Nowy energooszczędny magazyn Archiwum Narodowego w Krakowie
New energy-efficient storage facility of the National Archives in Krakow

Summary/Abstract: Energy saving is in the vital economic interest of institutions preserving cultural heritage resources. Sustainability requirements emphasizing the reduction of carbon emissions also play an important role. In 2020, the storage segment at the new seat of the National Archives in Krakow was put into operation, combining energy efficiency with high-quality collection care. The facility has eight floors and will ultimately accommodate 70,000 linear meters of records. It is a separate structure with no permanent workspace, and the largely passive stabilization of the optimal microclimate for the collections has been ensured by well-thought-out construction solutions: good thermal insulation and high tightness of the building shell, and use of porous building materials with good water vapour exchange capacity on architectural surfaces. The conducted measurements showed that the temperature inside the storage followed the annual cycle of temperature changes outside reaching its lowest value in February 2021, between 11 and 14oC, depending on the floor. For most parts of the year – from October to June – relative humidity remained spontaneously at an optimal level of around 50% with minor short-term fluctuations. During the summer season, the air is dehumidified by energy-efficient dehumidification equipment. Dry conditions and low temperatures for most of the year reduce the rate of chemical degradation of archival objects.

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