Multidisciplinary risk-based analysis for supporting the decision making process on conservation, energy efficiency, and human comfort in museum buildings

The paper presents a method for assessing the environmental and the energy performance of museum buildings, demonstrating that conservation, human comfort, and energy efficiency are mutually compatible when based on rational planning, interdisciplinary cooperation, and extensive knowledge of museum buildings and collections. The operative tool assists the decision makers in optimizing planning actions during the energy and environmental retrofit, maintenance and management, to: (i) extend the lifetime of heritage; (ii) identify the conservative risks and quantify the factors responsible of damage phenomena; (iii) improve the building performance; (iv) minimize consumptions and costs, (v) establish appropriate procedures and policies; and (vi) program the retrofit. To merge different aspects, we use the SOBANE strategy (screening, observation, analysis, expertize) to organize efficiently, economically, and durably the risk management and, consequently, the retrofit actions. The methodology has been structured in four levels of investigation: (i) “screening” for assessing the museum performance; (ii) “observation” for detecting causative factors, present and potential risks; (iii) “analysis” for quantifying the environmental and energy risks with detailed investigations and long-term measurements; and (vi) “expertize” to provide guidelines for implementing and prioritizing appropriate solutions to solve specific problems related to prevention, human comfort, and energy efficiency. This methodology neither meant to be exhaustive or definitive, but simply aims to serve as a reference for technicians and conservators, who require clear and easy procedures and applicable solutions.