[NHCOLL-L:4119] Re: Flammability of Plastic Crates in Alcohol Storage

[Gretchen Anderson]

Chris, 
We used plastic milk crates to move the wet collection, and then stored it for some time until the shelving was put in place. There is a page and diagram describing the wet collection move in Moving the Mountain: SMM Guide to Moving Collections. p. 84. 

We prepared the crates by lining them with 1/2" ethafoam to mitigate vibration. Packed them with jars, dividing the jars with ethafoam spacers to prevent them from knocking together. For smaller jars, we added layers to maximize space efficiency. 

While the threat of fire is a risk, the advantages outweigh the disadvantage. 
1. The crates are stronger than cardboard - less likely to break 
2. They are not solid - so if there is breakage (we had none) the most of the liquid can leak out. With cardboard the liquid would be absorbed. 
3. Easy to carry, easy to stack and stable. We filled the foot print of the pallet and stacked up to 3 crates high before shrink wrapping them for the move. 
4. Our fire marshall was ok with using them. 
5. Kept the collection in good order until it was installed on proper shelving. 

We were considering these as move containers and temporary storage only. However, I can envision ways to section them for longer term storage , using removalble/divided trays to lift. That is if your fire marshal says it is ok. 

Gretchen Anderson 
Conservator 
Science Museum of Minnesota 
651-221-4764 
ganderson at smm.org 
www.smm.org 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Del Re, Christine" <delre at mpm.edu> 
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu 
Cc: "Joan Jass" <jass at mpm.edu> 
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9:35:05 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4117] Flammability of Plastic Crates in Alcohol Storage 




Some day our alcohol specimens will be re-housed in a purpose built room (many rooms actually to reduce volume) on open static shelving. Rather than cardboard, we’d like to use rigid plastic milk crates which I know others of you have used for move projects. Between these choices, that is paper or plastic boxes/containers, which will present the lowest flammability problem for fire safety? We’d like to use some type of container to aid in future specimen retrieval. I know that many of you have dealt with this type of question in recent years. If there is a publication that covers this, can you please remind me what it is? 



With thanks for any help, Chris 



Christine Del Re Voice: (414) 278-2780 
Senior Conservator Fax: (414) 278-6100 
Milwaukee Public Museum e-mail: delre at mpm.edu 
800 W. Wells St. 
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1478 

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