User Manual

8
Siemens Switzerland Ltd
Building Technologies Division
Modern buildings are designed to provide maximum protection and enable all occupants to exit the building
quickly and safely. However adapting a historical building is a much more difficult undertaking and a great many
museums are still housed in historical buildings. It is estimated that less than 20% of museums are modern,
purpose-built structures, where the appropriate fire-protection building codes have been observed. Such buildings
will be capable of providing first class protection including:
· Fire compartmentalization
· State-of-the-art fire detection and alarming equipment
· Smoke control
· Multiple exit routes
· Tailored extinguishing systems
Integrating appropriate fire protection measures into existing older buildings will always demand some degree of
compromise.
1.2.3. Libraries
Figure 3 Libraries (historical and modern)
The main objective of a library is to provide public access to large collections of books and manuscripts. In the
majority of cases, the focus is again on the protection of the objects, rather than the structure of the building.
Frequently the buildings will have been purpose-built and attention will have been given to the lighting, humidity
and air-conditioning best suited to the preservation of the publications.
1.2.4. Archives and storage vaults
Figure 4 Archives and storage vaults
An archive may be a dedicated building, such as a state archive etc. However, many museums and art galleries
will also contain storage vaults, used to store and catalogue innumerable object that are not currently being
displayed. There are also a number of independent art storage warehouses, which often store valuable artifacts
for famous museums and art galleries. In May, 2004 a fire in such an art depot in London resulted in losses
estimated to have been between €30 m and €50 m.