S 1.54 Early detection of fires / fire extinguishing technology
Initiation responsibility: Top Management
Implementation responsibility: Planner
In order to detect fires in IT systems in a very early stage, consideration should be given to the use of an early fire detection system. Such systems are usually able to detect even few and very fine particles of smoke using a smoke intake and analysis system in the air circulation duct of the air conditioning system.
Object-based monitoring may also be performed on individual IT systems using so-called multi-detectors. In addition to the conventional fire alarm technology (geometric room monitoring), object monitoring (meaning the monitoring of individual IT components) represents an additional detection level. These multi-detectors can be used to extinguish fires in individual objects as well as to shut off the power to the affected device.
When a fire is developing, turning off the power supply may be sufficient to delay or put out the fire.
If further extinguishing is deemed necessary, it may make sense to only protect objects individually (e.g. 19 inch racks) with separate gas extinguishers for financial reasons and to protect employees. The object protection systems should be based on relevant standards such as VdS guideline 2304 in terms of planning, fire detection, extinguishing, as well as on the installation instructions and operating and maintenance instructions provided by the manufacturer.
The installation of optical smoke detectors is adequate for monitoring rooms in the IT department. The raised floor should also be monitored by optical smoke detectors.
If there are special availability requirements for the computer centre or a server room or if such spaces contain particularly expensive or hard-to-replace IT components, consideration should be given to the use of an automatic extinguishing system with inert gases (carbon dioxide, Inergen, argon, nitrogen, FS 200, etc.).
Extinguishing gases will not only smother flames, but can also suffocate human beings when extinguishing gases removing or displacing oxygen are used. For example, a carbon dioxide concentration greater than 8 percent by volume is life-threatening. For this reason, the trade union guidelines in the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR 134 Use of fire extinguishing systems using oxygen-displacing gases) require the use of warning and delay devices "for fire extinguishing systems in which the critical maximum and minimum concentration limits posing a hazard to humans are exceeded or fallen below, for example for concentrations of more than 5 percent by volume of CO2 or less than 10 percent by volume of oxygen" so that people can be evacuated promptly from the area to be extinguished.
A gas extinguisher system should only be planned by a specialist as a general rule.
Review questions:
- Is it ensured that fires are detected as early as possible?