Hallo Timothy,

We are at the moment planning 10000m2 new storage facilities for 
historic collections of all kind.

Compact storage typically never works together with sprinkler unless you 
have sprinklers *inside* the shelvings (e.g. used in chemical industry 
but very expensive). I don't see a particular danger with compact 
shelving as the objects are somewhat enclosed within the shelves and the 
possibility that a fire is spreading is very limited. One possibility to 
improve (theoretically)  the situation ist to use a metal backing 
betweeen two adjacent shelves on one moving unit. When the compact 
shelving ist closed there are at the most two rows of shelves (from two 
dfferent mobile units) open to each other. This limits the use of the 
space (no double size compartments in the shelves).
Another point ist, that we use more and more perforated front panels to 
mobile shelves in order to get a certain amount of air circulation 
within the shelves (standard in libraries but not yet in museums). This 
feature is in contradiction to the enclosing of the objects mentioned 
above.

The easiest way to minimize the fire hazard in stoarge areas is to 
eliminate all electric and electronic equipment within the stoarge area 
when not in use (no standby!). *All* power is automaticly switched off 
when you leave the room. Look for storage compartments that are not too 
big and well protected from each other (fireproof doors). Good 
housekeeping within and around storage areas is another point to consider.

I fully agree that the padding and mounting of objects (ethafoam, 
PE-foam, cardboard etc.) is a big (and growing) problem. Even after 
extensive research in that field we haven't found a better solution yet 
(inert, long life, fireproof, inexpensive, etc). I wonder if somebody 
has new ideas for this old problem?


Keep cool
Joachim


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Timothy McShane schrieb:

>Hi all;
>
>We've just run into an issue with our new compact storage units
>apparently not being compliant with our local fire codes--the issue
>being that the closed units will not allow the sprinkler system to
>function as intended.  We're being urged to consider wire shelving
>(which would cost bucks we don't have, and besides, I expect an Ethafoam
>lining wouldn't be looked upon favourably by our FD either), or
>eliminating every second compactor unit (which would, of course, destroy
>the whole intend of acquiring compact storage).  Has anyone ever run
>into, or even heard about a similar situation elsewhere?  Any
>suggestions for arguments we can use to win over our fire department?
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Tim McShane, Assistant--Cultural History
>Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery
>1302 Bomford Crescent S.W.
>Medicine Hat, AB   T1A 5E6
>Tel: (403) 502-8587
>[log in to unmask]
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