Page 74 - Studio International - May June 1975

temperature control to some +/- z°C is indicate any serious underheating. It movement of people in a space, breaking
adequate, or by more sophisticated would seem an ideal method of dealing of glass, break-in attempts, etc. A factor
means such as automatic electrically with short term exhibitions of modern that needs to be considered is that the
operated valve and room thermostats. art of any type and for permanent Fire Prevention Officer will ask for all
Humidifiers of the evaporative type, exhibitions of all but the most sensitive escape routes to be open whenever the
rather than the spinning disc, preferably materials since it can be provided at a building is occupied and this is usually
with piped water and individual drain to very low installation cost, particularly diametrically opposite to the security
ensure their continued use (that may be at where electric heaters are used. requirement that everything is locked
risk when buckets of water need to be at all times. Explosion locks that are set
carried daily), and, finally, good Security to open automatically under fire
maintenance, particularly of the Before deciding on what security conditions have not yet been found
humidifier in which the salts dissolved in systems to install it is necessary to be sufficiently reliable and the best
water are continually building up and clear as to the hazards. Apart from fire compromise to our knowledge is to have
need frequent removal. In 'hard' water the hazards, in order of probability, are all fire escape doors locked but easily
areas particularly some form of water accidental damage, petty impulse damage openable from inside by breaking a glass
treatment is often needed to reduce this and/or theft, premeditated single person panel.
problem, damage and/or theft, and, premeditated
Where wider temperature variations syndicate damage and/or theft either for
are acceptable it might be possible to financial gain or political reasons. The Communications
obtain adequate control by the use of best defence is undoubtedly the presence Good communication is essential and a
heaters controlled by both a thermostat of uniformed personnel but there cannot diagram of what might be desirable is
and a humidistat connected in series and be a keeper by every exhibit and it is given in Figure 4.
set so that the heater operates to therefore wise to have an installation of
maintain the temperature setting of the security devices which give audible Other engineering systems
thermostat, provided the relative warning, both locally and at a central We have not dealt with the domestic
humidity does not drop below the point, and a diagram of the sort of services needed, such as hot and cold
setting of the humidistat. This is, protection available is given in Figure 3. water to lavatories, or with the central
perhaps, rather more applicable to It will be noted that closed circuit electrical installations, since these are
ancient buildings than to modern art and television is not included because it is not in any sense special to the display
an experimental system is currently in difficult for watchers to detect even of modern art, but would finally mention
operation at Claydon House in exceptional changes such as movement in that some form of emergency supply is
Buckingham for the National Trust. The an otherwise still scene, or very violent very desirable so that, during times of
logic being that unheated old buildings action in a moving scene, a fact known no main power supply, the security
are often in excellent condition and it is to all but the most ignorant of the system will keep going and it may be a
the introduction of central heating that criminal fraternity. It is thus of little statutory requirement to have an
causes rapid deterioration to occur by deterrent value against either emergency lighting system. Batteries
drying out timbers. So far the premeditated or impulse actions. Where may not be adequate if industrial action
temperature and humidity recordings there are no night patrols the system is the cause of the stoppage and some
taken are most encouraging and do not needs to be strengthened to detect form of generator should be considered. •

We wish to thank all the many individuals, galleries, and institutions who have
provided material for the supplement in this issue. We have collected far more
contributions than there is space for, and hope to be able to publish more of
these in a future number of the magazine. We especially wish to thank the
British Council for much help and for providing contacts in many countries
overseas, and institutions and photographers for the loan of illustrative material.

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