Fire-suppression in our server room.

Zoomer · November 2008

We are looking to purchase an electronics-friendly fire suppression device in our server room and I was wondering what suggestions anyone has. It's a small room and I was either looking for a hand-held device or something other than water. Perhaps a halon fire suppressor?

RTmarc · November 2008

Halon was banned in 1987 by the Montreal Protocol. You need to look for something that is based on FM-200. The size and contents of your datacenter also determine what is prudent. There should be local companies in your area that specialize in fire suppression systems.

m.j.boylin · November 2008

keep a small Cat C fire extinguisher in the room and keep the room air conditioned.

JDMurray · November 2008

Oh geez, I gotta know this stuff for the CISSP exam. Halon was replaced by FE-13 and FM-200 (Gaseous Fire Suppression). Hand-held extinguishers must be located within 50 feet of a doorway. CO2 is preferred for areas with no human occupants. Fire classes in America are: Class A (paper/wood), B (liquids/gasses), C (electrical), D (metals), and K (kitchen oil/fat). Fire sprinkler systems (Dry pipe, wet pipe, deluge, pre-action, foam). The Fire Triangle.

What else?

And people actually purchase this stuff?

phantasm · November 2008

JDMurray wrote:

Oh geez, I gotta know this stuff for the CISSP exam. Halon was replaced by FE-13 and FM-200 (Gaseous Fire Suppression). Hand-held extinguishers must be located within 50 feet of a doorway. CO2 is preferred for areas with no human occupants. Fire classes in America are: Class A (paper/wood), B (liquids/gasses), C (electrical), D (metals), and K (kitchen oil/fat). Fire sprinkler systems (Dry pipe, wet pipe, deluge, pre-action, foam). The Fire Triangle.

What else?

And people actually purchase this stuff?

There is one sub class of fire that you forgot to mention. It falls under Alpha - Screaming Alpha to be exact.

If you can't figure it out, let me know. lol.

JDMurray · November 2008

phantasm wrote:

There is one sub class of fire that you forgot to mention. It falls under Alpha - Screaming Alpha to be exact.

"Screaming Alpha" is a fire suppression technique? It must be the predecessor of "stop, drop, and roll."

Ahriakin · November 2008

JDMurray wrote:

phantasm wrote:

There is one sub class of fire that you forgot to mention. It falls under Alpha - Screaming Alpha to be exact.

"Screaming Alpha" is a fire suppression technique? It must be the predecessor of "stop, drop, and roll."

It is if you then use their body to smother the rest of the flames.

tiersten · November 2008

RTmarc wrote:

Halon was banned in 1987 by the Montreal Protocol.

It is only the manufacture of Halon that is banned in the protocol. There is (was?) still a huge amount of it already produced and in storage. Old systems were grandfathered in the ban so you still find it in quite a few datacenters. However, most places are changing them over to FM-200 or something similar because of the costs and issues involved with Halon.

RTmarc · November 2008

tiersten wrote:

RTmarc wrote:

Halon was banned in 1987 by the Montreal Protocol.

It is only the manufacture of Halon that is banned in the protocol. There is (was?) still a huge amount of it already produced and in storage. Old systems were grandfathered in the ban so you still find it in quite a few datacenters. However, most places are changing them over to FM-200 or something similar because of the costs and issues involved with Halon.

I believe companies were given until 1992 to replace their Halon systems with an alternative. You can be fined in a hurry if a Halon system is found in your environment today.

tiersten · November 2008

RTmarc wrote:

tiersten wrote:

RTmarc wrote:

Halon was banned in 1987 by the Montreal Protocol.

It is only the manufacture of Halon that is banned in the protocol. There is (was?) still a huge amount of it already produced and in storage. Old systems were grandfathered in the ban so you still find it in quite a few datacenters. However, most places are changing them over to FM-200 or something similar because of the costs and issues involved with Halon.

I believe companies were given until 1992 to replace their Halon systems with an alternative. You can be fined in a hurry if a Halon system is found in your environment today.

In the US the old systems are still allowed. Its been banned in most European countries since 2003 for non critical systems however. No idea about anywhere else.

RTmarc · November 2008

Well, there it is. I was under the impression its replacement was mandatory. I stand corrected.

Fire-suppression in our server room.

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