Overview

This Standard is about implementing conservation measures for cultural heritage. Cultural heritage can refer to objects that are on display or in storage or to historic buildings, structures, sites or settings or their components. Conservation measures could be preventative, treatment based, managerial or educational or a combination of these.

It includes identifying conservation requirements, using conservation techniques and solutions, ensuring resources, skills and equipment are available, working with other people, monitoring and evaluating conservation measures, maintaining records and communicating good practice.

This standard is for anyone who is responsible for the implementation of conservation methods for cultural heritage.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. use appropriate sources to identify the requirements for the ongoing protection of cultural heritage as well as new and developing techniques and their practical implications
  2. undertake appropriate conservation solutions and techniques based on the physical and chemical characteristics of materials and causes of decay
  3. ensure that the required resources, skills and equipment are available to undertake conservation measures
  4. implement treatment-based, preventive or conservation management measures that meet ethical considerations and are in line with recognised conservation standards
  5. implement conservation measures that fall within the boundaries of your expertise and experience
  6. work with other people to ensure that conservation measures are effective, seeking assistance from relevant specialists when required
  7. decide on appropriate ways to gather, interpret and present data to monitor and evaluate the effect of conservation measures
  8. recommend appropriate sources of further analysis, treatment or preventive care to appropriate people
  9. maintain and manage records of conservation measures that are of a form, level of detail and clarity appropriate to their intended use, ensuring that they are sufficiently permanent
  10. recommend and communicate appropriate practice in the care, protection and treatment of cultural heritage to others in an appropriate format and manner

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:                       

  1. national, local, professional or organisational standards, frameworks, legal instruments, ethics and policies which affect the conservation of cultural heritage in your sphere of activity
  2. how to identify the conservation implications of policies or plans of action for the cultural heritage with which you are working
  3. the perspectives and roles of other people who have an impact on the protection and care of cultural heritage and how to communicate with them
  4. the extent of your conservation expertise and when and where to seek advice from other specialists
  5. the physical and chemical characteristics of materials, the causes and characteristics of decay, and the effects of treatment and preventative measures on long-term condition and use of cultural heritage
  6. how to carry out conservation treatments, and know which treatments should be used, to ensure the conservation of cultural heritage
  7. how to respond to changing situations and emergencies involving cultural heritage
  8. the context and provenance of cultural heritage, its religious, cultural or historical significance and the impact of conservation measures
  9. the importance and significance of conservation records and how to produce, manage and maintain them
  10. the types of documentation system used, how to operate them, the main differences between digital and manual systems and possible problems with them
  11. how to develop, define and present conservation advice and practice recommendations