(01) Review of Shipping Containers as Storage Options for Cultural Properties and Suggested Low-Cost Solutions for their Improvement, Phase I

Metal shipping containers are often used for short and long-term storage of cultural materials and archives in post-disaster remediation, as well as in areas with limited permanent storage solutions. While shipping containers are widely available and inexpensive, their lack of climate control may catalyze deterioration unless modified. This study seeks to develop guidelines for the preparation, installation, and maintenance of metal shipping containers to be used as storage facilities. These guidelines are based on the extended monitoring of several such containers in situ, literature review, consultation, and the results of a survey of cultural heritage professionals with experience using these containers in a variety of storage contexts. Proposals for future container prototyping to be developed based on the results of this initial research prioritize the development of an efficient, low-cost, low-tech protocol for optimizing the performance of shipping containers as storage facilities. Case studies and anecdotal evidence cite the use of unsealed and non-insulated shipping containers as post-disaster storage solutions; however, the containers have been noted to cause more damage than was previously present, due to moisture infiltration, temperature fluctuation, pest infestation, or lack of security. A literature review of previous research reveals a significant lack of published data on this topic. As such, this project particularly seeks to build upon Ted Ling’s shipping container trial for records storage (2002), by identifying materials and methods for use in storing other collection types in diverse climate zones. During this study’s first phase, the stability of shipping containers’ interior conditions were assessed by monitoring temperature and relative humidity over time in two differing climatic locations: Venice, CA and Bremerton, WA. The results of this monitoring regime will be presented in relation to weather and climatic conditions from these areas, and interpreted for insight on the relative stability of these spaces. Additionally, this data set will serve as the control against which the insulating capacity of materials will be assessed. This paper will also present the results of a survey conducted to evaluate conservators’ and allied professionals’ experiences with the use of shipping containers, perspectives on the containers’ shortcomings and strengths, as well as their priorities for improvement. In coupling the survey results and consultation with conservation resources such as Timothy Padfield’s Humidity buffering of building interiors by absorbent materials (2011), we seek to identify common, inexpensive materials most effective in stabilizing the interior environment, both for short or long-term use. The project’s next phase seeks to realize an inexpensive and technologically accessible option for communities to better maintain their cultural materials and to provide a risk assessmentbased guideline for creating storage solutions that is legible to both conservators and non-specialists alike. Future research will include materials testing and further experiments, including the use of buffering materials (e.g. cardboard, Styrofoam) as insulating layers, solutions for increased ventilation, exterior structures or tarpaulins, painted exteriors, and other modifications. We intend to present this research to the AIC community during its first phase in order to solicit feedback and suggestions so as to guide further study.