Metal fire-blanket to protect works of art

A metallised protective cover for art and valuable objects has been designed to safeguard against fire, heat, water, smoke and soot.

Coating and laminating technology manufacturer Otego says Fireguard is ultra-light and only weighs 0.1kg/m².

The aluminised cover is reported to be 80% heat-reflective and reduces temperatures by up to 400ºC, and is intended for cathedrals, auction rooms, private collectors and art galleries.

Institutions that are using Fireguard include the Louvre, the Musée Jacquemart-André and the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, the Muséum national de l'histoire naturelle, the city of Geneva and the Swiss National Museum.

Otego notes that it can be rapidly deployed in the event of a fire and is also waterproof.