Art between two fires

In museums, all security measures are important 

Every year, museums are hit by fire and works of art go up in flames. Art theft is also a recurring phenomenon in the museum world. The art treasures that are exhibited or stored in a museum are priceless and cannot simply be replaced. Clients do everything they can to prevent the risk of fire and burglary.

These aspects must be safeguarded in multiple safety systems that are closely coordinated with each other. One of these components that is always used is the structural facilities that can be deployed in various combinations.

Closing and opening
When you think of structural facilities, you might think of a wall that has a certain fire and burglar resistance. The walls themselves are not usually a concern. It is all about the openings in the wall that every room needs in order to be used. These openings increase the complexity because they impose a large number of additional requirements. Requirements that are often conflict with each other. For example, a passageway may be required to be fire and burglar resistant and to serve as an escape route for visitors. Or the passageway may serve as an attack route for the fire brigade. These are different functions that seem difficult to reconcile.

In order to be able to coordinate these possibilities, it is important to prepare a well-developed plan in advance. It should describe exactly what each door or barrier should do in certain circumstances. Armed with these requirements, the team can search for a suitable product in the market. Often, the conclusion is that only customisation can provide a solution.

Three in one
In practice, we see that museums are looking for a product that seals an opening and is tested for both fire and burglary resistance. In this way, they arm themselves against professional burglars. The burglary-resistant requirements quickly reach the RC4 level, according to European standards. In order to provide an escape route from this room, the integration of an escape door in the closure is desirable. This avoids having to install a door in another position. Such an additional door is at the expense of the square metres of wall space and does not usually contribute to the architectural appearance of a museum. By mounting the closure in a wall, possibly with flaps that also hide the necessary gaps, it is completely hidden from view. Only in the event of an emergency does the facility emerge. A possible solution is a fire and burglary resistant sliding door - the Fireglide BSL60P - with escape door. The combination of the three components in one product is unique in Europe. It is an ideal solution that is used very often in this situation.

Safe from Advice to Service
Where different disciplines come together, it is often difficult to maintain an overall view. The consultants at Hoefnagels Fire Safety are often approached to elicit a clear working plan from a mishmash of requirements and wishes. After this plan has been produced, the transition to an appropriate product has to take place.
Hoefnagels Fire Safety has been a supplier of fire and burglary resistant products to the museum world for decades. As a result, we have had ample opportunity to develop and test various products and meet the requirements set. As a result, we are in a unique position to convert the applicable standards into a practical and well-functioning product. We know that in museums, the need for optimal safety is important, but that at the same time, aesthetic considerations also count. After all, a museum building is an art object by itself. Hoefnagels Fire Safety already secures these interests in the request for advice. It's good to know that our R&D department can deliver customised solutions, for example by starting a new development or adapting an existing product.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Greatly reduced probability of failure
Without maintenance and servicing, the chances of failure increase, even with excellent advice and properly installed quality products. It is therefore wise to already take servicing and maintenance into account right from the outset. You can enter into a contract with our service department for this purpose. This ensures proper functioning of the product and minimises the risk of failure.

A coordinated overall package has only advantages. A full-service solution, from the initial consultation through to servicing and maintenance. This holistic approach provides maximum security for years to come.

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