[NHCOLL-L:1242] Ethanol collections and fire codes

[Alexandra M. Snyder]

Brad,

The previous responses cover most of the issues (fire walls, fire 
suppression system, spark proof everything, etc.)we had to consider when 
designing a facility for wet collections.  In our case (Museum of 
Southwestern Biology) we acquired a building across from the Biology 
Department (our old facility), which was renovated to house the MSB 
collections.  On the first floor (sub-basement floor) we have a room 
dedicated to the ethanol and isopropanol collections of mostly herps and 
fishes but also of mammals, birds and insects.  This room is maintained 
between 60 and 65 F degrees, has wet pipe fire sprinkler system,  and three 
floor drains that lead to a large holding tank to contain large spills. 
The room can be accessed by fire crew through four emergency exits.

Not mentioned in previous emails but controls that we had to abide by  were 
the following:

1. There are no places in this room for researchers to sit and work with 
specimens (therefore, no illuminators and other potential fire hazards). 
It is not coded for "human occupation, " which is fine because we did not 
want (people) lights and heat in this room anyway.  Researchers work with 
specimens in the various lab spaces.

2.  Like the University of Kansas, our fire marshall insisted that the 
shelves on the mobile shelving units be such that water from the fire 
sprinklers could "penetrate" the collections.  Therefore, we and Kansas use 
food service wire rack shelves (Amco product) to meet this requirement. 
Other collections have not had to go this route and are allowed to use the 
customary  solid shelves for their mobile shelving units.


My 2 cents on "variances:compromises:relaxations:exemptions" and when not 
all situations can be treated the same:

There is an International Fire Code but it can be reworked in different 
ways depending on situations.  At one point here, the City and State Fire 
Marshalls had differing ideas on where the collection could be placed for 
easy access by fire crews:  on the upper floors or in the basement.  This 
was a renovated building with a second floor to be newly installed. Our 
floor loading requirements were such that we could not afford to install or 
reinforce floors that would meet the weight requirements of a wet 
collection.   This argument got the City FM to agree to letting us have it 
in the basement.  Also, by including two outside emergency doors in the 
design, we were able to keep the basement location for the fluid 
collections.

I have been involved in two  different wet collection room designs (Seattle 
and Albuquerque) and "variances" will be granted if you work with the city 
and state fire marshalls.  I don't think those huge warehouse liquor stores 
suffer the same "rules and regs" as these pickled fish and frog 
collections, so I have not felt shy about asking 1.  Why?  and  2.  Is 
there a way we can work this out so that both of our needs are addressed? 
Diplomacy and trade offs always work in these situations.    What these 
fire marshalls do not like are "know-it-alls" and facility users who do not 
take their dictates seriously.  When in negotiation mode, don't say things 
like, "You have got to be kidding?!?"


Good luck to all of you who are starting on the long road of museum 
facility design, renovation or building.  It is an education.

Lex Snyder

================================
Alexandra M. Snyder, Collection Manager
Division of Fishes
Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131 USA
PH 505.277.6005  FAX 505.277.0304
amsnyder at unm.edu