Before the Fire: Experiments on Fire-protecting Cover Materials

ABSTRACT

Den Gamle By (The Old Town) in Aarhus, Denmark, exhibits many valuable artefacts that are impossible to evacuate in an emergency. Studies were carried out to investigate whether it is possible to protect them in case of fire using a fire-retardant cover. In this experiment, eight different types of covers were tested in a realistic fire experiment. The results show that it is possible to find suitable materials for the protection of museum artefacts in the event of fire.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the suppliers for their invaluable assistance in terms of help, samples, and advice regarding the textiles and their properties. The authors would also thank Jesper Rosenlund from Top Danmark, Museum Insurance, who shared his extensive knowledge and experience of fire situations in museums and the prevention of such. They would also like to thank the firefigthers, Karl Erik, Kim, and Anders at Østjyllands Brandstation, Århus, Denmark, for agreeing to perform the fire experiment at their training area. Without their help, this experiment would not have been possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

List of suppliers

Aerogel: Skanacid A/S, Greve, Denmark. www.scanacid.dk

Sepatec® Midtjysk Tækkefirma, Bjerringbro, Denmark. www.Sepatec.dk

Aramid: Viking-Life, Esbjerg, Denmark www.viking-life.com

Trevira, Wool, CS Molton: Priebehold ApS, Fredericia, Denmark www.priebehold.dk