FIRE SAFETY IN HERITAGE BUILDINGS

The following Malaysian publications of fire protection are available for sales at SIRIM Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems MS 1590-2003 Carbon Dioxide Extinquishing Systems - Design & Installation (RM80) Fire Detection & Fire Alarm System MS 1745:Part 1: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Introduction (RM20) MS 1745:Part 2: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Control & Indicating Equipment (RM60) MS 1745:Part 3: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Audible Fire Alarm Devices (RM40) MS 1745: Part 4: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Power Supply Equipment (RM30) MS 1745:Part 5: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Point Detectors (RM 50) MS 1745:Part 7: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Smoke Dectors - Point Detectors Using Scattered Light Transmitted Light Or Ionisation (RM 70.00 MS 1745:Part 10: 2004 Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Flames Detectors - Point De

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF MUSEUM FIRES OF LOSS OVER US$ 1M WITH CAUSE, PROTECTION AFFORDED AND LESSONS TO LEARN June 2, 1994: Fire at Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Loss of 10% of the collection and collection records. Origin was workmen welding gutters on the exterior igniting an interior hollow space. Detectors in the museum, but no detectors in the hollow space, no sprinklers. Loss estimated at US$ 2 million. Reopen in one year. April 19, 1993: Fire at the Yuma Arizona Art Center in Yuma, Arizona, USA. Loss of historic building and 39 fine art pieces with some smoke and water damage. Suspected origin was electrical. Loss estimated at US$ 1.5 million. Smoke detectors no sprinklers. Reopening under consideration in 1# years. August 9, 1993: Fire at the Oakland Museum in Oakland, California, USA. Loss of gallery and some exhibits on loan. Origin was defective exhibit motor in storage room. Loss estimated at US$ 1 million. Detectors but no sprinklers

By: J. Andrew Wilson Assistant Director Fire Protection and Safety Smithsonian Institution This conference’s focus is on lessons learned in emergencies. The focus of this paper, however, is to emphasize prevention measures one should be following to avoid the most prevalent threat faced by all cultural institutions - FIRE. No institution is immune from fire. Until the owners/trustees of these institutions develop plans for dealing with the fire threat, they place the building and its occupants, visitors, and collections at risk. The complexity of these plans may vary from a simple evacuation plan, to a fire prevention program, to a more complex plan that includes passive and automatic fire protection systems. Property damaged by floods can often be dried out and restored. Structural damage from an earthquake might be repaired. Stolen property always has a chance of being recovered. Damage from fire, however, is usually permanent and irreparable. Historical buildings or con

Authors: N. Hamiruddin Salleh and A. Ghafar Ahmad Paper for The International Conference on Built Environment for Developing Countries, USM, Penang , Malaysia 3 rd -4 th December 2007. Note: Figures are not attached. ABSTRACT: In Malaysia , there are few heritage buildings with architectural and historical significance that may classified into several categories, namely traditional timber Malay houses, pre-world war shop-houses, colonial office buildings, institutional buildings and religious buildings. Some of them have been listed as Heritage Buildings or National Heritage buildings under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). However due to poor fire protection and management, many priceless heritage buildings were badly damaged or burnt down by fire e.g. Muzium Rakyat, Melaka (2001), Rumah Pak Ali, Gombak (2003) and Sarawak Club, Kuching (2006).It is widely accepted that fire is one of the greatest threats not only to the building’s occupants but al