I checked with our Fire Safety Engineer about this problem. I don't know if you have access to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards in Norway, but this is what I have learned. There is an alternative to a fine misting system. NFPA 2001 "Alternative Gaseous Systems" lists about ten alternative gasses that can be used to replace a Halon system. I was told that FM200 is the most popular gaseous agent listed in NFPA 2001. You would have to replace the canisters and piping for any of those gaseous systems. I was told you should have approximately the same level of fire prevention that you have with Halon. In addition, if your rooms are prepared for Halon, they should be already ready for any of the FM2001 gasses. And like your Halon system, this works even when the museum is closed and there is no one there. I hope this helps. -Grace ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Fwd: Halon Alternatives? Author: "mary krugman" <[log in to unmask]> at internet Date: 8/25/98 7:56 AM Subj: [Fire Safe Heritage]: Halon Alternatives Date: 8/25/98 7:45:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: [log in to unmask] (Jack Watts) Sender: [log in to unmask] Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">firesa fe- [log in to unmask]</A> To: [log in to unmask] (FIRE SAFE HERITAGE LISTSERV) The following is from Museum Security Network http://museum-security.org/ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:07:03 +0200 To: [log in to unmask] From: "Jan Henriksen" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Fire safety, halon gass and measures to meet new demands Due to new fire regulations museums in Norway will have to renew parts (or whole) of their fire protection systems before year 2000. In particular there is a demand to get rid of the old halon gass systems. In our attempt to meet the new demands, we are aware of the fact that "water mist" seems to be the only real alternative to halon gass. However, we have a proposal on our desk to take out the halon system, and meet the fire demands by installing super sensitive smoke detectors, lowering the temperature notably (in our wet collections), and brush up our organizational (human apparatus)response. The hypothesis from our safety consultant is; do not overestimate technology to do the job in damage reduction to collections and exhibitions, and do not underestimate the human factor in fast response rescue operations. We consider the consultant's advise to be of value, but run into the problem that we are not manned around the clock. Furthermore our first priority in fire incidents is to safeguard the staff... So, our question is: Is there anyone out there who has met similar fire-safety-claims? And how? To us the temperature reduction seems genious (since it eliminates the danger of explosion), super early smoke detectores seem very good, training our staff to respond fast and target orientated seems to have potential but is risky - and we are at home at night (and must add that we do not wish anyone to have firealarms connected to their bed room). And the fire alarm is connected to both security staff and fire brigade directly. Any good suggestions to how (or what)(other than water mist) we can meet the problem? And we do not only look for technical solutions. Tally ho! //Beste hilsen// Yours sincerely// //Jan Henriksen// Jan Henriksen// //Forstekonsulent// Senior Executive Officer// //Tromso Museum// Tromso Museum// //Universitetet i Tromso//University of Tromso// //Norge// Norway// //Phone: 7764 5085//fax: 7764 5520//E-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.imv.uit.no