Fire risks and fire prevention requirements in data centres
Data centre operators’ number-one priority is to ensure maximum continuous availability of data and computing capacity—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Modern work, business and communications are all dependent on digitally stored information and data. If this data is not available, business processes immediately come to a standstill, which not only greatly damages a company’s image, but also causes major financial losses that can weaken a business permanently. So it is essential to both data centres and their customers that servers be available at all times. Reliable fire protection can help data centres uphold this standard.
The risk of fire in data centres is primarily due to the heat IT racks produce and the high energy density of the electrical equipment installed. Most data centre fires are caused by technical defects in electrical equipment, which require an appropriate fire protection solution.
For most data centre and server room operators, however, potential fires are not the main issue. What they want to avoid at all costs is having to cut power to equipment and thus interrupt IT processes. This is because these data centres usually have contractual agreements with their customers regarding continuous availability of computing capacity and stored data, which also involves liability risks. Customers are dependent on digitally stored information, so no data centre can afford downtime. As such, data centre safety and fire-protection measures are focused on preventing any type of operational downtime, especially cutting power to the data centre—even in the event of a fire. At the same time, it is important that security and fire protection systems be as efficient as possible, in order to keep operating costs down.
Fire protection solutions for data centres
Early fire detection with TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors
Data centres’ high densities of electric and electronic components can result in cable short circuits and smouldering fires. As a result of the rapid air circulation in these highly climate-controlled rooms, smouldering fires frequently go undetected, and may even develop for several days unnoticed. WAGNER developed its first aspirating smoke detection system specifically designed for data centre requirements as early as 1984.
DARZ GmbH, Darmstadt (Germany): Germany’s highest standard of structural security
We placed great importance on maximising the efficiency of all individual data centre infrastructure components, and on ensuring that the overall system could be controlled in an energy-efficient way. With the help of strong partners, we were thus able to construct one of the most environmentally friendly data centres in Europe.
Sergey Mirochnik, Founder and Managing Director, DARZ GmbH
noris network AG, Nuremberg (Germany): High-availability facilities and redundant security systems
We were completely convinced by the combination of early fire detection, pressure-reducing (and thus safer) oxygen reduction, and subsequent inerting with OxyReduct® to bridge the time gap until the extinguishing cylinders are refilled.