Functional Fires in Historic Buildings: their impact on environmental conditions and response of timber objects
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
Department Name: Sch of History, Archaeology & Religion
Abstract
Approach my doctoral research through the discipline of material and object decay through environmental conditions. Historically in Britain, buildings have been heated by open fires, but today they are mostly heated with central heating systems. This has led to a dramatic change in the internal environment within buildings, which impacts not only upon the fabric of the building but also the objects kept within them. In heritage, conservation heating aims to keep objects at certain relative humidity levels, rather than comfort temperature levels, but this is not always the case.The research is aimed at better understanding what the environmental conditions were within historic buildings when they were solely heated by open fires. Experimenting with buildings and open fires, logging humidity and temperature in a three dimensional grid pattern and making use of thermal imaging so as to create a detailed picture of the environmental conditions within buildings. This data will be fed into climate chambers in the laboratory, and historic materials will be monitored to produce an accurate picture of the impact historic heating patterns had upon various materials.
People |
ORCID iD |
| David Watkinson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Sam Johnson (Student) |
| Description | The response rate of timber to various humidity ranges. This has (surprisingly) never been properly research in a detailed way before and was essential for the production of a reference scale as part of the PhD study. |
| Exploitation Route | The method for the production of data on the response rate and equilibrium of timber samples can be re-used across a broader range of timbers/materials to provide a larger reference scale. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | The care of historic objects in the buildings at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales St Fagans. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Title | Data of the reaction of historic wooden samples and their response to various humidity patterns. |
| Description | This data shows how samples of timber with original coatings from historic timber respond to environmental change. New research has shown a possible link between repeated daily fluctuations, and the hastening of overall moisture loss to a sample. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will impact the way historic furniture and cellulose based objects are stored and displayed in museum collections. |
| Title | Efficiency calculations for open fires encompassing converted heat |
| Description | Previous experimentation into open fires neglects to calculate chimney heat gain and convected heat. This new method of analysis utilises thermal imagery to make a more holistic approach to the efficiency of open fires. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This data will be useful for those who wish to have a method for calculating heat gain from fireplaces throughout a building which does not concentrate singularly on radiant heat. |
| Title | Model of humidity patterns in solid wall constructed building when heated by open fire |
| Description | Utilising Matlab a 3d model has been created to visualise the humidity patterns with a room when heated by open fires |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This is the first time open fire heating has been visualised in this way, especially in regards to humidity. |
| Description | Collaborative Doctoral Award, Joint Partner National Museum of Wales |
| Organisation | National Museum Wales |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Research with the National Museum is the basis of the whole thesis. Access to historic buildings and understanding their heating patterns and responses when open fires are utilised in a traditional method. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to the historic buildings at St Fagans, use of the buildings and fuel, access to office space, funding for equipment and outreach, provision of historic material samples. |
| Impact | Outcomes will take the form of a PhD, a set of guidelines for the management of fireplaces in historic buildings and a conference to deliver the work. Other papers and publications are also likely. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Oranisation of trip to inspect historic building services with CIBSE group at National Trust Tredegar House |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | To visit behind the scene areas of Tredgar house and inspect/discuss and research historic building services. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at CIBSE Heritage Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation describing PhD project and outcomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to Insole Court |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | To visit a historic house and meet the friends group. To inspect aspects of the property and discuss historic design of building services and how they may have been constructed/functioned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Workshop and conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A two day conference joint with National Museum of Wales, Welsh School of Architecture and Cardiff University Conservation Department looking at the the use of analytical equipment on historic buildings at National Museum of Wales St Fagans and then a conference in National Museum of Wales Cardiff. This will be in June 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |