User Manual

Basics in archives and libraries
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Building Technologies 049_Archives_and_Libraries_A6
V10271399_a_en.doc
Fire Safety & Security Products 03.2009
6. ideal size from the fire protection’s point of view
– adjusting to the deployed extinguishing systems (e.g. use of extinguishing
systems with gas)
– acceptable contamination or loss risk in case of fire in a certain area
7. ideal size from the Integrated Pest Management’s (IPM) point of view, in order
to limit pest infestation efficiently in the event of an incident, to fight it or to pre-
vent their expansion into larger areas
8. ideal size from the value protection’s point of view and access control (size of
the value concentration, separation)
Dimensioning the rooms must be pondered with the above aspects in mind. This
may result in a very differentiated distribution of various room sizes in an institution.
2.10.2 Design load
Depending on the use and equipment with storage technique, certain requirements
must be fulfilled. More demands must be fulfilled for concentrated stock in systems
of moveable shelving than for stock more loosely set up in fixed shelving.
Depending on the use and equipment, design loads of 5 – 15 kN/m² must be
planned.
For old buildings, the usages must be adjusted according to the particular condi-
tions or relevant measures for the strengthening of the building’s statics must be
planned.
2.10.3 Earthquake security
Archives and libraries contain important and partly irreplaceable cultural assets. It
must therefore be borne in mind that in certain geographical areas the statics are
designed according to current factors of earthquake security that must be found out
locally.
2.10.4 Building technique
The building technique and building materials that are used significantly determine
the existing residual humidity at the point of completing the building. Archive rooms
built “wet” have a drying period, and they give off significant quantities of humidity
over a longer period. It makes sense that the building is only used as storage at
least two years after completion.
Cement and concrete are highly alkaline materials. This leads to an unwanted al-
kaline atmosphere in closed rooms during the drying phase which can damage cul-
tural assets stored (too early).
2.10.5 Building process
All building activities are connected with the development of dust and it must
strictly be separated from the daily operations of an archive or library. This is ide-
ally done by tightly sealed separation or, during reconstruction, by storing the stock
elsewhere.
Four requirements on the part of the users must be fulfilled completely before
they
move in:
1. complete finishing incl. building equipment and storage technique
2. complete drying of all
parts of the building
3. complete functionality of the building equipment (particularly the tuning of cli-
mate technology and security systems)