Conservation of the cultural heritage involves professionals from such varied fields as climate control, fire protection, and security ; they do, however, share a common aim, that of preserving the rich diversity of our cultural heritage.VINCI companies specialising in these fields offer a complete range of services specifically designed to suit protected sites : thermal insulation, heating and air-conditioning, active and passive fire protection and security systems.

References

The Hôtel de Lassay in Paris (France) classified historic building.

The heating system at the Hôtel de Lassay in Paris (France) by Lefort Francheteau

Located next to the Palais Bourbon, seat of the Assemblée Nationale, the Hôtel de Lassay, with its lavishly panelled XVIIIth-century rooms and period painted decoration, is a classified historic building. When the heating system was replaced recently, there were a certain number of architectural and climatic constraints.
The air-conditioning system was given a complete overhaul, and installed in a basement specially excavated for the purpose.

 

The Hôtel de Beauvais in Paris (France) : a SDEL Artec reference.

Installation of low-voltage power circuits in the Hôtel de Beauvais in Paris (France) by SDEL-Artec

This classified building was erected between 1655 and 1660 by Antoine Lepautre. Today it houses the Paris administrative appeal court.
Working within the tight 12 month deadline, SDEL Artec completely overhauled the computer and telephone networks as well as the video surveillance and access control installations.

 

Air-conditioning of the auditorium of the theatre in Aix-en-Provence (France) by Tunzini.

Air-conditioning of the auditorium of the theatre in Aix-en-Provence (France) by Tunzini

Built in 1660, the theatre in Aix-en-Provence has been entirely refurbished. The work involved designing an air-conditioning and smoke-evacuation system for the auditorium, known as the Salle du Jeu de Paume; it had to meet extremely demanding acoustic standards.
Sound barriers in the form of acoustic screens have been installed in all air distribution circuits in such a way that they absorb noise upstream and downstream of each device.

 

Nickel supplied the climate control system in the German Reichstag.

Air-conditioning and fire protection at the Reichstag in Berlin (Germany) by Nickel

Nickel, a German member of the VINCI group and specialising in climate control, contributed some highly innovative solutions, transposing the architectural and ecological precepts into technical terms : a large cone both ventilates the debating chamber, by aspiration, and lights it, thanks to its swivelling solar mirrors.
There are three types of fire protection : a very basic system of water sprinklers is combined with two installations that should literally suffocate any fire : the “microdrop”, which emits a spray of little droplets of water, and a system that releases argon, a gas whose principal merit is that it does no damage. The air-conditioning elsewhere in the building relies on geothermal energy sources.

 

Security arrangements for a picture in the Louvre, by GTIE Tertiaire.

Ensuring the security of artworks in the Louvre in Paris (France) by GTIE Tertiaire

GTIE tertiaire has an expert knowledge of the museum environment, and was recently involved in the design and maintenance of security systems at the Louvre, in the Objets d’art department and the French Paintings room.
Alarm devices are located close to exhibits in order to provide security, but must do so in a“non-invasive” manner : the security installation must not give off heat, devices are specially made, or replaced with exact copies, and wiring is concealed in joints in the stonework.