Indoor Microclimate Quality (IMQ) certification in heritage and museum buildings: The case study of Vleeshuis museum in Antwerp

In order to detect possible downsides of building microclimate management or for identifying performance improvement options, it is fundamental to assess and certify building Indoor Microclimate Quality (IMQ). Considering that in heritage and museum buildings, the indoor microclimate should simultaneously ensure comfort of people and safety for the cultural heritage, its management takes on a multidimensional nature. Although in the literature IMQ certification methodologies for people already exist, these do not encompass the cultural heritage. We believe this integration, would be a valid management instrument for heritage buildings, historic houses and museums, especially if they are not equipped with full microclimate control systems. However, because environmental data acquisition activities have direct influence on the certification results, it is essential to evaluate them. These methodological aspects are here discussed on the basis of results from a microclimate monitoring in the main exhibition hall of Vleeshuis museum in Antwerp. Further, in accordance to the introduced methodological considerations, an IMQ certification model for building users and movable heritage is proposed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.