The Scrovegni Chapel : the results of over 20 years of indoor climate monitoring

This paper presents the results of 20 years of monitoring indoor microclimate conditions inside theScrovegni Chapel in Padova (Italy). Since the late 1970s, the chapel has been the subject of a series ofmonitoring to assess the degree of conservation of the frescos and of the building structures. The earlystudies allowed to operate in the best for what concerns the choice of the proper instrumentation and theirpositioning. It was thus possible to operate before the beginning of any restoration work measuring valuesof surface temperature, vertical and horizontal gradients of air temperature and relative humidity. Theapproach has highlighted the importance of heat transfer as well as exchanges of mass between the indoorair and wall surfaces. A subsequent monitoring period allows to measure the air temperature, humidityand surface temperatures after the restoration works. During the same period, it was commissioned toassess the requirements for the air treatment plant. Monitoring is continuous in time and a reasonedcomparison of the different indoor microclimatic conditions, which over the years have been met, ishere proposed. These indications suggest possible improvements of the monitoring system and of themanagement of indoor microclimate.