Are you travelling this summer and planning to visit museums or cultural landmarks? Two newly published European Standards will help ensure that you can enjoy historical artifacts without putting them at risk and protect them for generations to come.
CEN/TC 346, the Technical Committee on the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, has published two new standards that mark a significant step forward in how cultural objects are preserved and displayed. EN 15999-1:2025 and EN 15999-2:2025 provide clear guidance for the design of showcases used in museums, galleries, and heritage institutions across Europe.
What’s in the standards?
EN 15999-1:2025 ‘Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for design of showcases for exhibition and preservation of objects - Part 1: General requirements’, outlines the essential features needed for showcases to safely and securely display cultural heritage items. It focuses on passive showcases (those that rely on unpowered systems to control the internal environment) and emphasizes the role of preventive conservation, based on site-specific risk assessments.
EN 15999-2:2025 - Part 2 'Technical aspects’ builds on this by classifying the technical properties of passive showcases. It applies to a wide range of scenarios: permanent and temporary exhibitions, historic and modern cases, and even settings with limited environmental controls. The standard helps institutions assess the performance of showcases using clear, technical criteria, ensuring safe conditions for the objects inside.
Why do these standards matter?
Together, the two standards promote a consistent, risk-based approach to designing showcases that help reduce damage caused by environmental factors like light, humidity, and pollutants. They are especially valuable for institutions seeking to preserve rare and irreplaceable objects.
By supporting the long-term conservation of items with historical, artistic, or scientific significance, the standards help safeguard not only the physical artifacts, but also their cultural and educational value for future generations.
