[PADG:752] Re: Fire Suppression Systems Follow-Up

["Doris Hamburg" <Doris.Hamburg@xxxxxxxx>]

I am on travel and will be returning to the National Archives at College Park, MD on Monday, November 28.

Please direct immediate questions to

to Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler, Acting Director, Preservation Programs : 

marylynn.ritzenthaler@xxxxxxxx  301-837-2906


If there is a records emergency, please contact NARA security at 301-837-2900.  Security will contact the Records Emergency (Beeper) Response Team.

-
Doris A. Hamburg
Director, Preservation Programs
National Archives and Records Administration



>>> padg 11/23/05 13:42 >>>

Thank you to all who responded to my inquiry a few weeks ago regarding 
"clean agent" fire suppression systems in rare book rooms.  For various 
reasons, the Maryland State Law Library will likely be using an FM 200 
system, but with a redundant pre-action sprinkler system hooked into the 
rest of the Library's sprinkler system.  I discovered that there was a 
large difference of opinion regarding the efficacy of "clean agent" 
systems.  It seems that conservators are increasingly recommending 
sprinkler systems for fire suppression, rather than gaseous systems alone, 
because of advancements in sprinkler design and drying technologies. 
Additionally, in rooms where there might be the possibility of open 
windows or doors (or blown out windows or doors), "clean agent" systems 
are plainly unsuitable.  Because I did not ask respondents to become 
public, I've eliminated identity information in the chart below.  Still, I 
hope it might prove useful.

Advocates of Sprinkler Systems
Advocates of "Clean Agent"-Only Systems
Conservation Company (spoke to conservator; water is not damaging compared 
to total loss) 
Large Regional Art Museum (recent construction has FM 200, said that we 
might have code approval issues) 
Fire Safety Consultant (spoke to specialist in library and museum fire 
suppression; FM 200 with sprinklers ok; must have advanced air sampling 
detectors, such as Vesda or Analaser, with fast-response sprinklers [no 
glass bulbs?solder linkage instead]; must have sprinklers in separate 
zone; must have pneumatic air test for piping integrity; sprinklers 
systems do work?better drying technology)
Large Federal Library (spoke to Head of Conservation; no current 
construction; advocated new hypoxic system)
Law School Library (spoke to Director; new rare book storage area mandated 
to have sprinklers by local code enforcement) 
Large University  Library (spoke to Head of Preservation; no current 
construction; advocated new hypoxic system)
Large Private Research Library (spoke to Head of Preservation; recent 
construction includes only sprinklers?"what if" factor with other systems)
State Law Library (spoke to Librarian for Technical Services; built 
library in 1998 with FM 200 systems for 2 rooms?no redundant sprinklers)
Large Federal Library (message passed along to knowledgeable librarian; 
"likely to go to sprinklers soon")
Law School Library (spoke to Special Collections Librarian; added FM 200 
three years ago, with no sprinkler requirement; previous special 
collections room had no system; believes that code now requires sprinkler 
redundancy)
Federal Military Library (spoke to Director; no new construction, but is 
in planning stages; concerned about "what if" factor with other systems) 
Large University Library (spoke to Head of Special Collections; no current 
renovation) 
Conservation Company (spoke to consultant conservator; sees benefit of 
water compared to risk of total loss) 
Large University  Library (spoke to Librarian, Rare Book Room; replaced 
halon with Inergen in 2000; sprinklers not required)
Regional Library Network (spoke to consultant conservator; advocates 
sprinklers)
Large Federal Court Library (spoke to a librarian; renovations with 
planned waterless system only in the planning stages)
Law School Library (spoke to Director; new construction includes only 
sprinklers)

Large Regional Art Museum (spoke to Facilities Engineer; uses pre-action 
sprinklers)


Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks again for everyone's interest! 

Steve Anderson
Director, Maryland State Law Library
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Blvd. 
Annapolis, MD 21401-1697
Phone: 410-260-1432
Fax: 410-974-2063
E-mail: steve.anderson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx