A Work of Art

State-of-the-art fire protection installed at Nasher Museum, Circus Museum

  • By Kate Houghton
  • Dec 01, 2008

Located on the campus of Duke University, the Nasher Museum of Art displays a growing collection of modern and contemporary art. With an exhibition space of more 65,000 square feet it is one of the most important university are museums in the country.

The late Raymond Nasher contributed funds for construction, and his other namesake museum, the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, routinely lends the Nasher Museum monumental sculptures, including works by Calder, Caro and Dubuffet. Detection and control capabilities sensitive enough to detect a fire before it damages priceless works of art with soot and smoke contamination is paramount, even if they are not harmed by the fire’s flames.

The critical mission was to protect a Rafael Viñoly-designed building, comprised of three extensive gallery spaces, classrooms and other rooms that lead to an outdoor seating area that overlooks the museum’s sculpture gardens.

Another opportunity availed itself when the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Tibbals Learning Center needed similar protection. The center, a 30,600-square-foot space, showcases the work of Howard Tibbals, who meticulously detailed a 1/16th lifesize model of the circus’ big tents and all that is found inside.

Even though it’s a miniature model, it truly is a national treasure, and discreet fire protection was needed to deliver the highest quality performance without stealing the show.

Rapid Response
Fenwal Protection Systems professionals were called to design and install an integrated fire protection system. At the top of their list, the FenwalNET™ 2000 control unit was deployed, along with the AnaLASER® II high-sensitivity smoke detection system. The combination offered fast, effective fire detection and control necessary to protect the high-dollar assets.

The fenwalNET 2000 offers rapid response to initiating signals, as well as a poll-and-respond communiqué that initiates only after the control unit makes the alarm decision. This allows program interface to system menus, the upload and download of system configuration data and system testing from a laptop.

The Nasher Museum’s great hall, with 40-foot-high beams supporting a glass-and-steel roof, posed a challenging environment for the AnaLASER system.

“The AnaLASER system is extremely sensitive, and that’s important for early detection,” said Kenneth E. Dodson, facilities manager at the Nasher Museum. “We worry about fire, of course, but also air quality in general. The system helps us protect artwork from dust and airborne contaminants.”

The ceiling areas within the museum, such as gallery spaces, were ideal for the AnaLASER II because the challenges of smoke stratification and detector maintenance are not met by conventional smoke detectors. The system can be mounted on the floor for ease of maintenance. The thought process behind the installation was to detect fire in its incipient state, delivering the earliest warning to an impending fire.

Hidden Protection
Upon review of a hazard analysis, the staff at the Tibbals Learning Center specified the Fenwal FM-200® system because it was able to discharge at a lower mass flow rate. This would minimize the increase of pressure within the glass enclosures and reduce the risk of damaging displays just in case there was a discharge event.

“The Ringling Museum takes pride in protecting their collections,” said Mitchell Ladewski, the museum’s safety and security coordinator. “Protecting the unique objects, including the miniature circus, in the Tibbals Learning Center required thoughtful and careful planning to select the most up-to-date, cost-efficient and effective security systems that did not interfere with the visitor’s experience.”

As with any valuable collection, these are treasures that need intricate protection. Borrell Fire Systems design manager Don Jordan said the museum made the right choice with the FM200 fire suppression system because it is not only environmentally friendly, but has excellent fire extinguishing capabilities. The design is based on hidden containers placed around the exhibit with nozzles and air-sampling detectors painted to match the clouds, providing discreet protection, including a low turbulent discharge to keep the pristine model intact.

“The miniature circus in the Tibbals Learning Center is one of the many treasures at the Ringling estate,” said Deborah Walk, Tibbals curator of the Circus Museum and of historical documents. “We take great pride in protecting our collections so visitors will be able to enjoy them for generations to come.”

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.