[NHCOLL-L:5796] Use of retention straps for museum collection shelves

[Alexandra M Snyder]

Our fluid preserved collections are stored on Amco wire 
shelving, SpaceSaver compactor shelving units. Due to 
budgetary constraints after construction (2000) we were 
not able to fit these shelves with "earthquake" bars or 
Amco shelf ledges.  Recently, I discovered that the Amco 
stock shelf ledges, now available through storage 
solutions businesses, will not fit our system of shelves. 
Only custom made ledges are possible, at a considerably 
higher price.  And, in the near future, we will be 
undergoing another phase of construction in the MSB, which 
will involve jack hammering a small portion of the fluid 
collections floor and then cutting through cinder block 
wall for new ductwork.

Of course, our concern for vibration, dust, flying 
concrete chunks, and so forth is great.  We will be 
covering the shelves with protective barriers for dust and 
concrete, but would like to get some type of retention bar 
on the shelves for seismic effects of jack hammering and 
potential earth temblor (we are on a fault line). Our 
budget is limited and so, for now, we need a cost 
effective product that can be used instead of custom 
manufactured earthquake bars.

Does anyone have experience with or information on the use 
of shelving retention straps for use in museum fluid 
preserved collections?  These are 1" nylon webbing straps 
that run horizontally across the front and side of "pallet 
style shelves."  They have quick-release buckles (acetal 
resin).  They are tightened using a D-ring.

Thank you in advance for advice and recommendations.







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Alexandra M Snyder
Collections Manager-Fishes
Museum of Southwestern Biology MSC03-2020
302 Yale NE  (Physical Address)
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131 USA
PH/FAX 505.277.6005
amsnyder at unm.edu
http://www.msb.unm.edu/fishes/index.html