EXHIBIT Protection Levels for Cultural Collections in Museums and Other Institutions

 

Levels and Uses

 

Security Monitoring: Guards, Alarms & CCTV

 

Barrier Construction, Surfaces and Openings

 

Access Control and Keys

 

Fire and Safety Protection

 

Inventory and Conservation

1

LEVEL 1 OF 5 -- VERY HIGH SECURITY

For very high value objects or many high-value objects, very fa, mous objects, objects by very famous persons, well known objects, very rare specimens, highly controversial, highly portable and very highly controvertible objects such as precious minerals, gems, jewelry, gold and silver, incunabula, stamps and coins.

·  Monitor the objects continuously.

·  During open hours, monitor with internal alarms such as vibrator and motion alarms.

·  During closed hours, monitor with external area and internal case alarms.

·  Use a tested, reliably fast guard response.

·  May use armed guards and/or guards with police checks.

·  Use switch alarms on all case openings.

·  Announce alarms locally and to a remote station.

·  Identify the alarm annunciation and zone uniquely.

·  Use a supervised alarm system.

For staff access:

·  Use a security guard escort with a high security key for every case entry.

 

For covered paintings and cases:

·    Use a minimum ½ inch polycarbonate glazing or one-inch tempered glass.

·    Weld all glazing seams.

For cases:

·    Use a minimum ¾ inch thickness or ½ inch metal for the case covering with sufficient support for attachments, connections and locking devices.

·    Secure the glazing to the cabinet base for entry from within.

·    Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·    Anchor and/or weight all free-standing cases to prevent turnover.

·    Construct toe kickspaces on visitor sides to cases.

Uncovered exhibits:

·    Use a minimum 45-inch 'reach' standoff by pits, platforms, height or decorative no-walk spaces instead of ropes and stanchions with a guard present.

·    Locate them inside a strong physical perimeter of walls, ceilings, floors and lockable openings that are locked when not in use.

·    Locate them away from external walls, pipes, entries and emergency exits.

·    Eliminate over-crowding effectively.

For staff access:

·     Use access by list and security escort.

·     Use a police check for access.

·     Use a lock with proprietary key signed out and returned to a security lockbox each time.

·   Keep a record of all entries and key usage for one year.

·   Comply with NFPA Codes 101 and 911.

·   Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·   No high intensity lamps.

·   Use 2 kinds of fire detection: combustion, smoke or heat.

·   Dedicate it as a separate signal and alarm zone.

·   Announce the alarm locally and at a station, preferably a fire department.

·   Install an automatic deluge system such as sprinklers (such as dry pipe) or Halon replacement in areas and deluge such as CO2 inside microclimates or cases.

·   Design, test and comply with personal disability (ADA) codes and guidelines.

·   Keep a full inventory of objects including good photographs.

·   Make curatorial and guard physical inventory and conservation checks daily.

·   Use object removal cards for temporary removal, with unique cards and original signatures.

·   Monitor temperature and humidity continuously, in each microclimate.

·   Use environmental alarms for extremes such as water, humidity and temperature.

·   Conduct pest control checks weekly.

LEVEL 1 OF5 -- VERY HIGH SECURITY

These guidelines illustrate protection levels that can be considered adequate for a secure building with protection staff present in the building and with professional staff responsible for collection conservation, inventory and recordkeeping. The decreasing levels of physical security reflect the decreasing protection requirements for cultural collection objects which must be raised when a number of similar value objects are protected in the same area. They should only be modified as security trade-offs by a professional security person, as in evaluating security levels off site or for objects compartmented and in separately keyed areas or containers. Check local protection officials and your risk manager, insurer and loan agreements for their requirements and recommendations.

 

 

EXHIBIT Protection Levels for Cultural Collections in Museums and Other Institutions

 

 

Levels and Uses

 

Security Monitoring: Guards, Alarms & CCTV

 

Barrier Construction, Surfaces and Openings

 

Access Control and Keys

 

Fire and Safety Protection

 

Inventory and Conservation

2

LEVEL 2 OF 5 --  HIGH SECURITY

For high value objects and highly controvertible objects by less famous persons, less well known objects, less portable, and less rare specimens such as paintings, sculptures, rare books, all working weapons, valuable furs, decorative arts and rare archeological specimens.

·  Monitor the objects continuously.

·  During open hours, monitor with internal alarms such as motion alarms.

·  During closed hours, monitor with external area and internal case alarms.

·  Use a tested, reliably fast guard response.

·  May use guards with police checks.

·   

·  Use switch alarms on all case openings.

·  Announce alarms locally.

·  Identify the alarm annunciation and zone uniquely or by an indicator of which case.

·  Use a supervised alarm system.

For staff access:

·  Use a high security key signed out for each entry.

For covered paintings and cases:

·    Use a minimum ½ inch polycarbonate glazing or one-inch tempered glass.

·    Weld all glazing seams.

For cases:

·    Use a minimum ¾ inch thickness or ½ inch metal for the case covering with sufficient support for attachments, connections and locking devices.

·    Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·    Anchor and/or weight all free-standing cases to prevent turnover.

·    Construct toe kickspaces on visitor sides to cases.

·    Cover all screw tops and use only security screws.

Uncovered exhibits:

·    Use a minimum 45-inch 'reach' standoff by pits, platforms, height or decorative no-walk spaces instead of ropes and stanchions.

·    Locate them inside a strong physical perimeter of walls, ceilings, floors and lockable openings that are locked when not in use.

·    Locate them away from external walls, pipes, entries and emergency exits.

·    Eliminate over-crowding effectively.

For staff access:

·     Use access by list or security escort.

·     Use a name check for access.

·     Use a high security lock with signed out and returned to a security lockbox each time.

·   Keep a record of all entries and key usage for one year.

·    Comply with NFPA Codes 101 and 911.

·   Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·   Consider using 2 kinds of fire detection: combustion, smoke or heat.

·   Dedicate it as a separate signal and alarm zone or one identifiable by case.

·   Announce the alarm locally.

·   Install an automatic deluge system such as sprinklers (such as dry pipe) or Halon replacement in areas and deluge such as CO2 inside microclimates or cases.

·    Design, test and comply with personal disability (ADA) codes and guidelines.

·   Keep a full inventory of objects including good photographs.

·   Make curatorial physical inventory and conservation checks monthly and guard checks daily.

·   Use object removal cards for temporary removal, with unique cards and original signatures.

·   Monitor temperature and humidity daily, in major microclimates.

·   Use environmental alarms for extremes such as water, humidity and temperature.

·   Conduct pest control checks weekly.

LEVEL 2 OF 5 --  HIGH SECURITY

These guidelines illustrate protection levels that can be considered adequate for a secure building with protection staff present in the building and with professional staff responsible for collection conservation, inventory and recordkeeping. The decreasing levels of physical security reflect the decreasing protection requirements for cultural collection objects which must be raised when a number of similar value objects are protected in the same area. They should only be modified as security trade-offs by a professional security person, as in evaluating security levels off site or for objects compartmented and in separately keyed areas or containers. Check local protection officials and your risk manager, insurer and loan agreements for their requirements and recommendations.

 

EXHIBIT Protection Levels for Cultural Collections in Museums and Other Institutions

 

Levels and Uses

 

Security Monitoring: Guards, Alarms & CCTV

 

Barrier Construction, Surfaces and Openings

 

Access Control and Keys

 

Fire and Safety Protection

 

Inventory and Conservation

3

LEVEL 3 OF 5 -- SECURED

For insured objects on loan, highly collectable, controvertible, portable, and well known objects; and general museum quality objects, personal collections, photographs, furniture, decorative arts, baubles, textiles, vehicles, specimens of nature and of man.

 

For objects on loan and exhibit, highly collectable, controvertible, portable, and well known, including more common museum quality objects, personal collections, photographs, furniture, decorative arts, baubles, textiles, vehicles, specimens of nature and of man.

·    Monitor the area continuously.

·  During open hours, monitor with guards and alarms.

·  During closed hours, monitor with guards and/or area and case alarms.

·  Use a tested, reliably fast guard response.

·  Announce alarms locally.

·  Identify the alarm report by an indicator of which case.

For staff access:

·    Use a trusted staff with a security key signed out for each entry.

For cases:

·    Use a minimum ½ inch polycarbonate glazing or one-inch tempered glass.

·    Weld all glazing seams.

·    Use a minimum ¾ inch thickness or ½ inch metal for the case covering with sufficient support for attachments, connections and locking devices.

·    Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·    Anchor and/or weight all free-standing cases to prevent turnover.

·    Cover all screw tops and use only security screws.

Uncovered exhibits:

·    Use a minimum 45-inch 'reach' standoff by pits, platforms, height or decorative no-walk spaces instead of ropes and stanchions.

For temporary exhibits:

·    Exchange each temporary deficiency with a higher level security practice with increased alarms and guard checks.

·    Locate them inside a strong physical perimeter of walls, ceilings, floors and lockable openings that are locked when not in use.

·    Consider locating them away from external walls, pipes, entries and emergency exits.

For staff access:

·    Use a name check for access.

·    Use a high security lock with staff keys.

·    Comply with NFPA Codes 101 and 911.

·   Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·   Use area fire detection: combustion, smoke or heat.

·   Identify the signal and alarm zone by area.

·   Announce the alarm locally and at a central station.

·   Install an automatic deluge system such as sprinklers (such as dry pipe) or Halon replacement in areas.

·    Design, test and comply with personal disability (ADA) codes and guidelines.

·   Keep a full inventory of objects including good photographs.

·   Make curatorial physical inventory and conservation checks monthly, on installation and deinstallation, with guard checks daily.

·   Use object removal cards for temporary removal, with unique cards and original signatures.

·   Monitor temperature and humidity daily, in major microclimates.

·   Use environmental alarms.

·   Conduct pest control checks weekly.

LEVEL 3 OF 5- -- SECURED

These guidelines illustrate protection levels that can be considered adequate for a secure building with protection staff present in the building and with professional staff responsible for collection conservation, inventory and recordkeeping. The decreasing levels of physical security reflect the decreasing protection requirements for cultural collection objects which must be raised when a number of similar value objects are protected in the same area. They should only be modified as security trade-offs by a professional security person, as in evaluating security levels off site or for objects compartmented and in separately keyed areas or containers. Check local protection officials and your risk manager, insurer and loan agreements for their requirements and recommendations.

 

EXHIBIT Protection Levels for Cultural Collections in Museums and Other Institutions

 

Levels and Uses

 

Security Monitoring: Guards, Alarms & CCTV

 

Barrier Construction, Surfaces and Openings

 

Access Control and Keys

 

Fire and Safety Protection

 

Inventory and Conservation

4

LEVEL 4 OF 5 -- PROTECTED

For common museum quality objects including common glass, furniture, porcelain, minerals, machinery, books, textiles, fine and decorative art, and specimens of nature and of man.

·  Monitor the area  continuously by CCTV or guards without case alarms.

·  Use a tested, reliably fast guard response.

·  During open hours, monitor with guards and CCTV.

·  During closed hours, monitor with CCTV, area alarms and/or guards.

·  Announce alarms locally.

·  Use a supervised alarm system.

·  Identify the alarm report by an indicator of which case.

For staff access:

·  Use a trusted staff to use keys.

For cases:

·    Use a minimum ½ inch polycarbonate glazing or one-inch tempered glass.

·    Weld all glazing seams.

·    Use a minimum ¾ inch thickness or ½ inch metal for the case covering with sufficient support for attachments, connections and locking devices.

·    Install electrical and lighting outside the secured case.

·    Anchor and/or weight all free-standing cases to prevent turnover.

·    Cover all screw tops and use only security screws.

Uncovered exhibits:

·  Use a minimum 45-inch 'reach' standoff by pits, platforms, height or decorative no-walk spaces instead of ropes and stanchions.

·    Locate them inside a strong physical perimeter of walls, ceilings, floors and lockable openings that are locked when not in use.

·    Consider locating them away from external walls, pipes, entries and emergency exits.

For staff access:

·      Use a name check for access.

·