Protecting cultural heritage properties requires a different approach to fire protection—one that goes beyond life safety to preserve irreplaceable structures and artifacts. From Monticello to Mount Vernon, these projects present unique technical and operational challenges.

In this Q&A, Nick Artim shares insights from his experience working on some of the world’s most significant historic properties, highlighting the complexities, challenges, and rewards of heritage fire protection engineering.

What is one of your favorite projects you have worked on and why?

I actually have two and they both happened at the same time.

The first was for the National Park Service engineering the fire protection systems and features, and the construction support for the historic Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite National Park.

The other was the implementation of water mist fire suppression and high sensitivity smoke detection and notification system in Monticello, the home of President Thomas Jefferson.

After that project was completed, the Director of the Monticello Foundation who owned the place told me that I was now the first fire protection engineer to design fire systems for a building that is on a U.S. coin.

What’s the most challenging project you worked on?

This would likely be the engineering and construction support for the installation of water mist fire suppression and high sensitivity smoke detection and notification within Mt. Vernon, the home of President George Washington.

The building had similar architectural and construction techniques to Monticello. What made this one more difficult was the high volume of visitors that constantly flow through the building and the need to work in a manner that did not impact the visitor experience. This meant constant coordination with visitor’s services and scheduling shifting, while maintaining the necessary level of productivity to get the job done.

What added to the challenge was the local fire officials in who had difficulty comprehending why water mist was selected and how water mist could suppress a fire within the building, they kept trying to push us toward a conventional sprinkler system. This was a surprise aspect of the project because my expectation was that they are in an area with a number of complex and tech heavy properties, and they would be well versed in emerging fire suppression technologies.

This was a voluntary project to protect the house and its artifacts, but they remained an ongoing challenge to approve the project and while they ultimately did, but it took more than one year for permit issuance. They also were difficult to schedule for inspections which added complexity to the effort.

The project did show that sometimes we have to fight extra hard to do the right thing but persistence pays off.

What is the most rewarding part of your profession?

Since my work was in protecting cultural heritage properties – museums, libraries, archives, historic structures and historic vessels – I have been a per of organizations that have taken care of their respective resources for in some cases many generations.

A master painting from the Renaissance or a historic house that dates to the Vikings have been cared for so that we can enjoy and appreciate them in our contemporary times. The intention is that these items are around for people many years from now to also see.

Therefore, as an engineer who has been given the opportunity to develop a protection scheme, I have an obligation to do it well so that I am not the reason that the artifact or heritage structure ceases to exist.

What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?

Some already know this but in addition to my work as an engineer, in the summer season I am a National Park Ranger.

Diane and I spent the past two years – she is also a seasonal ranger – at Yellowstone Canyon district and this year have been assigned to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock, Vermont. Come to visit us.

What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?

Becoming a parent.

No idea what it was about and how to be one but I took a chance along with my great wife and somehow it all worked out fine. Interestingly, there are skills that I learned as a parent, such as which battles to fight, that have been very useful dealing with clients and regulators.