Hygrometric measurement in museums: calibration, accuracy, and the specification of relative humidity

Abstract

Relative humidity (RH) measurement in museums is routinely possible to accuracies of ±5% for recording thermohygrographs and ±3% for electrical hygrometers. These levels of accuracy depend on correction of instrumental values by reference to calibration curves. Calibration is essential, and some methods are better than others: intercomparison with a sling psychrometer is not very satisfactory. Very accurate single-point measurement of RH in large spaces is difficult to justify unless variations in temperature and moisture content are shown to be negligible. Specifications such as 55 ± 5% RH are unrealistic since RH level cannot be measured sufficiently accurately. Measurement procedures should be adequately documented, in the workplace and in the literature, to allow future users of the data to estimate their reliability.

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