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Fire Protection for IT and Fire Protection for IT and Telecommunication FacilitiesTelecommunication Facilities

Mark L. Robin, Ph.D.DuPont Fluoroproducts

Presented at:

National Facilities Management & TechnologyBaltimore Convention Center

March 16, 2011

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Electronics/Electronic ComputersElectronics/Electronic ComputersRapid development in recent decades- Electronics, hardware, application programs

New industries- Internet & Telecommunications Industries

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1946: ENIAC : World’s First Electronic Computer- Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer

30 tons1,500 ft2

19,000 vacuum tubes5,000 additions/sec

Nuclear Physics Problem: ENIAC 2 hoursMan 100 engineers, one year

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Electronic ComputersElectronic Computers1951: UNIVAC- (Universal Automatic Computer)

29 tons112 ft2

5,600 vacuum tubes18,000 crystal diodes300 relays8,000 additions/sec

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Electronic ComputersElectronic Computers

1971: Intel 4004 CPUSingle chip microprocessor2,300 transistors92,000 IPS

2010: Core i7 980x (32 nm)42 x 45 mm560,000,000 transistors150,000,000,000 IPS

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2 Billion users in 2011

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Electronic EquipmentElectronic EquipmentPlays essential role in business operationComputers and other electronic equipment are particularly susceptible to fire damage- Heat, steam, combustion products

Financial impact of service interruptions can be severe in industries reliant on electronic equipment- Fire is one source of service interruption- Impact severe in numerous industries

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Source: Ponemon Institute, 2011

$84,986$140,513

$188,458$202,104

$298,279$368,033

$397,362$453,206

$462,719$496,412

$574,240

$611,860$790,866

$834,835$848,767

$1,017,746

H o spitality

P ublic Secto r

M edia

T ranspo rtat io n

R etail

Industrial

H ealthcare

Services

C o nsumer P ro ducts

Educat io n

C o -lo cat io n

T echno lo gy

F inancial Services

D efense

e C o mmerce

C o mmunicat io ns

Downtime Cost by Sector

102 Minute Average Outage

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0 5 10 15 20 25

None

Less than $1,000

$1,000 to $5,000

$5,001 to $10,000

$10,001 to $20,000

$20,001 to $50,000

$50,001 to $100,000

$100,001 to $500,000

$500,001 to $750,000

$750,001 to $1,000,000

> $1,000,000

PercentSource: Ponemon Institute, 2010

30% respondents estimate > $50,000 per

hour revenue loss

Cost of Business Interruption: Revenue Loss per HourCost of Business Interruption: Revenue Loss per Hour

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Information Technology (IT) Facilities

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Information Technology (IT) FacilitiesInformation Technology (IT) FacilitiesVast array of electronic devices connected together and configured to analyze, collect, distribute, manage and store information- Computers- Blades & blade servers- Local Area Networks (LAN)- Magnetic tape libraries- Converters- Servers- Routers- Switches- Storage area networks (SAN)- Direct access storage devices (DASD)

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IT FacilitiesIT FacilitiesSupport Equipment- Computer rated air-conditioning units (CRACs)- Power distribution units (PDUs)- Uninterruptable power supplies (UPSs)

Specialized Electronics- Control and Automation Electronics

• Petroleum, steel, paper production• Semiconductor fabrication• Telecommunications• Automation systems: Assembly lines, robotics

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IT Facilities: Fire HistoryIT Facilities: Fire HistoryFire History- Typically involve small fires- Potentially large impact

• Sensitive, expensive equipment• Cost of downtime

- Leading cause: electrical distribution equipment• Wires, cables, cord, plugs, outlets

Fire Hazard- Fuel load primarily electronic equipment and

power cables: plastics- Can be electrically energized

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IT Facilities: Fire ProtectionIT Facilities: Fire ProtectionNFPA 75 Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment

UL 1950 Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equipment

Standards specify construction requirements of - Electronic equipment itself- Building housing the electronic equipment- Material and equipment permitted in IT facilities

Reduce the Potential for Fire

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IT Facilities: Fire ProtectionIT Facilities: Fire ProtectionNFPA 75 - Only computer and IT equipment and

support equipment are permitted in the computer room

- Office furniture within the computer room must be of metal construction

- The amount of records within the computer room must be kept to the absoluteminimum required for essential and efficient operation

- Rooms used for the storage of records are to be separated from the computer area by fire-resistive construction

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Telecommunication Facilities

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TelecommunicationsTelecommunicationsOriginally single service industry: telephone serviceIn a short time, progressed to include:- Telephone service- ATMs- Teleconferencing services- Video conferencing services- Electronic funds transfer- Cable TV- Internet access

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Hazard Areas in Telecommunications FacilitiesHazard Areas in Telecommunications Facilities

Low heat release rate firesBatteries on racksSwitchgear, RectifiersBus bars, cables

Power areas

High or low heat release rate fires

Cables with no fire resistance rating entering building from outside and spliced to rated cables

Cable entrance facility

Slow developing, smoky fires with heat release rates of typically 5 to 15 kW, which do not exceed 150 kW for fully involved cabinet or rack

Electronic equipment in racks or cabinets orunder a raised floor

Telecommunications equipment

Fire ScenariosContentsArea

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Same as for telecommunications equipment since combustibles load is small

Metal desks, cabinets, tools, equipment

Tech support areas

Electrical or fuel firesGenerator powered by internal combustion engine; Fuel day tankStarting batteries

Standby engine area

Low to medium heat release rate smoky fires

Large quantities of low voltage communications wire

Main distribution frame

Fire ScenariosContentsArea

Hazard Areas in Telecommunications FacilitiesHazard Areas in Telecommunications Facilities

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Telecommunication FacilitiesTelecommunication FacilitiesFire History- Typically involve small fires (5 to 10 kW)- Potentially large impact

• Sensitive, expensive equipment• High downtime cost• In a disruption, all information in transit lost

- Leading cause: electrical distribution equipment• Wires, PC boards, transformers, plastic housings

Fire Hazard- Fuel load primarily electronic equipment and

power cables: plastics- Can be electrically energized

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Telecommunication Facilities: Telecommunication Facilities: Fire ProtectionFire Protection

NFPA 76 Standard for the Fire Protection of Telecommunication Facilities

Construction requirements similar to NFPA 75

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Electronic Equipment & Fire

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Electronic Equipment: Fire DamageElectronic Equipment: Fire DamageThermal Damage- Due to fire itself (heat)

Non-thermal Damage: Combustion Products- Smoke, soot, water, acids

Non-thermal Damage: Suppression Agent- e.g., water, foam, dry chemical

Electronic equipment is very susceptible to damage from fire

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Electronics: Thermal DamageElectronics: Thermal Damage

650 oF (310 oC)Polystyrene cases, reels225 oF (107 oC)Microfilm

350 oF (177 oC)Paper174 oF (79 oC)Electronic components150 oF (66 oC)Hard drives125 oF (52 oC)

Storage media (magnetic tape, floppies, etc.)

Onset of DamageComponent

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Electronics: NonElectronics: Non--Thermal Damage Thermal Damage from Combustion Productsfrom Combustion Products

Steam, Smoke, Soot, Various Combustion ProductsHydrogen Chloride- From combustion of PVC- Reacts with galvanized zinc components forming ZnCl2- ZnCl2 layer formed, reacts with humidity to produce a corrosive

ZnCl2 solutionCorrosive Combustion Gases- HF, HBr, SO2, CH3COOH, NO2, HCN

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Electronics: NonElectronics: Non--Thermal Damage Thermal Damage from Combustion Productsfrom Combustion Products

Smoke- Hard drive damage by particulates assmall as 0.5 micron

Non-conductive Soots- Formed from smoldering, slow growth

fires- Deposit out on horizontal surfaces, forming insulating layer

which can interrupt electrical contactsConductive Soots- Formed from rapidly growing fires- Deposit on horizontal and vertical surfaces leading to electrical

shorting

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Electronics: NonElectronics: Non--Thermal Damage Thermal Damage from Suppression Agentfrom Suppression Agent

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Fire Protection Systems

SprinklersWater mist

Clean Agents

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Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Design ObjectivesDesign Objectives

- “In general terms of property protection, sprinkler systems are typically designed to achieve fire control...”

- “Fire control can be described as limiting the fire size by decreasing the rate of heat release and pre-wetting adjacent combustibles, while maintaining ceiling gas temperatures so as to avoid structural damage”

NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition, p. 16-38.

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Time

HeatReleaseRate

Fire ControlFire Control

sprinkler activation

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Automatic Sprinkler Systems:Automatic Sprinkler Systems:

♦ Design objective is fire control• Contain fire to room of origin• Control ceiling temperature to avoid structural damage• Fire extinguishment NOT primary objective

♦ Fire size at system activation relatively high• Sprinkler systems employ thermal response• Water not released until temperature at fusible link or glass

bulb in excess of 135 oF

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Clean Agent Systems:Clean Agent Systems:

• Design objective is fire extinguishmentduring incipient stage of fire

• Fire size at system activation smallRapid detection

- can detect at 0.1 kW with air aspirating systemRapid discharge

• Gaseous agentsProvide “total flooding” of enclosure

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Time

HeatReleaseRate

sprinkler activation

clean agentsystem activation

detection

FIRE CONTROL

FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT

Clean Agent System vs. Sprinkler SystemClean Agent System vs. Sprinkler System(Fire Extinguishment vs. Fire Control)(Fire Extinguishment vs. Fire Control)

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Clean Agent Suppression Systems:Clean Agent Suppression Systems:Primary Advantages Primary Advantages

♦ Ability to extinguish shielded, obstructed or three-dimensional fires in complex geometries• Clean agents are gases• Uniform distribution throughout an enclosure

♦ Ability, through the use of detection, to extinguish fires at a very early stage• Extinguishment well before direct or indirect fire/smoke

damage occurs

♦ Cause no collateral damage due to agent discharge• Are “clean”• No residues • No business interruption

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Sprinkler Systems Clean Agent System

Suppression agent Water Gas

Design Objective

Fire Control: Confine fire Control ceiling T

Fire Extinguishment

Design Objective Protect structure Protect contents of structure Activation

Sprinkler head T ≥ 135 oF

Automatic activation following detection (air sampling, smoke detectors)

Fire size at activation

Can be 100's of kW

Low as 0.1 kW with air aspirating detection system

Total Flooding

No. Water not three dimensional, will not fill entire

enclosure

Yes. Agent distributed uniformly throughout

enclosure Cleanliness No. Water/smoke damage Yes Cost Low High

Comparison of Sprinkler and Comparison of Sprinkler and Clean Agent SystemsClean Agent Systems

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Suppression Systems for Suppression Systems for Electronic Equipment FiresElectronic Equipment Fires

Sprinklers- Large fire sizes at activation

• increased damage vs clean agents- Design objective is control- Electronics sensitive to water- Extensive cleanup and downtime

• Water and smoke damage- Water not three dimensional

• Inability to extinguish hidden, obstructed fire

For protection of the STRUCTURE, not its contents

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Suppression Systems for Suppression Systems for Electronic Equipment FiresElectronic Equipment Fires

Water Mist?- Extinguishment via O2 dilution- Poor performance on small fires- Water mist is not three dimensional- Poor performance on small

and/or hidden fires (e.g., IT/telco)- Electronics sensitive to water- Cleanup and downtime

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Suppression Systems for Suppression Systems for Electronic Equipment FiresElectronic Equipment Fires

Clean Agents- Traditional protection for expensive, sensitive equipment- Rapid detection, rapid extinguishment- No residues, no cleanup, no downtime- Three-dimensional: can extinguish hidden, obstructed fires

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Clean Agent ApplicationsClean Agent Applications

♦ High system cost justified by high value of protected space or protected equipment being mission/process critical

♦ Typical applications: • Telecommunications Equipment• Computer/Electronics Equipment, • Control Rooms• Process Critical Equipment• Shipboard and Off-shore Machinery Rooms

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Clean Agent Track RecordClean Agent Track Record

♦ First clean agent system installed circa 1991 (FM-200®)

♦ Hundreds of thousands of clean agent systems installed worldwide

♦ Excellent performance & safety record- Zero incidents failure to extinguish

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Clean Agents/Halon 1301 Clean Agents/Halon 1301 ReplacementsReplacements

- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)• HFC-227ea: FM-200® CF3CHFCF3• HFC-125: FE-25TM CF3CF2H• HFC-23: FE-13TM CF3H

- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)• HCFC Blend A: NAF-S-III

– HCFC-22/HCFC-123/HCFC-124/d-limonene- Inert Gases

• IG-541: InergenTM Ar/N2/CO2• IG-55: ArgoniteTM Ar/N2

- Perfluorinated Ketones• FK-5-1-12: NovecTM 1230 CF3CF2CCF(CF3)2

O

Subject to Phaseout

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Ideal Halon 1301 Replacement Halon 1301 HFCs Inert Gases Perfluoroketones High weight efficiency √√ √ Gas at ambient temperature √ √ √ Low chemical reactivity √ √ √ Electrically nonconducting √ √ √ √ Low toxicity √ √ √ Lack of metabolism √ √ √ Low agent cost √ √ √ Low system cost √ √ √ Low number agent cylinders √ √ √ Low storage volume √ √ √ Low system footprint √ √ √ Low cylinder pressure rating √ √ √ Low manifold pressure rating √ √ √ Low negative pressures during discharge √ √ √ Low positive pressures during discharge √ √ √ Slow stratification √ √ √ Zero ODP (ozone depletion potential) √ √ √ Zero GWP (global warming potential) √ VOC exempt (no contribution to smog) √ √ √

Comparison of Clean Agents√ = provides desired property

HFCs offer the best overall combination of the properties desirable in a Halon replacement

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Worldwide Clean Agent MarketNumber of Installed Systems

HFCs (70%)

Inert Gases (20%)

Other (10%)

FM-200®

FE-25TM

InergenTM

ArgoniteTM

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Comparison of Inert Gas and Comparison of Inert Gas and Halogenated SystemsHalogenated Systems

Inert Gas AgentsInert Gas AgentsCannot be compressed to liquid – stored as high pressure gasRequire high pressure cylinders, pipingRequire large number of cylinders – large footprintCost increases more rapidly with increasing system sizeLow agent cost

Halogenated AgentsHalogenated AgentsStored as liquidLarge mass of agent can be stored in small volumeStandard cylinders, pipingSmall number of cylinders required – small footprintHigh agent cost

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Halocarbon vs Inert Gas System: Halocarbon vs Inert Gas System: 1000 m1000 m33 Enclosure, Class A HazardEnclosure, Class A Hazard

724

548

Agent, kg

40.0

7.0

Design Conc., %

v/v

22InergenTM (300 bar)

2FM-200®

No. Cylinders

Agent

FMFM--200200®®

InergenTM

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ConclusionsConclusionsThe fire history of IT/Telco facilities shows fires in these facilities can lead to substantial damage & revenue loss

Fires in IT and telco facilities are characterized by low fuel loads, primarily involving wire insulation, PC boards, electronic components, transformers, insulating materials and plastic housings

Fires in IT/Telco facilities typically initiate from an overheat, short or arc condition, are of low energy output, often 5-10 kW and produce various amounts of toxic and corrosive combustion productsElectronic equipment is very susceptible to damage by heat, smoke, combustion products and water

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Clean agent systems are the best protection option for sensitive and expensive electronics- Extinguishment of hidden or obstructed fire occurring

anywhere within the protected area- Rapid detection/extinguishment minimizes damage- Lack of cleanup = minimal downtime- Suitable for Class A, B & C hazards

Sprinkler systems are the best protection option for structuresSubstantial additional risk reduction at very high benefit/cost ratios may be realized by protecting these assets with both a clean agent and a sprinkler system

ConclusionsConclusions