Elizabeth,

I have had direct experience with dry pipe systems in several 
collections and archives storage areras that constantly leak rusty oil 
drippings where the threaded ends of the pipes are joined. If you walk 
through and keep scanning the dry pipe systems you will inevitably see 
drips just hanging in these spots - not good!

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California  USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Appleby <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent:         Thu, 9 Jun 2005 11:20:49 -0400
Subject: Fire Suppression Systems

   Dear List-

Our Museum/Library/Archive is about to undergo a multi-million dollar
renovation and one of the things they are wanting to do is to install a 
dry
pipe (water is not in the pipes until the emergency occurs--supposedly)
fire suppression system in the collection storage areas.  While I
understand the need for it in human-occupied areas (exhibit areas,
offices), the thought of it in our storage facilities--which are 
supervised
24-hours a day, are built of concrete, have 90 minute fire safe doors 
and
metal shelving--seems excessive and are more likely to damage the
collections than save them.

My Board has asked me to gather information about:

1) Incidents where a fire suppression system of any kind has misfired 
and
what was the level of damage?

2) What are new buildings installing and are they installing systems in
collection storage?

3) Any other thoughts regarding fire suppression systems that are 
currently
in play in the community.

Any information that you can give me would certainly be appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Elizabeth Appleby
Curator
San Jacinto Museum of History
Houston, TX

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