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Master’s in Preventive Conservation and Storage Engineering — Climate, Materials, Pest Control, Patina vs Restoration

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in preventive conservation and storage engineering for historic vehicles. 12 modules covering deterioration, climate and microclimate, light and pollutants, pest control, patina versus restoration, storage preparation and storage facility design, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify the deterioration mechanisms of historic vehicles.

02

Control climate, light and pollutants.

03

Apply integrated pest management.

04

Decide between preserving the patina and restoring.

05

Prepare vehicles for long-term storage.

06

Design storage facilities suited to collections.

07

Manage risks and emergencies in collections.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Preventive conservators.
  • Collection store managers.
  • Managers of private collections.
  • Conservation technicians.
  • Heritage consultants.
  • Collection security managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the museum sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 15757 (temperature and relative humidity for organic heritage materials)
  • EN 16893 (buildings for storing and displaying heritage collections)
  • EN 16242 (procedures for measuring humidity in air and moisture exchanges)
  • EN 15898 (main general terms and definitions in conservation)
  • EN 16095 (condition recording for movable cultural heritage)
  • EN 16790 (integrated pest management for protecting cultural heritage)
  • ISO 11799 (storage requirements for archive and library materials)
  • FIVA Turin Charter (preservation and use of historic vehicles)
  • Hanwell Pro
  • eClimateNotebook
  • Microsoft Excel
  • CollectiveAccess
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Deterioration mechanisms
  2. 1.2The ten agents of deterioration
  3. 1.3Atmospheric corrosion of metals
  4. 1.4Degradation of polymers
  5. 1.5Degradation of leathers and textiles
  6. 1.6Ageing of paints
  7. 1.7Fluids and deposits
  8. 1.8Fatigue of elastomers
  9. 1.9Interactions between materials
  10. 1.10Case study: deterioration diagnosis of a stored vehicle
  1. 2.1Temperature and relative humidity
  2. 2.2Dew point and condensation
  3. 2.3Fluctuations and their impact
  4. 2.4EN 15757 specifications
  5. 2.5Historic climate of the collection
  6. 2.6Microclimates and display cases
  7. 2.7Dehumidification equipment
  8. 2.8Passive climate control of the building
  9. 2.9Environmental monitoring with data loggers
  10. 2.10Lab: analysis of climate data-logger data
  1. 3.1UV and visible radiation
  2. 3.2Light dose
  3. 3.3LED lighting in stores
  4. 3.4Indoor gaseous pollutants
  5. 3.5Materials that emit compounds
  6. 3.6Dust and particulates
  7. 3.7Suitable filtration systems
  8. 3.8Pollutant monitoring
  9. 3.9Risk mitigation measures
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: lighting audit of a store
  1. 4.1Pests in collections
  2. 4.2Rodent control
  3. 4.3Insects in textiles and leathers
  4. 4.4Mould and fungi
  5. 4.5Integrated pest management
  6. 4.6Traps and monitoring
  7. 4.7Anoxic treatments of objects
  8. 4.8Freezing treatments
  9. 4.9Prevention and control measures
  10. 4.10Case study: integrated pest management plan
  1. 5.1The concept of patina
  2. 5.2The value of originality
  3. 5.3Unrestored survivors
  4. 5.4Preservation classes at concours events
  5. 5.5Decision criteria
  6. 5.6Principle of minimal intervention
  7. 5.7Principle of reversibility
  8. 5.8Documentation of decisions
  9. 5.9Ethical debate on patina
  10. 5.10Workshop: the decision to conserve or restore
  1. 6.1Cleaning of metal surfaces
  2. 6.2Protection of chrome plating
  3. 6.3Care of original paintwork
  4. 6.4Conservation of leathers
  5. 6.5Conservation of textiles
  6. 6.6Rubber and plastics
  7. 6.7Glass and glazing
  8. 6.8Wood and cabinetry elements
  9. 6.9Conservation products
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: conservation cleaning of an original body
  1. 7.1Cleaning before storage
  2. 7.2Fluids and deposits
  3. 7.3Batteries and their maintenance
  4. 7.4Tyres and supports
  5. 7.5Unloading the suspension
  6. 7.6Engine protection
  7. 7.7Made-to-measure breathable covers
  8. 7.8Storage bubbles
  9. 7.9Complete documentation of the process
  10. 7.10Case study: preparation protocol for a vehicle
  1. 8.1Building requirements
  2. 8.2Envelope and insulation
  3. 8.3Store ventilation
  4. 8.4Floors and loads
  5. 8.5Interior layout of the store
  6. 8.6Access and manoeuvring
  7. 8.7Security and access control
  8. 8.8Fire protection
  9. 8.9Energy efficiency measures
  10. 8.10Workshop: preliminary design of a climate-controlled store
  1. 9.1Programme of periodic inspections
  2. 9.2Condition records
  3. 9.3Conservation maintenance
  4. 9.4Wheel rotation
  5. 9.5Periodic controlled start-ups
  6. 9.6Fluid management
  7. 9.7Monitoring and control indicators
  8. 9.8Monitoring software
  9. 9.9Review of plans
  10. 9.10Lab: periodic condition report
  1. 10.1Risk assessment
  2. 10.2Fire risk in stores
  3. 10.3Flood risk in stores
  4. 10.4Theft and vandalism
  5. 10.5Emergency plans
  6. 10.6Salvage prioritisation
  7. 10.7Applicable insurance and cover
  8. 10.8Recovery after a disaster
  9. 10.9Periodic drills and exercises
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: emergency plan for a store
  1. 11.1Conservation costs
  2. 11.2Energy-efficient climate control
  3. 11.3Integration of renewable energy
  4. 11.4Carbon footprint
  5. 11.5Waste management
  6. 11.6Staff and training
  7. 11.7Outsourcing of technical services
  8. 11.8Monitoring and control indicators
  9. 11.9Resource and schedule planning
  10. 11.10Case study: energy optimisation of a store
  1. 12.1Selection of a collection
  2. 12.2Deterioration diagnosis
  3. 12.3Environmental study of the space
  4. 12.4Preventive conservation plan
  5. 12.5Storage design
  6. 12.6Monitoring plan
  7. 12.7Emergency plan
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future lines of work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine your studies with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Hanwell Pro, eClimateNotebook, Microsoft Excel and CollectiveAccess, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Procedures are studied on real cases of temperature and relative humidity monitoring, periodic condition inspections and integrated pest management. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: EN 15757, EN 16893, EN 16242, EN 15898, EN 16095, EN 16790, ISO 11799, FIVA Turin Charter.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 15757, EN 16893 and EN 16242 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Hanwell Pro, eClimateNotebook, Microsoft Excel and CollectiveAccess, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A preventive conservation and storage plan for a real collection, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Deterioration diagnosis
Select a collection and diagnose the deterioration of its vehicles and materials.
Environmental study
Analyse climate, light and pollutant data for the storage space.
Preventive conservation plan
Define climate control, integrated pest management and storage preparation measures.
Storage, monitoring and emergencies
Design the storage solution together with its monitoring and emergency plans.
Master's Thesis
Bring the plan together in the thesis report, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Preventive conservatorCollection store managerPrivate collection managerConservation technicianHeritage consultantCollection security manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Hanwell Pro, eClimateNotebook, Microsoft Excel and CollectiveAccess, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent demonstrable professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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