Here's a pic of the type of rack enclosure they should be using, which is portable if they ever need to move:
Or buy an expensive electrical fire suppression system.
Gas sprinkler system...
The fire code won't change,that's for sure.
Can’t they install something besides water sprinklers?
I think it should be a Halon-type sprinkler for electronics or a Class C sprinkler system for electrical fires.
There are other Fire suppression systems.
One of the problems is that some are dangerous to employees as they remove or substitute the oxygen in the room.
Look around he should be able to find something that would work. Perhaps he should call the Fire investigators and ask their advice.
Back in the 1980s the standard for data centres was halon.
You shouldn’t use a water sprinkler system in a building with electronic equipment. A Halon Fire suppression system is used more often for that.Just check with a local fire Suppression equipment company.
They’ll lead you in the right direction.
It is highly likely that your city code has approved halon individual room systems. They keep electronics damage to a minimum in case of fire. Check with city planning and permitting.
Going from memory here so FWIW.
You have two options IIRC
1} If the sprinkler system in that area can be converted to a dry system that would only activate when two different sensors are tripped that MAY keep the local fire officials happy. You could also have an automatic electrical disconnect added so that if the system goes off the power to the units is cut off. Where I work at now we had something like this to protect our old control network servers.
2} Install some type of inert gas fire suppression system as mentioned above.
My best guess as I have been out of the fire protection biz for some time.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Install ground fault breakers.
I went through this the last time I built a server room.
You can’t ditch the sprinklers. They’re required by code. What you can do is add a gas based system like halon (there are newer systems now) that is designed to extinguish any fire before the sprinklers activate.
Look into what is called a “Preaction” system as an alternative.
Here's a pic of the type of rack enclosure they should be using, which is portable if they ever need to move:
I was involved in the test of a Halon system in the early 80s. Three of us were in the computer room when the test was run to check the concentration levels and watch the ceiling pads. We all walked out with no effects from breathing the Halon. Depending on whether the ceiling pads are secured you may have some of them get blown around.
Insurance for hardware and regular backups
I believe what he would need is called a Haylon Fire Suppression System.
BTW, another way to look at the problem involves Elec Power distribution design.
Many folks are now mandating ASHRAE 90.1 which has lots and lots of new electrical distribution system impacts on interior power and lighting circuits.
You might be able to save a lot of power and come up to code in the same effort by only focusing on electrical work.
The NFPA codes have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to de-energizing equipment vice power shut-down.
In one case, a breaker is opened, but some conductors might remain energized. In the other case everything is de-energized. Makes a huge different when trying to initiate a sequence of operations to close fire dampers in HVAC ductwork, and in IT equipment shut-down procedures.
If dealing with databases and transaction processing, your MIS architects need to be involved as it may require several minutes of emergency UPS power to properly close all transactions.
The building gets a credit for the sprinkler system on its insurance. And it may be required by City code. So trying to get the building owner to change is probably fruitless.
The electrical devices should be covered by the tenant’s insurance policy for their contents. Check with their insurance agent for adequate coverage to cover the risk of replacement.
Data that could be lost should be backed up off site anyway.