THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the inevitably ever-growing problem of the reaction of wholesale central heating on furniture (both antique and modern) and pictures and such like, the matter can be referred to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for urgent solution.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMIt is well-known that central heating can have a damaging effect on certain materials such as wood panels, furniture and canvas,et cetera, which are affected by the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Investigations at the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have shown that under normal conditions damage can be avoided if the temperature is held at not more than 55° F, or by the use of air conditioning with a humidity control for higher temperatures. No further research on the general prolem appears to be necessary as its solution is known, and is already being applied in national museums and galleries.
Hazards are minimised with modern furniture as existing methods of seasoning and construction can produce articles unaffected by the normal heating in homes, offices and places of assembly. However a number of investigations are currently being carried out of specific aspects of the problem, in particular by the Building Research Station and Forest Products Research Laboratory of D.S.I.R., by the Furniture Industry Research Association and by the Timber Research and Development Association. If the noble Earl is in need of expert scientific advice on any particular problem of this kind I shall be pleased to help him find where it may be obtained.