Procedures vary by chamber type, but all include:

1.    Loading the enclosure in a manner artifacts cannot crush each other, accidentally shift, or be crushed by the walls of a soft chamber.

2.    Sealing the enclosure (heat-seal for soft wall chambers, zipping shut for retrofitted fumigation soft wall chambers, and shutting the door on a hard wall chamber, ensuring always the gaskets are in good alignment and condition).

Optional: Placing the bioassays:

NITROGEN FUMIGATION OF 56,000 INSECT-INFESTED BOOKS IN, THE HISTORICAL LIBRARY “FOUNDATION OF FRANCKE” IN HALLE, GERMANY.pdf

3.    Gas introduction or push out the oxygen: Purge ambient air containing oxygen from the chamber. Our chambers are also able to keep up constant positive pressure to maintain very low oxygen levels.

4.    Exposure period: Monitor and maintain constant nitrogen flow or portions of nitrogen for the duration of the treatment. Treatment duration depends on gas type and species of insect if known (2-8 weeks).

5.    Aeration: Release or evacuate the anoxic gas from the fumigation chamber and return ambient air, while observing proper safety protocols to maintain safe levels for staff.

6.    Deloading: Examine artifacts followed by removal of dead insect debris by low suction HEPA vacuuming or using other tools like tweezers and clearing the chamber by removing the treated „insect-free“ artefacts preparing the enclosure for a new load.

Ultima Ratio = Last Resort: Hard wall Nitrogen chamber: Get your own desinsectation facility! Fumigate around the clock!

Hard wall N2-chamber with warning signs on top and electronic control panels aside