Can we learn from the her it age lost in a fire? - Museovirasto

spections. The checklist and fire risk assessment
can be made with a fire inspector. In Sweden, the
new rescue law (Lag 2003:778 om skydd mot
olyckor, from January 2004) gives more attention
to fire safety documentation and the owners/tenants
responsibility and less to the fire inspections
carried out by the rescue service. The new rescue
law (Pelastuslaki 468/2003) in Finland and the
Norwegian law contain similar requirements.
There are some simple measures that can improve
the fire protection of a building very much
like caution with electric equipment and an open
fire, locked storage for rubbish, the tidiness in the
vicinity of buildings, in the attics etc.
Some technical installations do not cost too
much but are effective, power surge protection,
simple smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for
instance.
The most important thing is to have trained
personnel, to estimate the possible risks and to
make a fire protection strategy. It is also recommended
to make a rescue plan in cooperation
with the local fire authorities to prevent extra
damage in the event of a fire.
If a fire breaks out, the most important thing
is its early detection, that the fire fighting equipment
is easily within reach, and people know how
to use it.
It is easy for an arsonist to set fire to an open bin
full of rubbish in the vicinity of an historic building.
5.5 How to prevent arson
The most important thing is always to make it as
difficult as possible for arsonist. When discussing
how to prevent arson, the first things that come
up are good locks and a burglar alarm. A very
good system might be a combination of a light
fitted with a movement detector, a video camera
sending a picture to a guard company and a loudspeaker
to talk to the person who is approaching
the building. To give the fire brigade more time,
manual fire fighting equipment, for instance fire
hoses or in some cases an automatic fire suppression
system for instance sprinklers or water mist
is recommended.
Some experiences from Finland
A discussion between people from the Museovirasto
and an insurance company in Finland shed
light on some interesting aspects regarding outdoor
lighting and arson. (Note: Outdoor lighting
is not same as a facade floodlight). Here are some
points of view:
• An illuminated building is visible
to all by-passers and it adds to control.
• (Young) people avoid gathering
in well-lit places.
• Lighting adds the fear of being caught
because to be seen adds enormous stress
(every second is long) and 80% of burglars
give up after 6 minutes if they have not
succeeded. (Standard: 6 minutes with
a max. 60 cm long tool.)
• There is a positive connection between
lighting and security: no dark corners to
work in, light helps camera control.
Insurance companies set lighting as second
security measure after proper locks.
• According to insurance companies 70% of
crimes in Finland, are committed by
amateurs and to prevent them the simplest
thing, a proper locking, is needed. Only 1 %
of crimes are by organised criminals.
The negative aspect in some cases of outdoor
lighting is that it can draw attention to a place that
would otherwise be unnoticeable. It could therefore
“encourage” a passer-by. In remote places, it
can also help an arsonist to act because it is easier
to work with the light on.
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