The Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of Property through an Analysis of European Regulations regarding Building Materials used in Restoration Chiara Nesti 1, Gianluca Pesce 2, Rita Vecchiattini 3 1 Department of Public Law, University of Pisa, Italy 2 Institute of the History of Material Culture (I.S.Cu.M.) of Genoa; University of Genoa, Italy 3 Department of Architectural Science, University of Genoa, Italy 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

The Community Policy for Cultural Heritage The Community Policy for Cultural Heritage In the field of culture, community action is characterised by valorisation and development of the knowledge of the European cultural heritage. In the field of culture, community action is characterised by valorisation and development of the knowledge of the European cultural heritage. Community action permeates various tools for cultural cooperation: Community action permeates various tools for cultural cooperation: European programmes; European programmes; regulations; regulations; directives; directives; … standards. standards. 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

The Standard The Standard It is “a document, established by consensus, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context” (ISO/IEC Guide 2). It is “a document, established by consensus, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context” (ISO/IEC Guide 2). Its main characteristics: Its main characteristics: consensus; consensus; democracy; democracy; transparency; transparency; voluntary nature. voluntary nature. 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

The Drafting of European Standards The Drafting of European Standards 1. Identification of needs; 2. registration of the identified needs; 3. first draft of the standard; 4. public enquiry (validation by experts); 5. definitive text of standard 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

An Example: the EU 459 on Building Lime An Example: the EU 459 on Building Lime This standard concerns all fields of constructions; it’s not only provided for Cultural Heritage BUT in the practice it fills a vacuum legis. 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

The EU 459 on Building Lime The EU 459 on Building Lime It is a good norm: It is a good norm: for some technical requirements (CaO content; …); for some technical requirements (CaO content; …); for the imposition of a practical label (e. g.: EN NHL 2); for the imposition of a practical label (e. g.: EN NHL 2); … It is a bad norm: It is a bad norm: for other technical aspects (SO 3 content; additive); for other technical aspects (SO 3 content; additive); for some inappropriate classification (e. g.: EN NHL 3,5-Z); for some inappropriate classification (e. g.: EN NHL 3,5-Z); because isn't well known by many workers; because isn't well known by many workers; its efficiency depends by other national instruments (e. g.: catalogues; …); its efficiency depends by other national instruments (e. g.: catalogues; …); … 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

Conclusions Conclusions Legal aspects: Legal aspects: the standardisation represents one of the few instruments which really is useful to preserve Cultural Heritage; the standardisation represents one of the few instruments which really is useful to preserve Cultural Heritage; it can be said that the development of technical standards has reached a good level; it can be said that the development of technical standards has reached a good level; it is necessary that they be widely published and easily available also without charge; it is necessary that they be widely published and easily available also without charge; it is necessary that the interests of all stakeholders are well-balanced. it is necessary that the interests of all stakeholders are well-balanced. 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006

Conclusions Conclusions Technical aspects: Technical aspects: the technical issues of standardization are important indications for all who work in Cultural Heritage; the technical issues of standardization are important indications for all who work in Cultural Heritage; it is necessary that all the technical aspects of the norms should be evaluated solely on the basis of further scientific research which is carried out by independent bodies; it is necessary that all the technical aspects of the norms should be evaluated solely on the basis of further scientific research which is carried out by independent bodies; it would be useful to amend all the instruments which are needed by the body of European norms; it would be useful to amend all the instruments which are needed by the body of European norms; it is necessary that all the technical aspects of the norms are well known by all operators who work in Cultural Heritage. it is necessary that all the technical aspects of the norms are well known by all operators who work in Cultural Heritage. 7 th European Conference ‘SAUVEUR’ SAFEGUARDED CULTURAL HERITAGE Understanding & Viability for the Enlarged Europe PRAGUE 31 st MAY – 3 rd JUNE 2006