fire protection in entomological collections

[Willem N. Ellis]

Dear taxonomists

I send the message below on behalf of Sandrine Ulenberg, who is head of our
entomological department. Because we are much concerned about this issue, I
distribute the question also on entomo-l; apologies for eventual overuse
of bandwith. Please reply directly to me. After some ten days I will post
to both lists a compilation of what was received. Thanks in advance --
Willem
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We have been advised to install a sprinkler system as fire-fighting
appliance for our entomological collection of dried specimens (about 3000
drawers, 30,000 boxes, in an old building with a wooden roof).
As we all know water and dried insects do not form an ideal combination.
Question 1: Who has experience with damage caused by water from a sprinkler
in museum collections?
Question 2: Which is the best procedure to prevent loss of drawers and
entomological specimens after the water from the sprinkler has done its
work?
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o  Willem N. Ellis (Willem_N_Ellis at sara.nl)                                o
o  Institute of Systematics and Population Biology (Zoological Museum)     o
o  Department Entomology                                                   o
o  Plantage Middenlaan 64, 1018 DH  Amsterdam, The Netherlands.            o
o  Private address (I am retired, most of the time you will find me here): o
o  Jisperveldstraat 591, 1024 BD Amsterdam, tel. (020) 6328080.            o