Euralarm issues guidance on fire extinguishing systems for Data Centres

Recent industry research has explored whether contemporary cooling methods and the continued movement of air, which is common to modern Data Centres, had any impact on the performance of gaseous fire extinguishing systems and also whether this effect was positive or negative in nature.

Euralarm’s guidance document aids interpretation of the research. It will assist the European market in fostering a practical application of its findings and complement the conclusions outlined within the document.

Protecting IT equipment

Protecting IT equipment from fire, while also safeguarding its continued operation, is paramount for most businesses. Using clean agents, gaseous fire extinguishing systems are principally used to protect critical IT equipment. With a need for ‘high availability’, this now includes throughout the full fire scenario and for as long as the IT equipment is expected to operate.

The exponential growth of data and the need for more processing power brings challenges involving heat generation and, in parallel, demands improved and more efficient cooling. With Data Centres commonly having complex and targeted air flow that cannot be shut down even during a fire episode, it’s important to know how to better engineer a fire protection system.

The Euralarm guidance document explains the research in some detail and signposts the reader to salient parts of the full report, while also discussing the practical applications of the study findings.

Copies available online

Copies of the new guidance document on the impact of high airflow and hot/cold aisle containment on gaseous fire extinguishing system performance in Data Centres are available by visiting Euralarm’s website.

Euralarm, of course, is the Trade Association representing the electronic fire and security industries in Europe, providing as it does both leadership and expertise for the industry, the market, policy-makers and standards bodies alike.

Euralarm’s members make society safer and secure through systems and services developed for fire detection and extinguishing, intrusion detection, access control, video monitoring and alarm transmission. Founded in 1970, Euralarm now represents over 5,000 companies within the fire safety and security industries valued at 67 billion Euros. Members are national associations and individual companies from across Europe.

*Further information is available online at www.euralarm.org