In its long struggle to limit or ban the concerts at the Palace Square Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky received the assistance of experts. The first study on the impact of noise on the exhibits of one of the greatest museums in the world.

Ten concerts at the Palace Square with the level of sound over 82 decibels to take the unique exhibits Hermitage more years of life. This correspondent «Vremeni News» Russian experts told the science and art restoration center of IE Grabar, which influence the acoustic impacts on ancient books, paintings and sculpture.

The results of this study has adopted the State Hermitage Museum, whose leadership continues to struggle against holding on Palace Square «loud» activities. But before the main entrance to the museum in recent years quite a lot of passes. This is usually used by high-power speaker systems that create vibrations in the glass windows and display cases museum. And most importantly, the sound effect on the works of art. Meanwhile, the museum's storage requirements limit not only the moisture and temperature regimes, but even the speed of indoor air.

«We are not against the concert on Palace Square. A classical music concerts, even welcome. But the level of sound in the halls of the Hermitage should not exceed 80-82 decibels. And this applies not only to our museum, and a repository of cultural property », - said director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky.

sometimes perform personal request of Mr. Piotrovsky priglushayut and amplifiers. But the museum does not always have enough arguments. And then the staff of the Hermitage only have to look like the priceless canvases vibrate. Moreover, as described «Vremeni news» in the Hermitage, sometimes it is actually possible to see with your own eyes. And to influence uncompliant organizers of concerts, we need some document. Therefore, the Hermitage about a year and a half ago, ordered the examination of the impact of loud music at the museum complex.

At the beginning of research specialists to define the maximum level of vibration on the surface of paintings in the halls of the Hermitage in normal days, as well as sound pressure levels in these premises during the performance group Rolling Stones 28 July 2007. Sound level then averaged 88 decibels.

All the rest of the time spent in the laboratories of experts Center Grabar, experimenting on the samples. According to the research, the worst sound effect is reflected in the paintings. The final report describes the physical and mechanical vibrations of canvases, the combined action of oxygen, light and humidity fluctuations and other parameters, the impact of loud sound at the Hermitage exhibit. According to experts, all these factors together «the rapid penetration of water vapors from contaminants in the structure of materials and unpredictable acceleration of the aging paintings». A «unbalanced distribution of moisture under the action of high frequency acoustic field, contributing to drying, can cause an increase or multiple krakelyura, detached debris and layers of paint».

If you say easier, ten two concerts old canvas for one year. A 200-hour long, repetitive sound vibrations of high sound pressure levels (80-82 dB) - for 35-40 years.

According to the «Time News» Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky, published a study - this is just the first stage: «We have already forgotten that such noise. In Moscow on this subject some studies. What we need to first understand that it is. Because no standards that define the impact of noise fluctuations in the different conditions in the St. Petersburg cultural monuments and architecture, no. The impact of sound on the painting only part of a big problem. We are not in a hurry. All the more that are counter to all of our global initiatives. Therefore, we systematically cooperating with the center Grabar, Institute of Krylov (St. Petersburg Central Scientific Research Institute named after Academician Krylov, is, in particular, hydro-and aerodynamic studies .- Ed. ), conducting research in this direction. Specialists make thousands of measurements. At this point, we study the interaction of sound and architecture. When we collect enough material available to the authorities or made a legislative initiative ».

Source: vremya.ru