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We have an old server room. The server room is split into two side-by-side rooms separated by a wood stud wall with sheet rock covering. One server room side is approximately 15'x30'. The other side is approximately 30'x30'.
The ceiling is a 2 ' x2' square ceiling tile with insulation above. Above the ceiling is open to the warehouse. The floating floor is suspended approximately 12". Wires for the servers are under the floating floor resembles a bird's nest. The wires also protrude through all four walls at various locations, but mainly between the floating floor and the concrete floor. The old sprinkler system needs upgrading. We are thinking of a clean agent system, but the cost would be monumental. Moving the server room to a different location would also be cost-prohibitive. Both server rooms would require doors, walls, and ceiling modifications including rewiring all the server equipment for a clean agent system. We have a large amount of server equipment. Does anyone have fire protection system(s) suggestion? Does anyone have reference material for suggestions on installing different systems to provide to upper management? What is the best method for providing a cost estimate for various types of systems? Also, has anyone had luck with the misting system in server rooms? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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NFPA 2001, Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems now require an egress time study to show that the design limits exposure to halocarbon agents is no longer than 5 minutes, like FK-5-1-12 (NOVEC 1230), HFC-227ea (FM 200).
This comes from 2018 Edition Section 1.5.14, 2020 Edition Section 4.3.4, and 2022 Edition Section 4.3.4. Exposure time for inert gas agents will depend on the oxygen levels within the space or room. Concentration below 43 percent shall be permitted where exposure is no longer than 5 minutes. Concentration between 43 and 52 percent shall be permitted where exposure is no longer than 3 minutes. The annex of NFPA 2001 tells us to review the NFPA Handbook and the SFPE Handbook for more information. Is anyone doing these calculations, and if so, what exit flow, movement speed, and reaction time would you consider appropriate for spaces using these systems? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe How would you recommend protecting a dry room for battery operations, such as battery testing or packaging?
I've been designing these with dry systems but was curious if there are any codes to omit sprinklers, or if anyone uses clean agent systems? If you use something alternatively, why do you go that direction? Moderator's Note: Dry Rooms for batteries have less moisture to avoid corrosion and any chemical reaction for the batteries, which would degrade or reduce performance. Very low moisture is the key for a dry room for batteries. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Where are we with the newest clean agents?
I'm running into an interesting scenario where the discussion of the phasing out by 3M of the NOVEC 1230 agent is coming up. I mentioned the competitors to NOVEC 1230 that we're aware of - FK-5-1-12 but they are interested in the next-gen stuff because they don't want to have to redo anything in the near future. Does anyone have any experience with the Fluoro-K or any other newer, lesser used in the past but now have to look into agents? I'm aware of Victaulic's Vortex and CO₂ options, but I'm asking about chemical agents. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experience. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have 10+ years of experience in the design, specification, installation, commissioning and operation of oxygen reduction systems. ORS are designed to prevent fires from occurring.
The experimental work undertaken by Xin and Khan, FM Global etc is all concerned with fire suppression, using substantial fires (up to 33 kW) combusting in ambient conditions, and then trying to suppress the resultant fire. There is a substantial variation in limiting oxygen concentration (LOC) with variation in the received level of radiation at the precombusted surface, which means that the LOC is not a fixed value. Is there a recognition of the impact of the received level of radiation upon the LOC in the fire engineering community? Is there any data or study to back it up? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Are stand-alone clean agent systems required to be monitored by a supervising station or constantly attended location?
I am reviewing plans for a small, remote equipment shed that is equipped with a clean agent suppression system. The building is remote enough and small enough that IBC wouldn't require a fire alarm or sprinkler system. The designer claims that it doesn't have to report out, but I think they're wrong. I think this would fall under the IBC 907.3 requirements for a dedicated function panel, which still requires supervision of the detectors at a "constantly attended location." Since the building isn't constantly attended, it would have to dial out to the central receiving station, not just to some guy's email. From what I've gathered, a full-blown FACP wouldn't be required, but a dedicated panel to dial out would be. What is your take on this? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a preferred method of protecting a room with the sole purpose of storing oxygen cylinders?
FM-200, NOVEC, IG, water mist? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a room volume cut off that you use for clean agent space to make sure that your system will pass the room integrity fan test?
As an extreme example, a 50,000 sf space would probably be better for something like a double interlock preaction system since it would be difficult to make sure that the space is of tight enough construction to hold the clean agent (there will inherently be some leaks in construction despite doing all the recommended practices of gasketing, door threshold blocking, etc). Thanks in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project where we're adding a sound (anechoic) chamber and and protecting it with clean agent.
A question came up as to whether or not dampers are required for the HVAC system that provide supply and return air to the pre-manufactured chamber. Is an anechoic chamber required to have dampers for limiting the migration of the clean agent? My thinking is that the clean agent will be activated by an air sampling system, so there should be no meaningful amount of smoke in the chamber. That said, do the dampers have to be listed for fire/smoke? Any help with getting specifics from code or a clearer understanding is always appreciated from the community so thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe 3M recently announced they will no longer manufacture NOVEC 1230 by end of 2025 due to the presence of PFAS (https://news.3m.com/2022-12-20-3M-to-Exit-PFAS-Manufacturing-by-the-End-of-2025).
Other similar agents, such as FM-200, have similar environmental concerns due to having HCFCs. Does anyone know a chemical fire suppression agent that doesn't have CFC or PFAS issues? I know there is a new NFPA standard (770) on hybrid systems and that the Victualic Vortex is one such system, but not sure what other alternatives are out on the market. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are some popular solutions for elimination of wet-pipe sprinkler systems in data centers that have installed wet-pipe, VESDA and clean agent systems?
A client wants me to find a solution that will be acceptable to the local Authority Having Jurisdiction to eliminate the wet-pipe sprinkler system in the data center portion of the facility. We already have the VESDA and clean agent. Are there other recommendations/insight here that might be helpful? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Given the HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) production phase-out, what are you currently recommending to your clients and customers regarding the installation of new FM-200 systems at this time?
Just curious to get a status check on how you approach this challenge. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am working on a project that is manufacturing lithium-metal batteries (not lithium-ion). There are multiple areas throughout the manufacturing process where there is a risk of exposed lithium metal.
With lithium being water reactive, any water based system is not an option. Are there any known alternative fire suppression systems listed and approved for use on a lithium fire? I know that per a couple of different NFPA codes that clean agent and dry-chemical systems are not recommended for use on lithium fires. From what I can find there are just manual fire extinguishers (such and ANSUL's lith-x) for use on lithium fires. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are designing a clean agent system for electrical rooms located within a high-rise building. We are proposing having dedicated clean agent releasing control panels for the electrical rooms, and a separate building Fire Alarm Control Panel.
Is it mandatory to connect fire/smoke dampers (and other shutdown devices) in the electrical room with the clean agent releasing panel, or can these be connected to the building fire alarm system? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our common CRAC Units (Cooling, Refrigeration and A/C) for data centers only cool the air directly from the data center and back into the data center.
Do these need to be shutdown with the use of a total-flooding clean agent system? If the CRAC unit is only exchanging air within the same space then I'm not sure what harm it would do if it's running during or after clean agent discharge. I'm curious if I'm off the mark here, thanks! Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 2001 requires a safety factor under sections 5.4.2.3 through 5.4.2.5 for clean agent extinguishing concentrations.
What is the difference between the "design concentration" listed in Table A.5.4.2.2(b) (2015 edition) and this minimum extinguishing concentration (the minimum extinguishing concentration MEC x applied safety factor)? In some cases the design concentrations are higher than the MEC x safety factor - is there a proper one to be using under NFPA 2001? Sorry if the question is basic - I've always just used the design concentrations. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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