Difference between revisions of "Fire Safety and Suppression"

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This section includes information related to fire safety and suppression within natural history museums.
 
This section includes information related to fire safety and suppression within natural history museums.
 
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
 +
Fire can be caused by faulty construction, carelessness, improper protocols, or lack of policy within an institution. All aspects of a natural history museum or collection facility should be examined and monitored for best practice in regard to fire safety and suppression, including collection storage spaces, laboratories, kitchens, and restaurant services, to ensure that they meet all applicable fire codes. Mechanisms for oversight of compliance should be put in place, including guidelines (e.g., Standard Operation Procedure) that outline required [[Training Personnel|Training Personnel]] and regular inspection. Institutions and individual collections should also have established plans regarding emergency evacuate of the premises and proper procedure to report a fire.
  
 
==Contributors==
 
==Contributors==
Content regarding fluid collections (e.g., herpetology, ichthyology) was generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting - 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the following individuals participating in the "Museum Logistics" working group of the aforementioned workshop:
+
Content regarding fluid collections (e.g., herpetology, ichthyology) was generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting - 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the following individuals participating in the "Museum Logistics" working group of the aforementioned workshop: [[User:Andy Bentley|Andrew Bentley]] (University of Kansas, Collection Manager of Fishes), Brian Sidlauskas (Oregon State University, Curator of Fishes), Caleb McMahan (The Field Museum, Collection Manager of Fishes), Norma Saucedo (College of Charleston, Professor), Dean Hendrickson (The University of Texas at Austin, Curator of Fishes), Alexandra Snyder (Museum of Southwestern Biology, Collections Manager of Fishes).
  
*Andy Bentley - University of Kansas, Collection Manager - Fishes
+
==Fluid Collections==
*Brian Sidlauskas - Oregon State University, Curator of Fishes
+
No specific fire or building code exists for natural history museums, so each local fire marshal and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) officer will interpret the general codes and set a local policy. The international building and fire codes mandates numerous building and facility design elements:
*Caleb McMahan - The Field Museum, Collection Manager of Fishes
+
* [http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/I-Codes/2015%20IBC%20HTML/ 2015 International Building Code (IBC)]
*Norma Salcedo - College of Charleston, Professor
+
* [http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/I-Codes/2015_IFC_HTML/index.html 2015 International Fire Code (IFC)]
*Dean  Hendrickson - The University of Texas at Austin, Curator of Fishes
+
*Alexandra Snyder - Museum of Southwestern Biology - Fishes, Collections Manager
+
  
==Fluid Collections (Fishes and Herps)==
+
In addition, there are country, state and county specific codes that are applicable. Within the U.S. the [http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/AboutTheCodes/909/909-F2008-ROP.pdf National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 909 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties — Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship, 2009 Edition] applies.
  
*Fire code mandates numerous building and facility design elements.
+
General concerns revolve around storage temperature (lower reduces risk), ventilation rates, volume of alcohol/room volume, limits on height of shelves, etc., but each country and state will have local variations that need to be taken into consideration. Thus, it is critical for each collection manager to work closely with the fire marshal and EHS and to build a good working relationship.  
 
+
It is recommended that the fire marshal and EHS are consulted at the beginning of any new design projects or when moving collection material into a new space. In addition, maintaining regular contact is important because regulations and interpretations of code can change, and a continued dialogue can help avoid surprises.
*No specific fire or building code for natural history museums exists, so each local fire marshal and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) officer will interpret the general codes and set a local policy.
+
 
+
2015 International Building Code (IBC) http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/I-Codes/2015%20IBC%20HTML/
+
 
+
2015 International Fire Code (IFC)
+
http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/I-Codes/2015_IFC_HTML/index.html
+
 
+
Then there are country, state and county specific codes under these.
+
 
+
*In the US there is:
+
 
+
National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) - NFPA 909 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties — Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship 2009 Edition
+
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/AboutTheCodes/909/909-F2008-ROP.pdf
+
 
+
General concerns revolve around storage temperature (lower reduces risk), ventilation rates, volume of alcohol/room volume, limits on height of shelves, etc., but each country and state will have local variations that need to be taken into consideration. Thus, it is critical for each collection manager to work closely with the fire marshal and EHS and to build a good working relationship. Bring them in at the beginning of the process if you are going to be designing a new building or moving into new space, and maintain regular contact. Regulations and interpretations of code can change, and a continued dialogue can help avoid surprises.
+
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
=== Consensus Documents ===
+
[https://www.archives.gov/preservation/emergency-prep/fire-prevention.html Fire Protection In Cultural Institutions] <br>
 
+
[https://www.archives.gov/files/preservation/emergency-prep/fire-check-list.pdf Fire Safety Self-Inspection Form For Cultural Institutions]
=== Community Standards ===
+
 
+
=== Review Documents ===
+
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
[[Category:Desired BP Content]] [[Category:Collection Management]]
+
[[Category:Desired BP Content]] [[Category:Collection Management]][[Category:Emergency Management]]
 +
[[Category:Health and Safety]]

Latest revision as of 16:05, 4 December 2020

Statement of Purpose

This section includes information related to fire safety and suppression within natural history museums.

Introduction

Fire can be caused by faulty construction, carelessness, improper protocols, or lack of policy within an institution. All aspects of a natural history museum or collection facility should be examined and monitored for best practice in regard to fire safety and suppression, including collection storage spaces, laboratories, kitchens, and restaurant services, to ensure that they meet all applicable fire codes. Mechanisms for oversight of compliance should be put in place, including guidelines (e.g., Standard Operation Procedure) that outline required Training Personnel and regular inspection. Institutions and individual collections should also have established plans regarding emergency evacuate of the premises and proper procedure to report a fire.

Contributors

Content regarding fluid collections (e.g., herpetology, ichthyology) was generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting - 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the following individuals participating in the "Museum Logistics" working group of the aforementioned workshop: Andrew Bentley (University of Kansas, Collection Manager of Fishes), Brian Sidlauskas (Oregon State University, Curator of Fishes), Caleb McMahan (The Field Museum, Collection Manager of Fishes), Norma Saucedo (College of Charleston, Professor), Dean Hendrickson (The University of Texas at Austin, Curator of Fishes), Alexandra Snyder (Museum of Southwestern Biology, Collections Manager of Fishes).

Fluid Collections

No specific fire or building code exists for natural history museums, so each local fire marshal and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) officer will interpret the general codes and set a local policy. The international building and fire codes mandates numerous building and facility design elements:

In addition, there are country, state and county specific codes that are applicable. Within the U.S. the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 909 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties — Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship, 2009 Edition applies.

General concerns revolve around storage temperature (lower reduces risk), ventilation rates, volume of alcohol/room volume, limits on height of shelves, etc., but each country and state will have local variations that need to be taken into consideration. Thus, it is critical for each collection manager to work closely with the fire marshal and EHS and to build a good working relationship. It is recommended that the fire marshal and EHS are consulted at the beginning of any new design projects or when moving collection material into a new space. In addition, maintaining regular contact is important because regulations and interpretations of code can change, and a continued dialogue can help avoid surprises.

Links

Fire Protection In Cultural Institutions
Fire Safety Self-Inspection Form For Cultural Institutions

References