How Heritage Sites Can Practise Fire Safety During The Pandemic

Heritage sites and museums around the country have been given advice from London Fire Brigade on how to prioritise best practice in fire safety during the coronavirus crisis, including working with local fire services to develop emergency plans so as to mitigate the loss of priceless heritage if something does happen during pandemic-related closures.

Tips include switching off non-essential appliances, using safer LED bulbs in place of older traditional fluorescent ones, making sure that fire safety systems and equipment are in good working order, and making sure appropriate control measures are in place if construction work is ongoing right now, Museums + Heritage reports.

William Knatchbull, heritage team leader with LFB, said: “Help us to help you is my key message to building managers right now. We’re lucky to have so many beautiful historic buildings in London and we need to make sure they are treasured by generations to come.”

He went on to stress the importance of salvage plans, which can be produced remotely and which identifies the items of priority that would need to be removed. Make sure that information relating to item size, security fastenings and how many people are required to move items is included.

Mr Knatchbull further advised reviewing emergency contact lists at the moment as some staff members may not be able to attend sites should an emergency arise.

Museums and heritage sites around the country will remain closed until at least July 4th, which is the date the government has tentatively put forward for reopening based on what happens over the next few weeks as lockdown measures are eased.

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