While I sympathize with Ann's point of view, and with
Deborah's current situation, I think it might be
helpful if we heard from others in the conservation
profession at large, regarding this issue of fire
regulations and artwork/furnishings used in the public
domain.

Especially for those of us in private practice, where
we are hired to work on a particular piece, after
which the owner has complete custody and control of
it, a shared perspective on our reponsiblities as
conservators would be helpful.

Is it, or is it not, beyond the purview of what we do
as conservators, to prepare objects to do something
they never were meant to do, in the name of public
health and safety?

For example, should a furniture/upholstery conservator
prepare a chair/s to be fireproof, if that chair/s is
to be used in a public space?

Does a paintings conservator need to prepare an oil
painting to be fireproof, if the painting is to hang
in a public space?

What are the responsibilities in a historic house
venue, when a group of people will be attending a
special event fund-raiser, held inside that historic
space?

The ramifications for our profession are immense.  I
look forward to more guidance from fellow conservators
on this topic.

Michele

--- "Frisina, Ann" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I don't even want to know.
> Ann Frisina
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Textile Conservators
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> Deborah Bede
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:52 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: fire regulations

> I'm working with the Vermont Painted Theater Curtain
>  project, and our current project is a distemper on
> muslin curtain from the early 1930's.  The town
> intends to hang the curtain in the Town Hall, where
> it has been stored for many years, after treatment.
> This happens by coincidence to be in my town, in New
> Hampshire.  We have a particularly difficult Fire
> Marshall who is insisting that the curtain be
> fireproofed.  I know nothing about fire regulations,
> and we need some supporting documentation to help us
> refute his ruling.  Can anyone tell me if there are
> any regulations or other rules that exempt historic
> textiles from regular fire codes?  I'm assuming fire
> regulations are on a  state level, but information
> about any state would be helpful.  And anyone's
> experience with this situation would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Deborah Bede
> Stillwater Textile Conservation Studio, LLC
>
>





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