SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Monitor and report on conditions of heritage resources to enhance preservation and conservation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114528  Monitor and report on conditions of heritage resources to enhance preservation and conservation 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Heritage Management Studies 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 02 - Culture and Arts Cultural Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  16 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner completing this unit standard will have been introduced to what preventive conservation entails and will be in a position to identify causes of deterioration of objects/sites/resources and apply techniques to control them. This unit standard has been designed as part of a series in Heritage management which accredit the learner with the competency of applying the basic techniques used in preventive conservation. This unit may be used in its own right with senior school learners and those whose employment requires them to develop the necessary preventive conservation skills. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Prior learning on level 03 is recommended. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
The learner must know what activities and procedures can be implemented as part of a preventive conservation plan and routine schedule of activities. They should know what conservation needs fall outside of their training and need to be referred to qualified conservators. It is important to understand that activities requiring interventions that may change the physical nature of an artefact or specimen should be undertaken by a recognised specialist.

The learner must be able to use the proper instrumentation to measure conditions and recommend appropriate strategies to control the environment where conditions are conducive to deterioration.

Source:
  • Physical factors: Temperature and Relative Humidity
  • Light (UV and illuminance levels)
  • Bio-deterioration: Mould
  • Insects and Pests
  • Chemical factors: Acidity of materials
  • Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants

    Such measures should include the cleaning techniques as well as packaging and transporting the items for loans. In the case of loans, the documentation accompanying such material should also be completed. These are the condition report; the loan agreement form with the conditions; venue facilities questionnaire for borrowing institutions; and progress condition reports for items travelling to more than one venue.

    Storage facilities and conditions should be investigated within the context of at least one of the following types of institution or agency:
  • Art
  • Humanities and social sciences
  • Earth and life sciences

    These measures can be investigated either in a theoretical sense or through practical examples by examining possible precautions and responses to natural disasters; fire, theft and vandalism.Disaster plans are designed for individual institutions and agencies with collections. As such each requires that the individual institution or agency`s context and situation be considered. However, a disaster plan should cover what needs to be done in the event of natural disasters and human-made disasters like war.

    Measures are specified to minimise or eradicate damage or loss of objects with reference to recommendations of at least two of the following:
  • General care of organic, inorganic and synthetic material in arts, humanities and social science collections.
  • Care of work on paper
  • Care of easel paintings
  • Care of taxidermy mounts and study skins
  • Care of specimens in a natural history wet collections
  • Care of specimens in a pinned natural history collection
  • Care of geological and paleaontological specimens
  • Care of specimens in a herbarium 

  • Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Apply preventive conservation of collections management and conservation or restoration. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Apply preventive conservation of collections management and conservation or restoration that requires intervention in heritage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A distinction between preventive conservation and conservation or restoration is made in order to inform intervention. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Actions for preventative conservation are appropriately selected. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Actions beyond the scope of learners job description is accurately identified and referred to the correct specialist. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Preventive conservation interventions are appropriately applied. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Control deterioration of objects or specimens in a museum. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate instruments are used to measure conditions in the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Causes of deterioration are identified for selection of appropriate intervention. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Factors causing deterioration are assessed for effects and consequences on objects or specimens in a museum. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Measures are specified to control or eliminate the factors which cause deterioration. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply preventive conservation preparation and cleaning to minimise or eradicate damage or losses. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Apply preventive conservation preparation and cleaning to minimise or eradicate damage or losses of museum objects or specimens. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The need for preventive conservation and/or cleaning is accurately identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A technique appropriate to the purpose and material is selected. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Selected technique is accurately applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Completed conservation and cleaning is evaluated for effectiveness, remedial action is taken where appropriate and process is reflected on to inform future conservation and cleaning activities on same materials. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Store heritage collections securely. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The storage area is examined in relation to impacts that result from the area`s position within the building and the building`s geographical location. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Sound storage conditions are determined with regard to:
  • Environment controls and the creation of micro-climates
  • Fumigation and biological controls
  • Size and weight of artefacts and specimens
  • Storage furniture
  • Storage materials
  • Space allocation
  • Access controls and security
  • Routine checking procedure 

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Implement security measures for the protection of museum buildings and its contents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The need for security is accurately identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Security measures are accurately selected and recommended. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Measures are recommended to ensure the protection of buildings and its contents. This includes:
  • Insurance against loss.
  • Physical security-protection against theft, fire and vandalism. 

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Security is evaluated for success according to the identified needs. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Prepare a disaster plan for a museum or other institution with a heritage collection. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Disaster damage principles and practices are applied to minimise the impact of disaster. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A disaster plan for an institution is examined with priority actions and responsibilities identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A network of specialists and services are identified and developed that need to be called on in the event of a disaster. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Disaster plan is reviewed at set intervals to accommodate changing internal and external conditions. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by a relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for this unit standard.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with a relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with a relevant ETQA.
  • The relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures will oversee moderation of assessment and is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this unit standard. 

  • UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Credited learners understand and can explain:
  • Artefacts and specimens of historical and scientific value requires special care and handling to ensure that they are preserved and conserved for posterity.
  • Principles and practices of preventative conservation. 

  • UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems when storing collection safely. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others when preparing disaster plans for the institution. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves hen applying preventative conservation and cleaning techniques. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Evaluate information when assessing the needs of objects for preservation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively when preparing disaster plans for the institution. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology when preparing disaster plans for the institution. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems when monitoring the condition of heritage objects in general. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48812   Further Education and Training Certificate: Heritage Practice  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  CATHSSETA 
    Elective  58624   National Certificate: Library and Information Services  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2015-03-13  ETDP SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. NTI College 
    2. SEOPOSENGOE TRAINING CONSULTANCY CC 
    3. Universal Knowledge Software 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.