Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Transcript
Slide 1
Welcome to the Data Centers UniversityTM course on Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center.
Slide 2: Welcome
For best viewing results, we recommend that you maximize your browser window now. The screen controls
allow you to navigate through the eLearning experience. Using your browser controls may disrupt the
normal play of the course. Click the attachments link to download supplemental information for this course.
Click the Notes tab to read a transcript of the narration.
Slide 3: Learning Objectives
At the completion of this course, you will be able to:
Explain the importance of fire protection for data centers
Identify the main goals of a data center fire protection system
Explain the basic theory of fire suppression
Differentiate the classes of fire and the stages of combustion
Recognize the different methods of fire detection, fire communication and fire suppression
Identify the different types of fire suppression agents and devices appropriate for data centers
Slide 4: Introduction
Throughout history, fire has systematically wreaked havoc on industry. Today’s data centers and network
rooms are under enormous pressure to maintain seamless operations. Some companies risk losing millions
of dollars with one data center catastrophe.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |1
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 5: Introduction
In fact, industry studies tell us that 43% of businesses that closed due to fire never reopen and 29% of those
that do reopen fail within 3 years. With these statistics in mind, it is imperative that all businesses prepare
themselves for unseen disasters. The good news is that the most effective method of fire protection is fire
prevention. At the completion of this course you will be one step closer to understanding industry
safeguarding methods that are used to protect a data centers hottest commodity, information.
Slide 6: Introduction
This course will discuss the prevention, theory, detection, communication and suppression of fire specific to
data centers.
Slide 7: national Fire Protection Association
Let us start by discussing the National Fire Protection Association or the NFPA. The NFPA is a worldwide
organization that was established in 1896 to protect the public against the dangers of fire and electricity. The
NFPA’s mission is to “reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by
developing and advocating scientifically based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and
education”.
The NFPA is responsible for creating fire protection standards, one of them being NFPA 75. NFPA 75 is the
standard for protection of computer or data processing equipment. One notable addition to NFPA 75 that
took place in 1999, allows data centers to continue to power electronic equipment upon activation of a
Gaseous Agent Total Flooding System, which we will discuss later in detail. This exception was made for
data centers that meet the following risk considerations:
Economic loss that could result from:
Loss of function or loss of records
Loss of equipment value
Loss of life
and the risk of fire threat to the installation, to occupants or exposed property within that installation
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |2
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
It’s important to note that NFPA continually updates its standards to accommodate the ever changing data
center environment. Please note, that NFPA does set the worldwide standards for fire protection but in most
cases the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has final say in what can or cannot be used for fire protection
in a facility. Now that we have identified the standards and guidelines of fire protection for a data center,
let’s get started with some facts about fire protection.
Slide 8: Prevention
Fire prevention provides more protection then any type of fire detection device or fire suppression
equipment available. In general, if the data center is incapable of breeding fire there will be no threat of fire
damage to the facility. To promote prevention within a data center environment it is important to eliminate as
many fire causing factors as possible. A few examples to help achieve this are:
When building a new data center, ensure that it is built far from any other buildings that may pose a
fire threat to the data center
Enforce a strict no smoking policy in IT and control rooms
The data center should be void of any trash receptacles
All office furniture in the data center must be constructed of metal. (Chairs may have seat
cushions.)
The use of acoustical materials such as foam or fabric or any material used to absorb sound is not
recommended in a data center
Even if a data center is considered fire proof, it is important to safeguard against downtime in the event that
a fire does occur. Fire protection now becomes the priority.
Slide 9: System Objectives of Data Center Fire Protection
The main goal of a data center fire protection system is to contain a fire without threatening the lives of
personnel and to minimize downtime. With this in mind, if a fire were to breakout there are three system
objectives that must be met. The first objective is to detect the presence of a fire. The second objective is to
communicate the threat to both the authorities and occupants. Finally, the last objective is to suppress the
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |3
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
fire and limit any damage. Being familiar with common technologies associated with fire detection,
communication, and suppression allows IT managers to better specify a fire protection strategy for their data
center. Prior to the selection of a detection, communication or suppression system, a design engineer must
assess the potential hazards and issues associated with the given data center.
Slide 10: Tutorial on Fire
When discussing fire protection it’s important that we first understand the basic theory behind fire. This
section will provide a tutorial on fire. We will cover the following topics:
The Fire Triangle
The classes of Fire and
Fire’s Stages of Combustion
Slide 11: The Fire Triangle
The “fire triangle” represents the three elements that must interact in order for fire to exist. These elements
are heat, oxygen and fuel. Fuel is defined as a material used to produce heat or power by burning. When
considering fire in a data center, fuel is anything that has the capability to catch fire, such as servers, cables,
or flooring. As you can see, when one of these factors is taken away, the fire can no longer exist. This is the
basic theory behind fire suppression.
Slide 12: Classes of Fire
Fire can be categorized into five classes; class A, B, C, D, K. As you can see from the Classes of Fire chart,
Class A represents fires involving ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cloth and some
plastics.
(Image on next page)
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |4
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Class B fires are fires involving flammable liquids and gases such as oil, paint lacquer, petroleum and
gasoline. Class C fires involve live electrical equipment. Class C fires are usually Class A or Class B fires
that have electricity present. Class D fires involve combustible metals or combustible metal alloys such as
magnesium, sodium and potassium. The last class is Class K fires. These fires involve cooking appliances
that use cooking agents such as vegetable or animal oils and fats. Generally, Class A, B and C fires are the
most common classes of fire that one may encounter in a data center. This chart represents all of the
different classes of fire that are able to be extinguished successfully with a basic fire extinguisher. Later in
the course, we will discuss several types of extinguishing agents used in data centers.
Slide 13: Stages of Combustion
The next step in categorizing a fire is to determine what stage of combustion it is in. The four stages of
combustion are:
1. The incipient stage or pre-combustion stage,
2. The visible smoke stage,
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |5
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
3. The flaming fire stage, and lastly,
4. The intense heat stage.
As these stages progress, the risk of property damage, and risk to life increases drastically. All of these
categories play an important role in fire protection specifically, data centers. By studying the classes of fire
and the stages of combustion it is easy to determine what type of fire protection system will best suit the
needs of a data center.
Slide 14: Fire Detection Devices
Now that we have completed our tutorial on fire, let us look at some fire detection devices. There are three
main types of fire detection devices, they are:
1. Smoke detectors
2. Heat detectors and
3. Flame detectors
For the purposes of protecting a data center, smoke detectors are the most effective. Heat detectors and
flame detectors are not recommended for use in data centers, as they not provide detection in the incipient
stages of a fire and therefore do not provide early warning for the protection of high value assets. Smoke
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |6
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
detectors are far more effective forms of protection in data centers simply because they are able to detect a
fire at the incipient stage. For this reason we will be focusing on the attributes and impact of smoke
detectors.
Slide 15: Smoke Detectors
The two types of smoke detectors that are used effectively in data centers are:
1. Intelligent spot type detectors and
2. Air sampling smoke detectors
Slide 16: Intelligent Spot Type Detectors
Intelligent spot type smoke detectors are much more sensitive than a conventional smoke detector.
Intelligent spot type smoke detectors utilize a laser beam which scans particles that pass through the
detector. The laser beam is able to distinguish whether or not the particles are simply dust or actually a byproduct of combustion such as smoke. Furthermore, intelligent spot type smoke detectors are individually
addressable. This means that it has the ability to send information to a central control station and pinpoint
the exact location of the alarm. Another feature of intelligent spot type smoke detectors is that the sensitivity
of the detector can be increased or decreased during certain times of the day. For example, when workers
leave an area, the sensitivity can be increased. The intelligent spot type smoke detectors can also
compensate to a changing environment due to environmental factors such as humidity or dirt accumulation.
Slide 17: Intelligent Spot Type Detectors
Intelligent spot type detectors are most commonly placed in the following areas:
Below raised floors,
On ceilings, and
Above drop down ceilings,
In air handling ducts to detect possible fires within an HVAC system. By placing detectors near the
exhaust intake of the computer room air conditioners, detection can be accelerated.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |7
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 18: Air Sampling Smoke Detection Systems
Air sampling smoke detection systems, sometimes referred to as a “Very Early Smoke Detection” (VESD)
Systems, are usually described as a high powered photoelectric detector. These systems are comprised of
a network of pipes attached to a single detector, which continually draws air in and samples it. The pipes are
typically made of PVC but can also be CPVC, EMT or copper. Depending on the space being protected and
the configuration of multiple sensors, these systems can cover an area of 2,500 to 80,000 square feet or
232 to 7,432 square meters. This system also utilizes a laser beam, much more powerful than the one
contained in a common photoelectric detector, to detect by-products of combustion. As the particles pass
through the detector, the laser beam is able to distinguish them as dust or byproducts of combustion.
Slide 19: Signaling and Notification Devices
Now that we have talked about fire detection devices and systems, let’s take a look at the next objective of
fire protection, communication. All of the previously mentioned detection devices would be virtually useless
if they were not directly tied into an effective signaling and notification device. Signaling devices provide
audible alarms such as horns, bells or sirens or visual alarms such as strobes, which warn building
occupants after a signaling device has been activated. Signaling devices are also an effective way of
communicating danger to individuals who may be visually or hearing impaired. One of the most basic and
common signaling devices are pull stations. These images represent your typical pull station.
Slide 20: Control Systems
The next communication system we will be covering is the control system. Control systems are often
considered the “brains” of a fire protection system. The computer programs used by control systems allow
users to program and manage the system based on their individual requirements. The system can be
programmed with certain features such as time delays, thresholds, and passwords. Once the detector, pull
station or sensor activates the control system, the system has the ability to set its preprogrammed list of
rules into motion. Most importantly, the control system can provide valuable information to the authorities.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |8
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 21: Emergency Power Off
One important safety feature to mention that is not directly related to communication or suppression
systems is the Emergency Power Off or (EPO). If a fire progresses to the point where all other means of
suppression have been exhausted, the authorities that arrive on site will have the option to utilize this
feature. The EPO is intended to power down equipment or an entire installation in an emergency to protect
personnel and equipment.
EPO is typically used either by fire fighting personnel or by equipment operators. When used by firefighters,
it is used to assure that equipment is de-energized during fire fighting so that firefighters are not subjected to
shock hazards. The secondary purpose is to facilitate fire fighting by eliminating electricity as a source of
energy feeding combustion. EPO may also be activated in case of a flood, electrocution, or other
emergency.
There is a high cost associated with abruptly shutting down a data center. Unfortunately, EPO tripping is
often the result of human error. Much debate has ensued over the use of EPO and may one day lead to the
elimination of EPO in data centers.
Slide 22: Fire Suppression Agents and Devices
The last goal of a data center fire protection system is suppression. The next section will review suppression
agents and devices that are often used in data centers or IT environments.
Let’s start with the most
common suppression agents and devices, they are:
Fire extinguishers and,
Total flooding fire extinguishing systems
Slide 23: Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are one of the oldest yet most reliable forms of fire suppression. They are extremely
valuable in data centers because they are a quick solution to suppressing a fire. Fire extinguishers allow for
a potential hazardous situation to be addressed before more drastic or costly measures need to be taken.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
Page |9
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
It is important to note that only specific types of gaseous agents can be used in data center fire
extinguishers. HFC-236fa, is a gaseous agent specific to fire extinguishers, that has been approved for use
in data centers. It is environmentally safe and can be discharged in occupied areas. Additionally, it exists as
a gas therefore; it leaves no residue upon discharge. Simply put, it extinguishes fires by removing heat and
chemically preventing combustion.
Slide 24: Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems
A more sophisticated form of fire extinguishing is the Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing System, sometimes
referred to as a clean agent fire suppression system.
Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems are comprised of a series of cylinders or high pressure tanks
filled with an extinguishing or gaseous agent. A gaseous agent is a gaseous chemical compound that
extinguishes the fire by either removing heat or oxygen or both. Given a closed, well-sealed room, gaseous
agents are very effective at extinguishing a fire while leaving no residue.
When installing such a system, the total volume of the room and how much equipment is being protected is
taken into consideration. The number of the tanks or cylinders to be installed are dependent upon these
factors. It is important to note, that the Standard that guides Total Flooding Suppression Systems is NFPA
2001. The next slide features a live demonstration of a Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing system in action.
Slide 25: Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems
If a fire occurs and the system is activated, the gaseous agent discharges and fills the room in about 10
seconds. One of the best features of this system is that it is able to infiltrate hard to reach places, such as
equipment cabinets. This makes Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems perfect for data centers.
Now that we have discussed Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing System, let’s start reviewing the agents that
such systems deploy.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 10
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 26: Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems
In the past, some agents were conductive and/or corrosive. Conductive and corrosive agents have negative
impacts on IT equipment. For example, conductive agents may cause short circuits between electronic
components within IT equipment and corrosive agents may “eat away” at electronic components within IT
equipment. The gaseous agents used in today’s data centers are non conductive and non corrosive. An
effective agent that is both non conductive and non corrosive and was widely used in data centers is Halon.
Unfortunately, it was discovered that Halon is detrimental to the ozone layer and as of 1994, the production
of Halon is no longer permitted. This has lead to the development of safer and cleaner gaseous agents.
Let’s review some of the more popular gaseous agents for data centers.
Slide 27: Most Commonly Used Gaseous Agents
Today, some of the most commonly used gaseous agents in data centers are Inert gases and Fluorine
Based Compounds. Let’s review the characteristics of each agent.
Slide 28: Inert Gases
The most widely accepted inert gases for fire suppression in data centers are :
Pro-Inert or IG-55 and Inergen or IG-451
Inert gases are composed of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide, all of which are found naturally in
the atmosphere. Because of this, they have zero Ozone Depletion Potential, meaning that it
possesses no threat to humans or to the environment. Inert gases can be also discharged in
occupied areas and are non-conductive.
Inergen requires a large number of storage tanks for effective discharge. But because Inergen is
stored as a high pressure gas, it can be stored up to 300 feet or 91.44 meters away from the
discharge nozzles and still discharge effectively. Inergen is used successfully in telecommunication
offices and data centers.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 11
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 29: Fluorine Based Compounds
Another suppression alternative for data centers is Fluorine Based Compounds. Fluorine Based Compound,
HFC-227ea is known under two commercial brands; FE-200 and FE-227. HFC-227ea has a zero ozone
depletion potential (ODP) and an acceptably low global warming potential. It is also an odorless, colorless.
Slide 30: Fluorine Based Compounds
HFC-227ea is stored as liquefied compressed gas with a boiling point of 2.5 degrees F (-16.4 degrees C). It
is discharged as an electrically non-conductive gas that leaves no residue and will not harm occupants;
however, like in any other fire situation all occupants should evacuate the area as soon as an alarm sounds.
It can be used with ceiling heights up to 16 feet. HFC-227ea has one of the lowest storage space
requirements; the floor space required is equal to that of needing only 1.7 times that of a Halon 1301 system.
HFC-227ea chemically inhibits the combustion reaction by removing heat and can be discharged in 10
seconds or less. An advantage to this agent is that it can be retrofitted into an existing Halon 1301 system
but the pipe network must be replaced or an additional cylinder of nitrogen must be used to push the agent
through the original Halon pipe network. Some applications include data centers, switchgear rooms,
automotive, and battery rooms.
Slide 31: Fluorine Based Compounds
There is also HFC-125. HFC-125 it is known under two commercial brands; ECARO-25 and FE-25. HFC125 has a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and an acceptable low global warming potential It is an
odorless, colorless and is stored as a liquefied compressed gas. This agent chemically inhibits the
combustion reaction by removing heat and can be discharged in 10 seconds or less as an electrically nonconductive gas that leaves no residue and will not harm occupants. It can be used in occupied areas;
however, like in any other fire situation all occupants should be evacuated as soon as an alarm sounds. It
can be used with ceiling heights up to 16 feet or 4.8 meters. One of the main advantages of HFC-125 is that
it flows more like Halon than any other agent available today and can be used in the same pipe network
distribution as an original Halon system.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 12
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Slide 32: Other Methods of Fire Suppression
Other methods of fire suppression often found in data centers are:
1. Water Sprinklers Systems and
2. Water Mist Suppression Systems
Of the two options, Water Sprinklers are often present in many facilities due to national and/or local fire
codes.
Let‘s review a few of the key elements of Water Sprinklers and Water Mist Suppression Systems.
Slide 33: Water Sprinkler System
Water sprinkler systems are designed specifically to protect the structure of a building. The system is
activated when the given environment reaches a designated temperature and the valve fuse opens. A valve
fuse is a solder or glass bulb that opens when it reaches a temperature of 165-175°F or 74-79°C.
Slide 34: Water Sprinkler System
There are currently three configurations of water sprinkler systems available: wet-pipe, dry-pipe, and preaction. Wet-pipe systems are the most commonly used and are usually found in insulated buildings. Drypipe systems are charged with compressed air or nitrogen to prevent damage from freezing. Pre-action
systems prevent accidental water discharge by requiring a combination of sensors to activate before
allowing water to fill the sprinkler pipes.
Because of this feature, pre-action systems are highly
recommended for data center environments. Lastly, it is important to note that water sprinklers are not
typically recommended for data centers, but depending on local fire codes they may be required.
Slide 35: Water Mist Suppression Systems
The last suppression system we will be discussing is the water mist suppression system. When the system
is activated it discharges a very fine mist of water onto a fire. The mist of water extinguishes the fire by
absorbing heat. By doing so, vapor is produced, causing a barrier between the flame and the oxygen
needed to sustain the fire. Remember the "fire triangle"? The mist system effectively takes away two of the
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 13
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
main components of fire, heat and oxygen. This makes the system highly effective. Additionally, because a
fine mist is used, less water is needed; therefore, the water mist system needs minimal storage space.
Water mist systems are gaining popularity due to their effectiveness in industrial environments. Because of
this, we may see an increase in the utilization of such systems in data centers.
Slide 36: Summary
In summary:
The three system objectives of a data center fire protection system are:
1. To identify the presence of a fire
2. Communicate the threat to the authorities and occupants
3. To suppress the fire and limit any damage
The 2 types of smoke detectors that are used effectively in data centers are:
1. Intelligent spot type smoke detectors
2. Air sampling smoke detectors
Signaling devices provide:
o
o
Audible alarms such as:

Horns

Bells or sirens
Visual alarms such as:

Strobes
Slide 37: Summary
The most common fire suppression devices used in data centers are:
o
Fire extinguishers
o
Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems
The most commonly used gaseous agents in data centers are:
o
Inert gases
o
Fluorine Based Compounds
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 14
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.
Additional methods of fire suppression are:
o
Water sprinkler
o
Water mist suppression systems
Slide 38: Thank You!
Thank you for participating in this course.
Examining Fire Protection Methods in the Data Center
P a g e | 15
© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. All trademarks provided are the property of their respective owners.