua Malloy Anthropology Collections Manager Nevada State Museum 600 North Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 Phone: 775-687-4810 x229 Email: rmal...@nevadaculture.org From: ad...@museumpests.net [ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Abigail K Stevens [abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 7:26 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject:
RE: [pestlist] Floor covering in Directors Office
This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. --- Good evening, PestList’lers – I also point out that a large expanse of any floor covering made from a natural fibre, whether sisal or wool, cotton, jute, etc., will also absorb and hold a lot more moisture out of the environment where it is installed than a floor covering made from one of the synthetic fibres (i.e. acrylic, nylon, etc.). So if your floors do not have a vapor barrier properly installed, the floor covering will act like a giant sponge, sucking up moisture from the floor/ground. If your building does not have the relative humidity controlled, the natural fibre floor covering will make it even more complicated to control. Mould/mildew spores will love it and flourish with abandon….ugh…especially on the side in direct contact with the floor and away from the light (mould/mildew is considered a ‘pest’, right?). Any finish applied to a floor covering, whether fire retardant or stain repellency, will be rubbed off as the floor covering is walked on/have stuff dragged across it. Meaning it would have to be reapplied periodically. So the carrier fluid would be contaminating the space again, whether water (raising the RH in the environment) or some other fluid which would off-gas in to the space as it dries. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need further clarification. Regards, Meg . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Collections Management Consultant Professional Associate - AIC 707-763-8694 mgmoo...@moonware.net I am writing about the choice of floor covering requested by the Director's Office at our art museum. They are interested in installing either Sisal or Wool sisal in the Directors office. There will also be two or three accessioned paintings exhibited in this space as well. I am concerned about the tastiness of both of these choices (sisal and wool sisal) to potential critters. The Director's office is in a different corridor than the art collections however I am concerned about creating a potentially amiable environment for pests in general within the museum. What do people think? Should I continue to advocate for synthetic flooring options which have heretofore not been of interest unfortunately? I do not believe that they will be using a foam pad under the rug which is a good thing to avoid any potential off-gassing of the foam. I am also concerned that a fire retardant applied to the sisal may be necessary from a safety point of view. I will off course follow-up with an exam of the MSDS sheet of the fire retardant. But basically my question has to do with whether or not a large expanse of sisal is of concern to nearby collections on display. I don't want to be a PEST! -- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: unsubscribe - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com
