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Protection from Flood
Water can cause serious, sometimes irreversible, damage to many different materials in a collection, so whether it's ensuring pipes and roofs don't leak or keeping collections above the high water line, it's best to be prepared. The advice below helps to plan to prevent flooding and water damage:
- The potential risks and possible sources of flooding must be assessed for each display or storage area. This information must be used when planning new displays and storage areas, and to update disaster plans.
- As far as possible no pipework or tanks must be permitted in new buildings in areas where collections are kept. Every effort should be made to exclude pipework from such areas in old buildings. Adequate drainage should be provided in buildings where there is a possibility of flooding and a sump should be constructed for pumping out water.
- Every object which can be raised (if necessary on a pallet, with lifting gear), must be placed at least six inches (125mm) above the floor. Objects should be kept away from the walls.
- Appropriate precautions should be taken in museums liable to flooding. Museums should work towards the permanent removal of the threat, or relocation of the collections. Storage areas should not be below ground level and the disaster plan must include removal of the collections in case of flood.
- Many different materials are vulnerable to damage. The assumption that ‘if a flood can occur, one day it will' should guide arrangements in the museum.
- Compliance with relevant building regulations and recommendations, especially in old buildings, may render the complete exclusion of pipework difficult. Every effort should be made, in discussion with the appropriate technical consultant, to find a satisfactory compromise solution. In areas where objects can be raised off the floor, one solution may be to run the pipe work at ground level rather than ceiling level. Automatic cut-off valves should be installed, and leak detectors are desirable. If pipe work is at a high level, then the tops of adjacent shelves and showcases should be protected with polythene sheeting. Waterproof boxes and cabinets should be used whenever possible. The danger of leaks from humidifiers and dehumidifiers should be considered.
- All pipe work and stop-cocks should be labelled in accordance with BS 1710: Identification of pipelines and services, should be noted on the building plan in the museum's Disaster Plan. Pipework must be covered with insulation or, if not, inspected frequently during frosty weather.
- Adequate drainage to cope with flooding should be provided; drains should have non-return traps.
- All taps to sinks should be of the spring-loaded automatic turn-off type.
- The possibility of installing flood detection alarms should be considered especially in storage areas with pipework and in underground situations.
- The museum's disaster box should contain equipment for dealing with floods, including materials (‘absorbent pillows' or 'super slurper') which absorb moisture in large quantities.
- The danger of water-damage as a result of fire should be considered in disaster plans and should be discussed regularly with the Fire Brigade.
- All staff and volunteers should receive regular training in flood prevention and response.
Based on original work by Dr Patricia Andrew for the Museums and Galleries Commission (now Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) series ‘Standards in the museum care of collections'.
