VERY sound advice Larry.

This area is a perfect example of why it's important to look at more 
than merely the rock bottom price in storage facility services.  It's 
too early to know with this tragic event where, indeed, the fire started 
and what machinations were involved in the "growth" of it.  Regardless 
of how or where, it's a tragic loss with long term ramifications.  My 
heart goes out to all involved.

Ken Fontana
President
Fontana Insurance Solutions

On 6/25/2010 10:53 AM, Larry Medina wrote:
> Hopefully no one we know has anything stored there.
>
> Snips from the business' web site:
>
> ...a full-service hard copy and media, microforms storage and management
> facility located in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico
>
> We will spare no expense in providing the necessary financial commitment to
> assure you superior quality systems and services at cost effective rates
>
> ...our partner in helping you to limit the liability placed on corporate
> officers and directors through a comprehensive, managed and verifiable
> system of records storage and management.
>
> Secure building (over 40,000 sq. ft and growing)
>
> Regularly tested disaster recovery plan
>
>
> Although the reports thus far indicate the fire started in the records
> storage warehouse, this was one of three businesses in this facility and
> they were in the middle of three units. The fire started in the late evening
> hours, and one of the adjacent businesses was an Auto Repair Shop.  The
> record storage business has been there nearly 20 years, and the adjacent
> businesses may have changed over time- increasing the risk to the stored assets.
>
> Just a suggestion to anyone storing commercially. Find out what the adjacent
> businesses do and when touring the facility, look closely at the walls
> separating your records storage from these businesses.
>
> Are they firewalls or fire barrier walls?
>
> Also look at the sprinkler arrangement.  Many commercial facilities are
> regularly reconfigured and at times this can result in an array of
> sprinklers ending up directly against a wall, which limits the coverage they
> provide for the assets below them.  The typical array is on 10' centers, and
> the sprinklers are designed to put water out 5' from the center of the
> sprinklers for maximum coverage.
>
> Ask how high the shelving units are and if they're over 12', ask if they're
> equipped with in-rack sprinklers.  If they're not, or if the shelving has
> wooden decks... you may want to think carefully about the risks of storing
> there.
>
> A lot of work was put into developing a Guideline for Evaluation of
> Commercial Storage Facilities, http://bit.ly/9IjQy1 and at the price, it's a
> cheap investment to purchase a copy and evaluate any facilities you're
> considering storing in, your current provider, or even your own
> self-operated storage facility.
>
> The other publication I'd encourage everyone to purchase a copy of is
> NFPA232, the "Standard for the Protection of Records"  http://bit.ly/coCZYV
> (the current version is 2007, I personally prefer the 2000 version) and
> become familiar with the contents.
>
> One thing you'll notice is if you walk in with professionally printed
> reference documents in your hands while you're doing an inspection, the
> owners will take notice... and many times they may even try to convince you
> that many of the things in there aren't required/important/necessary... if
> they do, that's the time to look elsewhere.
>
> THEY'RE YOUR ORGANIZATION'S RECORDS and INFORMATION ASSETS... I'm sure
> someone in your organization wouldn't mind if you spent a couple of hours
> visiting them and reporting back in on their safety.  If they do, sent them
> this link- the pictures are fabulous incentives  http://bit.ly/aAUsgG
>
> Larry
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