TS EN 15898

TS EN 15898 is a terminology standard for the conservation of cultural property, bringing together the main general terms and their definitions. Its focus is on the concepts that are widely used or particularly significant in the field, so that conservation professionals can rely on a shared technical language for documentation, assessment, reporting and interdisciplinary communication.

What this terminology standard organises

The standard addresses the core conceptual vocabulary used in conservation of cultural property. In this kind of document, the emphasis is not on prescribing conservation treatments, but on clarifying the terms that shape professional discussion. Clear terminology matters because the field spans objects, materials, methods, conditions and interventions, all of which can be interpreted differently across institutions and disciplines.

In general technical context, controlled terminology supports consistency in cataloguing, conservation reports, project specifications and scholarly exchange. By defining general terms, a standard like this helps reduce ambiguity and makes it easier for specialists to compare findings and communicate about preservation issues in a disciplined way.

• Provides definitions for the main general terms used in conservation of cultural property.
• Gives particular attention to terms that are widely used or especially important.
• Supports consistent communication across documentation, study and professional practice.
• This record concerns a withdrawn standard; its subject remains conservation terminology.