Collections

The Comprehensive Risk Management Plan for the National Museum of Anthropology Complex in Mexico, developed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), promotes new initiatives aimed at strengthening the awareness of authorities, societies and communities on the importance of protecting and preserving the integrity of museums.

The Collections Emergency Protection Plan of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (PROCOERS Plan) is a comprehensive management system for the entire Museum that aims to provide an effective response to the protection of the works in its custody in the event of an emergency situation. To this end, it integrates a dynamic model of collection data infrastructure that serves to analyze the works and spaces globally in real time. The advantages inherent in this model, which is under development, are very varied, including the ability to predict risk situations linked to different variables, anticipate solutions, obtain proposals for action or facilitate decision-making in the event of an emergency.

Guide to evaluating collections in 6 steps.

Loss of collections in museums can be significant during a fire. It is important that museums put control measures in place to prevent a fire, to detect a fire, and to respond quickly if a fire does occur. To evaluate potential collection losses due to fire over a certain period of time, substantial information is required and there is little quantitative data for fires in museums. It was decided to obtain this data by collecting fire museum records from Canadian fire authorities as well as from fire authorities in other countries and by consulting with experts. This project has resulted in establishing fire Control Levels for museums and in creating a set of reference materials to help risk assessors evaluate the potential collection losses due to a fire. According to experts consulted in this study, having an active fire safety committee composed of staff and management is one of the key elements in fire prevention. Such a committee helps promote awareness and identify problems, as well as propose solutions and ensure that these solutions are applied to minimize risk of fire in an institution.
For optimal protection, museums are encouraged to have a fire alarm system that is monitored continuously as well as an automatic fire suppression system.