BS EN 17488:2021 - Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Preserving our cultural heritage is a task of immense importance, and the BS EN 17488:2021 standard is a crucial tool in this endeavor. This comprehensive document provides a detailed procedure for the analytical evaluation necessary to select appropriate cleaning methods for porous inorganic materials used in cultural heritage. Released on July 2, 2021, this standard is an essential resource for professionals in the field of conservation.

Key Features of BS EN 17488:2021

The BS EN 17488:2021 standard is meticulously crafted to guide conservators and heritage professionals in making informed decisions about cleaning methods. Here are some of the key features and benefits of this standard:

• Comprehensive Guidance: With 56 pages of detailed information, this standard offers extensive guidance on evaluating and selecting cleaning methods for porous inorganic materials.
• Analytical Evaluation: The standard emphasizes the importance of analytical evaluation, ensuring that cleaning methods are chosen based on scientific evidence and tailored to the specific needs of the material.
• Focus on Porous Inorganic Materials: Special attention is given to porous inorganic materials, which are commonly found in cultural heritage artifacts and structures, ensuring their preservation without compromising their integrity.
• Up-to-Date Information: As a standard released in 2021, it incorporates the latest research and technological advancements in the field of conservation.

Why Choose BS EN 17488:2021?

Choosing the right cleaning method for cultural heritage materials is a critical decision that can have long-lasting impacts. The BS EN 17488:2021 standard provides a structured approach to this decision-making process, ensuring that the chosen methods are both effective and safe for the materials involved. Here are some reasons why this standard is indispensable:

• Preservation of Cultural Significance: By following the guidelines in this standard, conservators can ensure that the cultural significance of artifacts and structures is preserved for future generations.
• Minimization of Damage: The analytical evaluation process helps in selecting methods that minimize potential damage to the materials, maintaining their original state as much as possible.
• Scientific Approach: The standard promotes a scientific approach to conservation, encouraging the use of evidence-based methods that are tested and proven to be effective.
• International Recognition: As a part of the EN standards, BS EN 17488:2021 is recognized internationally, making it a valuable resource for global conservation efforts.

Technical Details

For those interested in the technical specifics, here are some important details about the BS EN 17488:2021 standard:

• Standard Number: BS EN 17488:2021
• Pages: 56
• Release Date: July 2, 2021
• ISBN: 978 0 539 12599 3
• Status: Standard

Conclusion

The BS EN 17488:2021 standard is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the conservation of cultural heritage. Its detailed procedures and focus on analytical evaluation make it an essential tool for selecting the most appropriate cleaning methods for porous inorganic materials. By adhering to this standard, conservators can ensure that they are making informed, scientifically-backed decisions that will help preserve our cultural heritage for generations to come.

Whether you are a professional conservator, a researcher, or an organization dedicated to heritage preservation, the BS EN 17488:2021 standard is a must-have in your collection of resources. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your conservation efforts with this comprehensive and authoritative guide.

BS EN 17488:2021

This standard BS EN 17488:2021 Conservation of cultural heritage. Procedure for the analytical evaluation to select cleaning methods for porous inorganic materials used in cultural heritage is classified in these ICS categories:

• 97.195 Items of art and handicrafts. Cultural property and heritage

This document gives the test methodology for evaluation of both harmfulness and effectiveness of a cleaning method as applied to porous inorganic materials. Mural paintings and polychromy are excluded.

Evaluation includes the use of on-site analyses and/or laboratory studies.

The evaluation of the potential harm has a higher priority than the effectiveness in order to prevent overcleaning. It is important that cleaning is always at the minimum level deemed effective and that it respects the original surface and finishes. Overcleaning is a term used to indicate that irreversible damage has been done by the unnecessary removal of materials, which are part of the value of the object.

This document applies to:

1. Part A: all methods of cleaning, which have characteristics of parameterization and reproducibility (see EN 17138 ).

2. Part B: all new methods that are under development.

This document applies to evaluate the optimum methods for cleaning and the optimization of the parameters of the selected cleaning process.