New air conditioning installed by Vatican to protect paintings – Gradwood comments
 

Gradwood, one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial air conditioning, have responded to news that the Vatican has introduced new air purification systems to safeguard the Sistine Chapel frescoes from damage.

The development comes in response to increasing damage to the chapel resulting from an increasing number of tourist visitors from around the world. The tourists are said to be bringing dust in with them, as well as carbon dioxide and body sweat, all of which have over time negatively affected the historic paintings.

To combat the measure, the Vatican last month revealed that the frescoes, which reportedly were turning white, are to be protected from further damage by a state of the art air conditioning system.

While the damage is invisible to the eye from the ground, when inspected up close, investigators discovered that pockets of the frescoes were covered in a powdery patina.

Head of the Vatican Museums’ conservation department, Vittoria Ciminio, said: “The concern was not just aesthetic but also the danger for the integrity of the paintings,” adding that after treatment, “the state of the frescoes is good, and this whitening was reversible.”

Calcium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate deposits were thought to be the cause of the damage. But while no permanent damage was reported to have occurred, officials were keen to stress that buildup of calcium can in some cases cause irreversible damage if not treated.

To prevent lasting damage, the Vatican have installed a new air filtration and air condition system in the Sistine Chapel. The new system will protect the chapel from the 6 million people who visit it each year.

Gradwood Ltd, a provider of commercial air conditioning solutions in the UK, regularly react to relevant news.

A spokesman for the company said: “This news just goes to show the importance of air conditioning units not just in typical commercial environments such as factories and warehouses but also in less likely locations, like chapels and churches and other historical points of interest.

“Air conditioning is not only required to make buildings more efficient and provide a pleasant experience for visitors but also to keep valuables, whether it be mass produced products of pieces of art, safe from harm.”

Gradwood Ltd provide commercial heating, ventilation, smoke ventilation and air conditioning services in the United Kingdom. Visit their website at www.gradwood.co.uk to learn more.