Government Buildings Agency chooses Cofely to preserve historic Dutch archives for future generations
Bunnik. Cofely Nederland has been chosen by the Dutch Government Buildings Agency as supervisor of the Dutch national archives. Cofely – way ahead in sustainable technology - will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining the air purification equipment and climate conditions in the national and independent archives. In addition, Cofely will be providing maintenance of the air purification filters. The contract applies to all twelve national archives in the Netherlands and was acquired through a European tender process.
The Dutch national archives contain almost a thousand years of Dutch historic material. The twelve locations spread around the Netherlands house various items such as documents about the establishment of the Netherlands with various related maps and drawings, for example. The archives come from the national government, the county of Holland and the government agencies in Zuid-Holland, but also from private organisations and individuals. The contract with the Government Buildings Agency applies for a period of four years. In this period, Cofely will be responsible for maintaining the correct conditions – temperature, humidity and air purity – for all twelve locations. The locations will be monitored 24 hours per day by qualified personnel at a central location in Arnhem.
An ideal climate
“Using continuous monitoring and data acquisition, we collect climate and system information from more than one hundred depots. In the event of failures, we take immediate action and inform the various disciplines and parties involved. Cofely reports monthly on the extent of climate condition deviations, such as relative humidity, temperature and air purity, interruptions or failures and work activities,” Says Ruud Majenburg, member of the Executive Team and Managing Director of Cofely market segment and specialist companies. “Based on this information and our expertise, we advise the disciplines and parties involved, with the goal of preventing the ageing of the archive material in the depots. Practically speaking this involves the use of correct lighting, air replacement and heating and cooling in order to create an ideal climate. All these measures and activities are crucial in order to protect our cultural heritage. There is a lot of historic material stored in the national archives, including documents, photos, films and even parchment. By saving these articles in the proper conditions, we preserve the collection for the future.”
Long-term partnership
Cofely has a long-term relationship with the Government Buildings Agency. In addition to the work relating to the archives, the technical service provider performs other activities for the Agency. These include the mechanical and electronic maintenance of the various locations, and the preventive maintenance of security systems and fire alarm systems. Cofely also provides an energy and water management system for hundred buildings. Cofely has remotely monitored and managed the national archives since the early 1990s.
COFELY a GDF SUEZ Company
Cofely is part of GDF SUEZ Energy Services, the European leader in multitechnical services. GDF SUEZ Energy Services offers its customers in industry, services, and infrastructures made-to-measure solutions, whether in the fields of engineering, installations or energy services.
GDF SUEZ Energy Services employs 80,000 people and achieved revenues of € 14 billion in 2008. GDF SUEZ Energy Services is a business line of GDF SUEZ, one of the leading energy providers in the world.
