User Manual

4
Siemens Switzerland Ltd
Building Technologies Division
1. Introduction
Historical buildings represent a significant part of our cultural heritage as they shed light on the building
techniques, artistry and even the way of life in a particular period during the history of a region or country. In
many cases, however, the contents of the buildings may be of considerably more significance than the fabric of
the buildings themselves; these include museums, art galleries, libraries and archives.
Such buildings are not only of importance to professional historians, but also to people from all walks of life. In
recent years much effort has been put into the conservation and protection of cultural heritage, with many
countries highlighting their unique heritage in promotional campaigns run by their tourism industry. It is our duty
to take care of our historical buildings and works of art so that our children and our children’s children will also be
able to appreciate them. There are, of course, many facets to this task, but a high priority must be given to the
protection against the loss and damage caused by fire.
As many visitors and staff may be present in historical buildings and museums, life safety must always be our
major concern. It is the duty of the building owners and management to provide the best possible fire protection.
This not only includes the appropriate infrastructure (fire detection, alarming, evacuation and extinguishing) but
also good organization (staff training, fire drills, enforcement of maintenance schedules and fire-safety
regulations).
Fire is the single greatest threat to the fabric and contents of any building and, in the case of a historical building,
the loss of any authentic fabric in a fire is usually irreversible. It is vital therefore to minimize the likelihood of fire
by the elimination of major risks and careful management of those risks that cannot be eliminated.
This is not a new concern. Loss of historically important documents and artifacts has been a recurring theme
throughout history; ever since the fires which are reputed to have destroyed the Library of Alexandria (one of the
largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world). In fact, this disaster has become something of a
symbol for the loss of knowledge and cultural heritage.
Providing optimal fire protection for people and property, however, often stands in conflict with the
conservationists’ ideals of minimal intervention regarding the structure and aesthetics of the building in question.
The challenge is to maintain the historical authenticity of a building while providing an acceptable level of safety
for both occupants and contents. Finding the best compromise is the key to providing an effective fire safety
concept for each building. This process involves a case-by-case fire risk assessment and a continuous fire safety
management process.