Most of São Paulo's Main Cultural Attractions Lack Fire Safety Documentation

12/23/2015 - 09h44

The main museums and cultural centers in São Paulo do not possess the documentation necessary to prove that they satisfy health and safety requirements.

According to a Folha survey, at least nine do not have the requisite authorization from the city government or the fire brigade.

The AVCB certificate, issued by the fire brigade, requires compliance with fire safety norms such as provision of enough fire extinguishers and appropriate emergency exits.

There is also a charter provided by the city government to properties with capacity for more than 250 people, which demands appropriate floor plans, accessibility and correct gas and electrical installations.

The Portuguese Language Museum (Museu da Língua Portuguesa), which was destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon (21), did not have either of the two documents.

But it is by far from the only one in São Paulo. At least three other important cultural attractions - the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), the Museu de Arte Moderna and the Centro Cultural São Paulo - are also missing these documents.

In addition, the Pinacoteca, Estação Pinacoteca, Museu da Imagem e Som (MIS), Paço das Artes and Museu da Casa Brasileira are all lacking authorization from the city government.

The management of the museums say that the documentation is missing due to issues relating to the buildings themselves, most of which are listed. They also insisted that they have sufficient fire protection equipment.

However, despite the difficulties posed by historic buildings, other cultural attractions such as the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) and the Catavento Cultural have all their documentation in order.

According to Rosária Onu, professor at the department of architecture and urbanism at the University of São Paulo (USP), the rigidity of the rules may indeed create difficulties for listed buildings. "Sometimes, legislation isn't compatible with the older buildings," she says, citing the use of sprinklers as an example.

However, she also argues that regulation is not tough enough in terms of forcing these buildings to install the necessary fire safety equipment. This is especially important in older buildings, which are more susceptible to fire.

Just like the Portuguese Language Museum, many of these buildings have wooden floors and interiors.

In the case of listed buildings, there is another problem. Any new installation requires authorization from the national heritage board.

For example, at the MAM, an underground water tank had to be built in order to meet the requirements of the fire brigade. However, this project took two years to be approved by the heritage board.

According to the management of the museum, it has 100 smoke detectors, 60 fire extinguishers, emergency exits and fire doors.

The management of MASP, which is listed at the city, state and federal levels, says that it "submitted a project to the heritage board which satisfied the fire brigade requirements, in order to obtain the AVCB, and it is currently awaiting approval before it can be implemented."

São Paulo's municipal department of culture says that the relevant documentation is being issued to the Centro Cultural São Paulo.

The other museums without authorization from the city government all say they have submitted their documents and are awaiting a response.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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