[NHCOLL-L:5797] RE: Use of retention straps for museum collection shelves

[Ron Eng]

Alexandra,

As you well know, here in Seattle the expectation of seismic activity is a
part of life. We have large fossils stored on pallet racks. I looked at the
various retention systems available and none of them were affordable for us.
So my compromise was to use commercial ratcheting tie-down straps. I was
concerned about the plastic quick release buckles. The ratcheting straps are
not as convenient, but they seem more secure (but I have no data to back up
that theory). The ratcheting system does provide a more convenient and much
better means to adjust the tension.

The tie down straps are available in any hardware store (for example, The
Home Depot) and they are available in a variety of widths (I use 1-inch) and
lengths. The pallet rack standard perforations provide a number of places to
hook the straps, which have vinyl coated hooks. I have installed 2 straps on
the shelves that hold very large specimens. 

Happy Year of the Dragon,
Ron
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ronald Eng
Geology Collections Manager
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
University of Washington
Box 353010
Seattle, WA 98195-3010
 
e-mail: rceng at uw.edu
telephone: 206.543.6776
fax: 206.685.3039
 
URL: http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/
...dedicated to creating a better understanding of the world and our place
in it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu]
On Behalf Of
> Alexandra M Snyder
> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 8:33 AM
> To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5796] Use of retention straps for museum collection
shelves
> 
> 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.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **************************************
> 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