This paper reviews different heatingregimes applied to the same space,using building simulation. Theconstruction of a computer simulationmodel to investigate past and presentenvironments in a historic house libraryis described. The model simulated fourhypothetical scenarios, based on realdata. The simulation outputs werereviewed in terms of the risk ofphysical and chemical deterioration,and their relationship with an existingnational standard for archives. Thepossibility of simulating pastenvironments to investigate naturalageing is also discussed