Friday, November 8, 2024

9:35 - 10:00

Sala Ospiti

---

Overview

Heat protective covers: Enhancing Fire Preparedness for Cultural Collections

---

Details

Grégoire Bernand, Responsable Produit - Protection du Patrimoine, Otego, Paris, France Véronique Declercq, Musée de l’Homme - Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France Fire risks pose a significant threat to cultural institutions’ collections. To improve preparedness and mitigate damage, a comprehensive safety plan should be adopted with a complete operations plan that outline procedures for responding to fires. Collaborate with experts and conduct regular self-assessments to identify risks To minimize damage in case of fire, water or smoke and soot hazards, priority should be given to using passive protective covers with an aluminized material over traditional fire resistant materials. These lightweight covers reflect up to 99% of radiant heat away from artwork, providing superior protection. During fire exercise, those covers have been shown to allow the artwork to stay below 40°C and thus providing maximum protection in an environment that can reach more than 500°C. By implementing these strategies, cultural institutions can mitigate fire risks and preserve valuable artifacts. Additional measures, especially operational aspect and ease of handling are key at the time of using this material in an emergency, making passive cover a practical solution for cultural institutions. Proper training is required to optimize use of covers during an emergency and should be done on a regular basis in institutions. This workshop, conducted in collaboration with a Registrar from a cultural institution, will provide valuable insights into emergency plan development and preparedness. The Registrar will share feedback and experiences, including the use of materials like heat protective covers.