Cabinets and protection from water damage

At the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada, we have been
considering the various disasters that can befall a collection when
water falls down upon it from above.  This could be the result of a
small roof leak, an accidental sprinkler discharge, an overhead
equipment malfunction, or be as serious as a major plumbing leak or
losing a roof during a storm.

We are conducting a survey to find out if storing objects inside
cabinets actually has the effect of keeping those objects completely
dry when water leaks onto the cabinet from above.  We would like to
hear first-hand accounts of what happened to objects under these
conditions.

If anyone has a story of a water disaster as described above, I
would appreciate hearing form you.  I would like to know about the
severity of the leak and what kind of cabinet saved (or not) the
objects inside it.

Barbara Njie
Assistant Conservator
Canadian Museum of Nature
P.O. Box 3443, Stn. D
Ottawa, Canada K1P 6P4

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:88
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 18, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-12-88-018
                                  ***