Review of 'The causes of air movement in hidden indoor micro-environments: measurements in historic bookshelves'

Many thanks to the reviewer for his constructive comment. As the reviewer mentioned, wall temperature can be approximated using external temperature and the wall's properties, but this fall outside the purpose of this study. The scope of this study was not to assess the specific hygrothermal conditions behind shelves but to understand changes in the conditions resulting from the libraries' activities, including visitors' movements and staff working during closed periods. The wider aim of the research project is to understand if and how air movement can be used as a preventive conservation measure to tackle mould issues in historic libraries, specifically in their bookshelves. An initial survey done in historic buildings in the UK showed that despite using environmental control strategies historic buildings still face many mould issues, which indicates the need for complementary strategies to prevent its occurrence. Following the survey, the research presented in this article wants to understand what is happening behind shelves and the impact of internal conditions. The results and data collected in this study have been used to inform the next chapters of the main author’s research, which include experimental work in the control of air movement in bookshelves using set-ups similar to those found in historic shelves (round holes and continuous ventilation gaps).