Even if you’re not in the IT industry, chances are that your business has some IT infrastructure. Every business relies on technology in one way or the other. What happens if your IT infrastructure is exposed to fire damage? Is your building prepared?
Clean agent fire suppression systems are designed to protect IT infrastructure in the event of a fire emergency. It’s worth investing in this specialized fire suppression system because of several reasons. For starters, losing your business data today can result in significant downtime and loss of business continuity. Secondly, the physical equipment that you use to power your technology doesn’t come cheap. A fire outbreak can result in significant losses, which you could have otherwise avoided by containing a small fire.
Clean agent fire suppression systems don’t use water to put out fires. They are ideal for incipient stage fires in areas like the server room or data centre. Water-based fire suppression systems can cause irreparable damage to your sensitive equipment and hence are not recommended for use with IT infrastructure.
What is a clean agent fire suppression system?
Clean agent, as the name suggests, is designed to extinguish a fire without leaving any residue behind. This is why it’s the most used extinguishing agent for sensitive electronics. They also don’t conduct any electricity. Therefore, if a fire involves electrical equipment, it can be extinguished with a clean agent without causing serious service interruptions and data loss.
We’ll take a look at 3 commonly used clean agent suppression systems today.
1. 3M™ NOVEC™ 1230 FIRE PROTECTION FLUID
This advanced clean agent fire suppression system is often used in fire emergencies that involve high-value equipment such as computers, cameras, and switching equipment. It can suppress fires without powering down or interfering with communications. Unlike traditional clean agents, 3M™ NOVEC™ uses fewer cylinders to put off fire and occupies less space. Other advantages of this advanced clean agent include:
- It’s a sustainable option with zero ozone depletion
- It’s safe to use
- Comes with a 20-year warranty against regulatory bans or restrictions against the product
- Facility managers can enjoy LEED innovation credits by installing this system
2. FM-200® FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
Another popular clean agent fire suppression system used today is FM-200®. This one is ideal for small spaces such as a server room. It also occupies less space compared to standard CO2 systems. The clean agent is stored in a cylinder as a liquid and pressurized with nitrogen. It can reach extinguishing levels in less than 10 seconds, which means it’s able to stop fires very fast before causing significant damage.
3. INERGEN® FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
INERGEN® is the only inert gas fire suppression system that is safe for humans. It is designed not to react with fire and doesn’t produce any toxic by-products when it’s discharged. Inergen® is made of 52% nitrogen, 40% Argon and 8% CO2. It’s ideal for small spaces due to its excellent hold time.
The wrong fire suppression system for IT infrastructure can end up causing damage to the same assets it was meant to protect. Get a professional to advise on a clean agent system that works for your facility.
