Fire suppression

Te Papa is in the process of building a storage room for a large and
important stamp collection. Can anybody recommend a published
reference on suitable fire protection for philatelic collections?

At present a gas system has been installed together with a sprinkler
system  (sprinklers were not part of the original plan).   To remove
the sprinklers now will be very costly but may be necessary.

I understand the adhesive surface on stamps to be a very significant
part of the object, damage to the adhesive is not reversible
therefore,  I am not in favour of sprinklers or plumbing within this
area as it presents a potential threat to adhesives.

I would add I am in favour of sprinklers in other areas, and all
other areas within the museum and storage areas are sprinklered.

Tony Clarke
Preventive Conservator
Te Papa
Museum of New Zealand
PO Box 467
Wellington
New Zealand
+64 4 381 7206
Fax: +64 4 381 7070

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:29
                 Distributed: Friday, November 12, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-13-29-020
                                  ***