Thinking about whether you should consider a new fire suppression strategy? Replacing an archaic Halon system? Or, perhaps adding on to your archaic system? This can be a daunting chore. Recently, fire suppression systems come in a assortment of chemical compounds, an array of both simple and complicated notification devices, and a variety of looks. I will introduce you to the many innovative changes passed by the National Fire Protection Association, due in large part to inventive firms looking for smarter and cheaper ways to protect computers and other electronic equipment.

Innovation is usually the result of changes in the way business is conducted. Reasons why new and innovative fire suppression systems are now being developed include the following: Water sprinkler systems' tendency to causetotal damage to a computer environment; archaic fire suppression systems may not be environmentally friendly; the modern computer server environment is much more compact. A significant increase in storage capacity alone has allowed a significant decrease in the amount of space required to house computer equipment, telecommunications, and server equipment; archaic systems and subsequent solutions could be too expensive to buy and install.

The number of smaller businesses has increased throughout the world, dictating a change in the way we protect our essential data and equipment. A large number of businesses lease space in office complexes. Over ninety percent of businesses that lease space find it too cost-prohibitive to buy and install most systems. And, most businesses do not want to install a system that becomes a permanent fixture which cannot be removed when a lease is up, more space is required, or a business needs to expand or downsize.

Now there is a way to replace archaic fire suppression systems, update existing equipment, replace sprinkler heads, and buy the peace of mind you need for your critical data and computer systems. Now you can increase or decrease a fire suppression system without a major cost. New systems can be uninstalled and reinstalled because they are not permanent fixtures. Your investment can go with you just like your data center or server room equipment.

The growth of fire detection and suppression systems has been dramatic. There are fire suppression agents that are toxic when inhaled and those that are certified "green." You can choose from a clean agent gas, water or aerosol. Some systems require a floating floor and large space to reside, while others mount on available wall space.

There are systems that require little cleaning (the clean agent gasses), and those that need a whole cleaning crew and a few days worth of elbow grease. That leads to - you guessed it - server down time. From small to extensive, in the case of even the most miniscule fire, some systems can leave you twiddling your thumbs until you are back in business.

Next step - recharging your fire suppression system, and the time and expenses associated with that process.

I hope to simplify things here. I have been advising businesses on computer room fire suppression for many years. This first hand experience of selling fire suppression system solutions for most size rooms and enclosures has shown many businesses the strengths of utilizing newer technology when protecting valuable assets.

Let's start by summarizing the specific features of each type of automatic fire suppression system used in most data centers, NOCs and server rooms today. Then, I'll get into specifics that you will want to consider before opting for fire suppression equipment and a fire suppression company.

First, Understand the categories of Fires You Could Encounter

The National Fire Insurance Association has classified fires into four categories, determined by the materials or fuel being burned:

Type A: Fires with combustible materials as its source, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics

Type B: Fires in flammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil-base paints, lacquers, and flammable gases

Type C: Fires that involve electrical equipment

Type D: Fires with ignitable metals as its fuel source In a typical server room fire, a combination of categories A, B and C can be found. An effective fire suppression system will be rated for all three categories.

Often the source of a fire in a server room is not detected until after the fire has been extinguished. Therefore, installing a system that can handle A, B & C categories is a safeguard against an unexpected disaster.

Substances Used in Fire Suppression: Gas, Water and Aerosol

1. Gaseous or Clean Agent Fire Suppression

Gases used in fire suppression systems are often Halon, CO2 or environmentally-friendly clean agents such as Inergen®. These gases do not extinguish a fire by smothering it, but rather by displacing oxygen or inhibiting a chemical reaction that is essential to the fire's survival.

The popular fire suppressant Halon is so damaging to the environment that both Europe and the United States outlawed manufacturing of the gas in 1995. It is mentioned here only because many Halon systems installed before the ban was enacted are still in operation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) encourages the use of non-ozone depleting fire suppression agent alternatives, and in 1990, the US EPA established its large New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) to evaluate new chemicals and technologies for the replacement of ozone depleting substances. As a result, many businesses are considering alternative clean agents that are environmentally beneficial.

Clean agents derive their name from the simple idea that they do not leave any residue after discharge. This feature makes them a great option for electronics and eliminates cleaning worries.

Another gas used in fire suppression, CO2, is detrimental when inhaled at high concentrations (greater than 5% by volume, or 50,000 ppm). The current threshold limit value (TLV) or maximum level that is considered safe for healthy adults for an eight-hour work day is 0.5% (5,000 ppm). For this reason, your facility must be vacated before the system discharges.

Unlike CO2, Inergen® is non-toxic. However, a discharge of Inergen® results in an approximate 3% concentration of carbon dioxide. While initially breathable, it is recommended that the environment be evacuated. Since it is not a liquid under pressure, Inergen® requires large storage space. After a discharge, the environment becomes highly pressurized which could cause bad effects if not released in a timely manner.

Gas fire suppression systems often consist of the agent (gas), agent storage containers, agent release valves, fire detectors and warning mechanisms, agent piping, and agent dispersion nozzles. With most gas agents, the environment must be pressurized in order to contain the agent. Installation is complicated and expensive, and the reward is realized only after discharge, as clean up is as simple as venting the room.

2. Water-Based Fire Suppression

Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems resulted from the growth from standard sprinklers designed for flooding fires. Much lighter than their more archaic counterpart, water mist systems are effective on Type A and B fires and result in less damage than traditional water-based systems. Still, water mist systems are not ideal for server rooms due to the Type C electrical fires common to this environment. Clean up and safety issues are also a concern when faced withwet ordamp electronics. Although effective in the right situations, water mist systems must often be augmented with other fire suppression systems in order to ensure complete coverage in the event of a fire. After discharge, expect down time of a few weeks for a sprinkler system and less with water mist. Often with a sprinkler system, you are unable to take it with you if you are in a lease or are planning to move to new facilities. This could make a big difference in your consideration of a water-based system.

3. Aerosol Fire Suppression

The newest technology in fire suppression, Aerosol Extinguishing Technology, was officially approved and effective in 2005 by the National Fire Insurance Association. A clean agent with no post combustion byproducts, aerosols such as the brand Aero-K® do not replace the oxygen as CO2 does, do not create Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) after the fire, and have no environmental result.

The aerosol consists of ultra-fine particles that are expelled via generators. Upon discharge, the substance creates a fog of suspended particles.

Non-poisonous and non-corrosive, the agent remains suspended in the environment for up to 60 minutes, virtually eliminating any possibility of reignition. After discharge and a 10-minute hold time, clean up includes venting the room and a light dusting of the surfaces.

Unlike gaseous systems, which operate at pressure and often require lots of piping, aerosol generators are very inexpensive to install and maintain and have small space and weight requirements. The generators that dispense the aerosol are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate any size environment.

Select A Fire Suppression Strategy with Reliable Safety Features

Safety specific features can save time, money, equipment, and most importantly, human lives. Here are some specific features that your fire suppression system must have in order to prevent either premature discharge or the opposite - activation delay - when a new fire is either noticed or accidentally caused by human error.

Lock Out/Abort Switch - This feature is essential for instances when a service person is in the protected environment and creates smoke, for example from soldering. A lock out/abort switch lets you disable the system with a key to avoid an accidental discharge. Should a threatening fire start while the system is disabled, a worker can use a fire extinguisher for a localized fire or arm the system and use the manual pull station.

Manual Pull Station - If a fire is accidentally caused, or is noticed by someone in the room, the manual pull station allows for immediate discharge without waiting for the system to detect smoke.

Choose a Fire Suppression Firm That Will Customize a System to your Specialized Needs

Aside from superior service, look for a fire suppression company that will make your desires their top priority. The company that bids your fire detection and suppression installation will want to know the size of your space and particular characteristics of your room. This will determine the amount of agent, piping, system space and weight requirements.

A good fire suppression company will consider such factors as the length of time you expect to rent your current space. If you intend to transfer operations within a few years, you'll want to know if the system can be transferred to your new facility and rebuilt with minimal budget impact. Don't forget to ask about the expenses associated with recharging the system, should the system discharge.

You'll also want to discuss how the system can grow if the size of your computer room increases due to growth. And, in the opposite scenario, will you be able to reduce the scale of the system if you cut back?

Each state, city, or municipality has fire laws that must be taken into consideration when weighing the options. Some agencies require sprinklers and others will allow a clean agent system in lieu of sprinklers. Factors such as the kind of building construction often impact the codes and requirements. Select a fire suppression installation vendor that asks all of the right questions about your fire code and other unique requirements such as UL certification for fire suppression equipment.

Fire Suppression Pricing

Costs are often estimated based on the size of the room. This determines the amount of agent needed to suppress a fire as well as the equipment and delivery mechanisms required. The agent concentration levels differ depending on the class of fire anticipated. Make sure you ask about the expenses of repairing the system on a yearly basis and also the life expectancy of the agent/systems so that you are prepared should you need to update once in a while for optimal effectiveness.

An Automatic Fire Suppression System Can Decrease Your Insurance Premium

If you don't have a fire suppression system, consider the insurance cost savings. Insurance businesses sometimes offer a Loss Control Survey that, when done, may offer rate reductions for installing a waterless chemical fire suppression system. A call to your agent and some savvy research will give you an idea of what you'll save - often in the range of 10%-15%. Don't forget to take the tax deduction. With a 10-year shelf life, a product such as Aero-K® can be depreciated over its full useful life.