Sean:
The major capital project I ran was the adaptive re-use of an empty Canadian provincially designated heritage structure as a professional standard museum facility, but museum collections were not on-site during the work. Thus, no shifting of collections was required.
I confess that the renovation of a Canadian National Historic site for the renovation of an interior space to create a new gallery that I also ran was accomplished without moving displays or storage. There was no roof work in this project. I tried to spec the fire safety issue as tightly as possible &, thankfully, we were blessed by no damage to the structure [other than the selective demolition] or to the collections.
However, upon subsequent consideration, I would say I certainly should have moved adjacent exhibition objects & emptied the storage area above the renovation work, It was a 1902 wood construction, but it was covered by an existing wet pipe temperature-rise trigger fire suppression system--that you also must spec extreme care to protect. I now think that
not shifting museum objects off-site was an error in managing risk on my part.
As the
Lessons document identifies, during renovations museum staff--& I would stress individuals with the authority to control contractors--
must be on-site every day [as I was in both cases above] to inspect the work so as to be able to hold the contractors' noses to the specs, identify any dangerous accumulation of flammable waste products for daily removal, etc., etc., etc.
Museum renovation projects are a significant burden to staff & so you should plan for rest & recovery from all the extra work & stress once the project is complete.
All the best
Paul
------------------------------
Paul C.Thistle
Director/Curator (retired)
Stratford, Ontario
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-13-2019 08:40 AM
From: Sean Regan
Subject: protecting objects while replacing roof
Paul,
Thanks for the info! We'll be sure to protect against fire if there is heat-welding of the roof seams. One more question: in general have you emptied out galleries when you have to do roof work?
Sean
------------------------------
Sean Regan
The Walters Art Museum
Baltimore MD
Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2019 09:39 AM
From: Paul Thistle
Subject: protecting objects while replacing roof
Sean:
Roof Repair is dangerous.
I use the following cases:
Also see the attached Lessons Learned document. In short, "better safe than sorry!"
Respectfully yours
Paul C. Thislte
Original Message------
I'm wondering what other museums do when they replace a section of roof, especially flat roofs. Have you replaced a roof recently? In general did you:- entirely close the galleries on the top floor and remove the art from that space?
- close the galleries but leave the art there, protected by tarps or other barriers? OR
- leave the galleries open and simply take precautions to only work on dry days, only opens areas one day at a time, use a temporary membrane of some kind, etc.?
Similarly, did you just make adjustments to the upper floor of the museum, or all floors under the area being re-roofed?
I'd love to hear any lessons you've learned from the process!
------------------------------
Sean Regan
Construction Project Manager at
The Walters Art Museum
Baltimore MD
------------------------------