[Nhcoll-l] [HERBARIA] Pringle Herbarium update and request for recommendations on fire protection systems.

[Peter Jobson]

Hi Michael,

NT (Northern Territory Herbarium, Alice Springs) is surrounded by native scrubland and fire from out of control bushfires is a major possibility. We did have a water based system, but I was always concerned about damage to sheets etc. So, 18 months ago, I had installed a Stat-X system. This is a fire suppression system that uses some chemical (I can’t find the name on the canister) but it isn’t CO2 & although it would make you ill if you breathed in a full canister, it won’t kill you like the CO2 system.

We haven’t had to test it yet – although we did have an impressive fire half a mile away on the weekend – but I am assured by our company that installs fire systems in our town, that this is the best way to go. BTW- the collection is c. 60,000 sheets & is the only Australian herbarium dedicated to the arid flora of the country.

Regards

Peter

Peter Jobson
Senior Botanist
NT Herbarium, Alice Springs
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
PO Box 1120 Alice Springs  NT 0871
T 08 895 18791 |
E peter.jobson at nt.gov.au<mailto:peter.jobson at nt.gov.au> | W https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lrm.nt.gov.au_&d=DwIGaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=1GHZBIqZqwRk3nzR1czzK-UsTabIIWAGtvQi0BixQZ8&s=wCM9oTYj5oVy3MTrhRRu30ePCSQSO5fZerPwQLflZy8&e= 
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From: HERBARIA [mailto:herbaria-bounces at nacse.org] On Behalf Of Michael Sundue
Sent: Tuesday, 26 September 2017 10:32 AM
To: herbaria; Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: David Barrington
Subject: [HERBARIA] Pringle Herbarium update and request for recommendations on fire protection systems.

Hi everyone,

I would like to ask the list for advice on installing fire prevention systems for natural history collections. This of course is in direct response to our fire this summer!

To update you, following the fire in Torrey Hall at UVM this summer, all 350,000+ species of the the Pringle Herbarium (VT), as well as the Zadock Thomson animal collections, have been moved across campus to Jeffords Hall. This temporary home is a new building with ample space and climate control. In order to move the specimens quickly before mold set in, we ended up cutting a hole in the roof of Torrey and hoisting them in their cabinets with a crane. The herbarium is in good shape in its new home, arranged in APGIII order. We happy to report that we are fully functional--we have been processing loans and exchange and have already hosted international visitors.

Although fire damage to Torrey Hall was limited to the roof, the massive water damage has led to all floors of the building being gutted with plans for full renovation. This is expected to take 18-24 months.One piece of good news is that we now have an opportunity to install a fire prevention system, which the building previously lacked.

What are your recommendations for installing a new fire prevention system for a natural history collections? Our holdings comprise an herbarium in cabinets, a pinned insect collection in cabinets, a skin collection in cabinets, a digitization lab that is in a separate isolated wing from the main collection space, and a small library that is also isolated from the main collection space.

Happy to hear your recommendation on or off list.

Thanks!

Michael Sundue
The Pringle Herbarium
University of Vermont
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