STANDARD 12: Exhibit Furnishing Design

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The following Standards and Guidelines are a work in progress intended to spur discussion between exhibit personnel, conservators and other museum professionals. Please check back in the future as information is added to expand on the Guidelines without currently active links.
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STANDARD 12: Design and selection of furnishings within the exhibit space must support object safety

All furniture and furnishings within the exhibit space, especially those intended to display exhibit objects, should be designed or selected with object safety in mind. The criteria for display furniture are more stringent than for non-display furnishings. Furniture that is intended to display objects must be strong and stable enough to support objects without risk of collapse or wobbling. Special attention must also be paid to ensure that such furniture is constructed from object-safe materials. However, non-display furnishings can also introduce hazards into the exhibit space and care must therefore be taken in their design and selection.

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Guideline12.1: Furniture and assemblies intended for the display of exhibit objects are designed to be object-safe

What design features will promote object safety?

What materials are object-safe for use in constructing display furniture?

Guideline 12.2: Furnishings and non-display exhibit furniture, such as panels, seating, and carpeting, do not compromise object safety

What hazards can non-display furniture and furnishings create in the exhibit space?

What precautions should be taken in the design and selection of non-display exhibit furniture and furnishings?