New advice puts a dampener on fire in historic buildings

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With around one major historic building lost to fire every month in Scotland, fire remains one of the most serious threats to our built heritage. The latest in the Historic Scotland's series of Technical Advice Notes (TAN) sets out the vital role that effective management can have in reducing fire losses. As well as discussing methods of physical intervention to increase fire safety, such as installing sprinkler systems, TAN 28 sets out practical building-management procedures for day-to-day use that will reduce the likelihood of fire occurring.

TAN 28 Fire Safety Management in Heritage Buildings published today by Historic Scotland gives practical guidance and advice about fire prevention management for building professionals, owners and the fire and rescue service.
Ingval Maxwell OBE, Director of Technical Conservation, Research and Education at Historic Scotland stressed the importance of prevention and damage-limitation techniques in conserving Scotland?s built heritage. Speaking at this week's British Automatic Sprinkler Association Local Authority Seminar in New Lanark, Mr Maxwell said:

"Prevention is vital, but planned damage limitation techniques, such as use of sprinklers, can dramatically improve the chances of conserving historic buildings and their contents in the event of fire. It's vital that fire safety in historic buildings is managed in a systematic way. It's possible to conserve a damp building - it's not possible to conserve a pile of ashes."

Scotland is at the forefront of providing fire-prevention and mitigation guidance to building owners. Historic Scotland has been carrying out research into the protection of historic buildings from fire since 1994. This research and advice produced is supported by continuing involvement with expert groups.

Historic Scotland is working closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) on the Scottish Historic Buildings National Fire Database. This innovative computer-based project provides practical information about A-listed buildings to fire crews as they travel to the scene of a fire. The in-cab system helps fire fighters to recognise significant features of the building's historic fabric and identify heritage priorities.

TAN 28 is the latest addition to a suite of relevant Historic Scotland publications about fire prevention and damage limitation in heritage buildings. Along with TAN 11 (1997) Fire Protection Measures in Scotland's Historic Buildings, TAN 14 The Installation of Fire Sprinklers in Historic Buildings (1998) and TAN 22 Fire Risk Management of Heritage Buildings (2001), TAN 28 is an essential reference for all building professionals and owners and managers of historic buildings.

All Historic Scotland publications can be ordered over the phone on 0131 668 8638, or to order online go to - Conservation publications' in the "Shop" section of Historic Scotland's website at http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/

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