Fire Safety In Data Centres
Helping you achieve effective fire safety in data centres by focusing on fire prevention to avoid impacts of downtime and find optimal solutions for data-centre-specific fire risks in highly secure environments.
Focusing on What Matters Most in Data Centre Environments
The cost of data centre downtime can be very costly. It goes beyond the revenue loss and impacts an organisation’s productivity (and sometimes the productivity of its customers) and reputation. We understand the importance of effectively managing fire risk with a focus on business continuity and work with you to implement comprehensive protection for your assets while also considering life safety where relevant.
FOCUSING ON FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT TO AVOID IMPACTS OF DOWNTIME
UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLYING WITH SECURITY PROTOCOLS
We understand how important it is to adhere to the security protocols within the building to protect the facility and its critical infrastructure from unauthorised entry. When working in data centres, we always take the required time to onboard ourselves with the relevant security protocols and take extra care when attending the site. Besides that, we integrate this knowledge in the development of fire safety measures and ensure fire safety and security arrangements work in tandem.
SOLVING FIRE SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES IN UNSTAFFED FACILITIES
Data centres and technical sites can sometimes be unstaffed and remote. It comes with its own set of challenges. Firstly, the emphasis is usually placed on the safety of the assets, nevertheless, life safety needs also be achieved. When working on fire safety in data centres, we always ensure that considerations are made to accommodate buildings that are not regularly monitored by people. We utilise technology and innovation as methods of achieving compliance.
Anticipating And Managing Fire Risks
When managing fire safety in data centres, besides application-specific considerations, the following fire risks need to be accommodated:
⚠️ Electrical fires: Short circuits, electric overloads, overheating of wiring, arc faults and electric surges.
⚠️ Raised floors and suspended ceilings: voids containing a concentrated amount of cables and wires and is the zone that needs to be carefully supervised.
⚠️ Ventilation system: Movement of air and the introduction of oxygen can inhibit detection and affect fire within an enclosure. Consideration of ventilation design is imperative to achieve environmental conditions and fire safety measures.
⚠️ Lithium-ion batteries (LIB): LIBs’ use in data centre applications is predicted to grow. They present a serious fire hazard due to thermal runway and the release of toxic gases and vapours, often undetectable and unextinguishable by common suppression systems.
Lack of surveillance and supervision in unstaffed and remote sites also increases the fire risk. That’s why it is very important to have an optimal engineering solution in place to mitigate these risks.
Taking A Holistic Approach To Managing Fire Safety
When approaching fire safety management, we always start by understanding your objectives. Then, we work together to develop a plan for achieving them, considering the available resources, accessibility and other requirements specific to your facility.
OUR APPROACH:
Review policies and procedures for Fire Safety and Health and Safety
Understand your facilities and fire safety management arrangements
Determine and review areas of risk (where our assistance is required)
Recommend simple and pragmatic solutions to achieve the desired outcome
Select a competent contractor
Clear technical specification of the works to be carried out
Selection criteria for a competent contractor
Support implementation
Technical query support
Alignment of contractors and other stakeholders to deliver to a required specification
Assure quality and compliance to ensure the work has been delivered to the required standard and specification.
Provide feedback and recommendations for continuous improvement
Working With Us
Passionate about making the world a safer place
Service tailored to your needs
Clear, actionable advice
Collaboration, care and support at every step
“We value the power of collaboration, build our relationships on trust and absolute respect, and take pride in the quality of the work we deliver.”
New Terra Compliance Director of Fire Safety, Dan Jackson
Our Accreditations
Featured Projects
Helping to make the world a safer place
• 690+ Audits
• 231+ Premises
• 14+ Clients
We Are Here To Help
Our purpose is to make the world a safer place by understanding regulations and assisting clients to implement effective fire safety measures that protect lives, safeguard assets, and provide peace of mind.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help.