In most cases it is possible to restore objects damaged by water. An object destroyed by fire is a lost object.

Jan af Burén
Nationalmuseum
S-103 24 STOCKHOLM
Sweden

-----Original Message-----
From: Pam Endzweig <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: den 21 maj 1998 06:42
Subject: Fire suppression - to sprinkle or not to sprinkle?


>In considering an expansion for our 10 year-old, single-story, 12,000
>square-foot facility, the question of fire suppression has been raised.  The
>original building was designed without a sprinkler system (with fire-rated
>walls, though I have not yet been able to ascertain the specific ratings).
>The local fire station is only a block away, and the feeling was that the
>likelihood of accidental discharge outweighed the risk of fire damage.
>
>According to the NPS Museum Handbook, "there have been many museum fires and
>very few accidental discharges."  Now we are considering whether it would be
>wise to install a sprinkler system if and when we add on.  A dry pipe/double
>activated system with a built-in delay feature allowing the system to be
>shut down by building occupants in case of an alarm has been recommended.  I
>should mention that we are located on a university campus and tied into
>campus security.
>
>I would appreciate any feedback, recommendations, experiences and/or horror
>stories.  Thanks for your help!  -- Pam
>
>  Pam Endzweig  ([log in to unmask])
>  Collections Manager & Staff Archaeologist
>  UO Museum of Natural History
>  1224 University of Oregon
>  Eugene, Oregon 97403-1224; USA
>  Ph 541-346-5120/Fx 541-346-5122
>