[Nhcoll-l] Sprinklers in wet collections

[Andrew Stewart]

Hi Gail,
 
We moved our wet collections into a new facility four years ago which
also included an up-graded fire suppressant system. This involves
creating a high density foam which is pumped into the room, filling it
in around 2 minutes. The detergent concentrate is Jet-X Type C high
expansion for use on hydrocarbons, which is mixed with waster in the
pipe and squirted past a high-speed fan and grill into the room. It is
triggered once two of the fire sensors in the roof have been tripped.
The shelving is open mesh metal to allow the foam to penetrate.Once the
fire alarm sounds anyone in the room has about a minute to vacate before
the foam pumping starts.
 
It was tested in a small room prior to it being kitted out and observed
by the local fire department as part of the sign off. The results were
impressive to watch and extremely fast; but the biggest problem was the
clean-up after. Still better than loosing the collection. 
cheers
Andrew
 
Andrew Stewart 
Collection Manager: Fishes 
Museum of New Zealand 
DDI (04) 381-7314 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
><<<))O> 


________________________________

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Gali Beiner
Sent: Thursday, 10 May 2012 6:06 p.m.
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Sprinklers in wet collections


Dear Colleagues, 
 
We are currently dealing with a proposal to install water sprinklers in
our wet collection storage facilities as part of the general fire hazard
measures. It will be very helpful to know what kind of
fire-extinguishing measures have been installed in other facilities
holding jars and containers with alcohol / formalin / other preservative
fluids. Were there any particular considerations your institute took
into accound, given that preservation fluids tend to be so flammable? 
 
Many thanks for your thoughts on this subject, 
 
Gali Beiner (ACR)
Conservator, Palaeontology Lab
National Natural History Collections
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 
Berman Building, Edmond J. Safra campus, Givat Ram
Jerusalem 91904, Israel
Fax. 972-2-6584741
galib at savion.huji.ac.il
 
Look into our National Natural History Collections
<http://nnhc.huji.ac.il/default.asp?PageID=8> Website!

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