Airborne Particles in New Museum Facilities
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 10
Abstract
Over the period July 1996–April 1998, airborne particle concentrations and chemical composition were measured both inside and outside the new J. Paul Getty Museum outside Los Angeles. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the relationship between the stages of construction and operation of the building and the soiling hazard to the collections. Particular attention was paid to tracking the concentrations of fine black soot particles and mineral dust particles. The time needed to “air out” the building following construction can be seen from the data collected, as well as the inherent particle removal efficiency of the filters within the building ventilation system, and the effect of entry of the general public into the building. During the period of observation when the building was under construction, weekday coarse dust particle concentrations on occasion reached very high levels ( ; 24 h average), falling to relatively low values averaging over weekend periods when construction activity subsided. In March, 1997, with construction largely completed and with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in full operation, indoor coarse dust concentrations fell to 1.7% of those outdoors. Beginning at this time, indoor fine particle concentrations relative to those outdoors declined steadily over a period of about one to two months, reaching levels of 3.9% of those outdoors during the period June 3–December 6, 1997 when construction was completed but before entry of the general public into the building. Thus, the coarse and fine particle removal efficiencies of the building HVAC system absent major indoor sources are at least 98 and 96%, respectively. Following the opening of the museum to the public, indoor particle concentrations increased by approximately in each of the coarse dust and fine smoke-size particle size ranges indicating that there is a small but measurable effect due to increased air infiltration as doors are opened and closed more frequently and due to particles shed by the visitors. Indoor particle concentrations inside the new Getty Museum in the presence of the general public are only of coarse dust and of fine particles on average over the period January–April, 1998.
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Acknowledgments
This study was made possible with much help and cooperation from numerous people at the Getty Center. Our deep appreciation goes to Cecily Grzywacz, Brian Considine, John Donohoe, and Rick Pribnow who facilitated the project on many levels. Thanks are also due individuals at the Getty Center who helped us gain access to the site during our many visits to load and unload samples. These include Abby Hykin, Gordon Hanlin, Jane Bassett, and the security staff at the Getty Museum. Help with equipment preparation and deployment was provided by Matt Fraser at the California Institute of Technology. Additional thanks go to Phil Fine at the California Institute of Technology for occasionally loading samples in the field when additional help was needed. The trace element analyses by x-ray fluorescence were performed by the Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nev., and special thanks go to Dr. Judith Chow and Cliff Frazier for their analysis of these samples.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 10 • October 2005
Pages: 1453 - 1461
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 22, 2003
Accepted: Dec 15, 2004
Published online: Oct 1, 2005
Published in print: Oct 2005
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