F IRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION

Several steps must be taken to avoid fires such as:

 No Smoking

 No combustible materials

 Always check HVAC reheat coils

 Check the sprinkler/FM200 fire suppression system frequently

 Preserve the data center “Cocoon”. Maintain the secure data center perimeter

 Ensure you have a disaster response plan in place in case “worst case” happens

 Provide easy access to fire extinguishers

The first line of fire defense and containment is the actual building structure. The rooms and storage rooms of the data center must be isolated by fire resistant walls.

The floor and ceiling must be constructed of noncombustible or limited combustible material. Also the HVAC system must be dedicated to the data center only.

3.4.1.1 Fire Detection Systems

The early warning fire detection system must have the following features:

 Must be a heat detection type system

 Installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 72E (NFPA 2001)

 Each installation should be engineered for the specific area it must protect

 Some detection must be provided under the raised floor

 Considering the noise in a data center, visual alerts must be provided

3.4.1.2 Fire Suppression Systems

The FM200 solution is the recommended suppression system currently available. The FM200 uses the gas hepta-fluoropropane which is quickly dispersed around the equipment. It works literally by removing heat energy from the fire to the extent that the combustion reaction cannot be sustained.

It works quickly, is safe for people, does not damage the hardware or electrical circuits and does not require a post-discharge cleanup effort. With FM200 a data center can be back in business almost immediately after a fire.

The Datacenter will consist of a gaseous fire suppression system using FM200.

around operating electronic devices and in human occupied areas. Fire detection in the Data Center will use cross zoned photo-electric and ionization spot detectors.

Additionally, High Sensitivity Smoke Detection (HSSD) will be used for the earlier possible detection of combustion. The Fire detection system will be integrated into the IP network. This will allow the use of existing infrastructure instead of running dedicated lines, and allow for remote monitoring and control. The remainder of the Datacenter will be protected to local code standards utilizing hand held fire extinguishers as applicable.

3.4.1.3 Manual Fire Suppression

Manual means of fire suppression must always be available on hand in the event the automatic systems fail. The following backup systems must be available:

 Portable Fire Extinguishers

o Portable extinguishers must be placed at strategic locations throughout the data center location. They should be placed unobstructed and clearly marked. Also Tile Lifters must be placed in all locations so that manual fire extinguishers can be used under the raised floor when needed.

 Manual Pull Stations

o Manual pull stations must be installed at strategic points in the data center room. In areas where gas suppression systems are used, there must be a means of manual abort.

3.4.2 Detailed Information

The Chemetron Fire Systems Gamma Series Systems are automatic suppression systems using the FM-200 chemical agent and consisting of four basic components and their associated accessories.

 FM-200 Components

 Control Panels

 Detection and Alarm Devices

 Completer Kits

3.4.2.1 Features

 The FM-200 components consist of agent containers, container supports (racks), and discharge nozzles.

 The control panel is the brains of the system and is used to monitor the detection and accessories.

 The detection, alarm devices, and accessories are the external devices that act as the eyes and voice of the system as they give audible or visual signals.

 The completer kits consist of warning signs, hoses, connection fittings, pressure gauges or solenoid valves, and the actuator required to operate the cylinder valve.

The system and its components are agency tested for total flooding applications and should be used in accordance with the guidelines contained in National Fire Protection Association 2001. A total flooding application can be defined as injecting FM-200 into an enclosure or volume having the structural integrity to retain the agent during and after discharge.

The design of such a system requires that the FM-200 chemical agent be discharged from its container within 10 seconds and be thoroughly mixed throughout the protected volume, reaching a minimum concentration level of 6.25%, but not exceeding 9% in normally occupied spaces.

FM 200 is a halocarbon agent accepted as an alternative to Halon for total flooding fire suppression systems. After receiving the fire signal, FM 200 is discharged totally from the cylinders within 10 seconds to fill up the space uniformly at the design concentration to extinguish the fire. The agent is retained at its design concentration in the space for a period-called 'Hold Time'-to extinguish the fire.

After Hold time, when the fire is extinguished, the agent is exhausted from the space by exhaust fans before any inspection is performed. For the design of the system, NFPA Code 2001, "Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems" is followed.

FM 200 design includes determination of the agent quantity, piping layout, pressure drop through the piping and accessories, as well as fixing the location and quantities of discharge nozzles for uniform distribution of the agent throughout the space. This also includes determining the filling density in the agent cylinders to take care of the pressure drop through the system, for determining the number of cylinders.

From above, the agent quantity required for total flooding of the space is determined independently based on the design concentration of the agent necessary for the type of fire to be extinguished, Hold Time for extinguishing the fire, additional quantity required to take care of the leakage, etc.

Tentative pipe sizing and pipe routing with nozzle location are done by the owner or the engineer in harmony with the other facilities in the space. This is, however, finalized by the agent supplier's authorized system designer based on the pressure drop software program for two-phase flow of the agent.

To take care of the system pressure drop and to establish the required pressure at the nozzles, the authorized agent determines the agent fill density in the cylinder. They also finalize the number of cylinders based on the fill density and their standard cylinder size.

The areas to be protected are identified from the fire risk analysis of the plant and the various codes (like NFPA, etc). The requirements are guided by the functional criticality of the system protected, amount of loss involved, fire insurance premium, etc

A typical case of protecting a power station using the FM 200 total suppression system is the basis for the following design information. Design Code: NFPA 2001,

"Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing System," is the governing code for designing the system, and NFPA 72, "National Fire Alarm Code," is followed for fixing the fire alarm system, an important part of the clean agent total suppression system.

Agent Concentration: Since FM 200 is the most expensive item of the total system, a careful analysis is required before fixing the required concentration and the total quantity of the agent.

Regarding design concentration of the agent, there are various guidelines available, such as:

 120% of cup burner value verified by listing/approval tests, minimum design concentration (%V/V) of FM 200 is 7%, (refer to Table 4-7.5 Weight and Storage Volume Equivalent data for New Technology Halocarbon Gaseous alternatives' SFPE Handbook on Fire Protection Engineering).

 The same agent concentration of 7% is accepted by Factory Mutual (FM) as the design agent concentration.

 Underwriters' Laboratories (UL), however, recommends the agent design concentration as 7.44%.

To satisfy both FM and UL, it seems prudent to consider the design concentration as 7.44% by volume. The FM 200 supplier's authorized agent normally recommends 7%

as the design concentration, based on their experience with the type of fire anticipated in the areas protected. Increase of the agent concentration from 7% to 7.44% has the repercussion on the cost of the agent. If possible, the recommendation of the AHJ (Authority of Jurisdiction) should be solicited before fixing the agent design concentration.

The maximum limit of the FM 200 concentration is restricted by NFPA 2001 due to the safety considerations of the toxicological and physical effects on human life.

The recommended FM-200 installation will include 2 large Gas containers placed on the right wall next to one of the main pillars and include app. 300 nozzles distributed over the Computer Room floor space as well as the Communications Room

HP OpenView integration is established through the Chemetron detection and alarm devices which are viewed and monitored under HP OpenView as SNMP devices.