CFL Lamps and UV damage
Do Compact Flourescent lights (CFL Energy savers) damage your artwork?
Katy Lithgow the [National] Trust's head conservator,
explains "UV radiation, beyond the blue end of the visible spectrum, is the
most damaging component of light and can very quickly fade the light-sensitive
dyes and organic materials in textiles, tapestries, leather and watercolours. It
destroys the chemical bonds, which all light does but UV light does more
rapidly"
Anyone need any more convincing that we should be offering UV protective glazing
to all of our buyers?
The picture framing industry reports a 20 percent increase in sales of speciality glass and UV protective glass this year, partly driven by customer demand, but mainly driven by the trend amongst framers to raise their game and offer more "conservation grade" materials.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) combine the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience and popularity of incandescent fixtures, so they are fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
Surprisingly, normal glass still gives about 40 percent protection from the harmful UV rays, acrylic (plastic glazing, sometimes called styrene) can give up to 50 percent, and most of the "proper" conservation glass products can give up to 98 or 99 percent -but at a cost.
Whilst not prohibitive, this extra cost can make or break a deal on a larger art-piece. However this can be offset when you consider that CFLs can replace traditional (tungsten or other incandescent lamps) that are roughly 3–4 times their wattage, saving up to 75% of the initial lighting energy. Although CFLs cost 3–10 times more than comparable incandescent bulbs, they last 6–15 times as long.
Many galleries and museums have special reduced UV lighting, but this is not the norm for the retail buyer at home.