ABSTRACT
Most lights emit heat. Museums should guard against mounting incandescent light fittings too near to museum objects. Heat build-up from incandescent lights can have an adverse affect on the moisture content of sensitive materials, and surface heating can create cracking and splitting. Light sources and fittings of all types should therefore be mounted outside display cases wherever possible to avoid radiant heat problems. Fibre optic lighting is one of the safer systems to use in this respect. Beware, too, of shining spotlights directly on light-sensitive materials as this can cause localised heat build-up and damage.
