Emergency Planning+Response

Damage from fire, smoke, water, mould and structural collapse are the greatest threats to cultural institutions and their contents. Calibre can reduce that threat, by establishing and maintaining an effective emergency preparedness and response plan, tailored to your specific needs.

Emergency plans vary in scope and detail, according to the size and complexity of your institution. Our process includes:

  • Overseeing the development and implementation of your emergency preparedness and response program, and overseeing your emergency preparedness committee.
  • Developing an emergency preparedness and response plan tailored to the specific needs of your institution (assessing hazards, identifying assets and vulnerability, implementing preventive measures, implementing preparedness measures and recovery procedures). 
  • Preparing a emergency plan handbook to be distributed to all staff (including chains of command, contact lists, site and building plans, response and recovery procedures, facilities and equipment lists).
  • Training staff and volunteers in emergency response activities and drilling exercises (including evacuating visitors, colleagues, collections and records). 
  • Regular review and update of all procedures.

 

Emergency Response and Recovery

Recognising that the first few hours are critical to the long-term survival of your building and contents, Calibre’s emergency response and recovery team are trained for a variety of emergency situations. On call 24 hours a day,  our immediate response team will provide expert conservation services, both during and after an emergency, coordinating all response and recovery activities from our emergency command centre. Our processes include:

  • Systematic salvage of objects and materials for recovery and reconstruction (including accurate recording, secure labelling and careful removal for storage).

  • Inventory of items recovered (including descriptions, photographs, dimensions, and locations). If objects are removed from the site to our storage facilities, an inventory will ensure all items are accounted for throughout their transit, storage and eventual return.

  • Providing response equipment and supplies.

  • Transit and specialist facilities for the temporary storage and emergency first-aid conservation of objects and materials.
     

Additional services are available on request:

  • Stabilising your building or structure (adjustable shoring and propping), thereby ensuring the safety of the site and workers whilst further investigations are carried out.

  • Providing adequate protection to the external envelope of the building (temporary roofing, security boarding-up, hoarding and safety fencing).

  • Condition surveys and environmental monitoring and control (dehumidifiers and heating systems).

  • Arranging for the long-term storage or treatment of salvaged material.

  • Conservation and repair of fire damaged historic structures and interiors.