Fire protection for information and communications technologies

Safe for certain.

BRANCH SOLUTION

IT fire protection reduces the risk of insolvency

For most companies, information and com-munications technologies play a key role intheir value-added chain. Even a small extent offire damage to the system can have fatalconsequences. The lossof data or hardwarecomponents, thebreakdown of plantand even total failureleading to a long pe-riod of interruption to operations are allrealistic risks. In theworst case they caneven lead to conse-quences which threat-en the existence of acompany.

The presence of fireprotection systemswhich can deal withsuch risks is therefore of prime importance forthe company.

A suitably adapted fire protection concept isthe precondition for optimum insurance cover.

Recognising and confronting risks

Every electrical or electronic facility conceals considerable potential hazards. For exampleelectricity passing through defective or over-loaded components can lead to an unacceptable

development of heat so that a smouldering fireor an open flame fire could easily develop. Thetask then is to switch off the equipment beingmonitored and to control an automatic extin-guishing system in a way appropriate to dealing

with the situation. Thislimits damage to thedefective component.

The selection of thefire detection compo-nents, of the extin-guishing technology tobe used, and of theother fire protectionmeasures all depend on the use of the facil-ity and the structuralfeatures. Attentionmust be paid to whichsources of ignition andwhich fire loads willhave to be dealt with.

Attention must also begiven to incorporating

the electrical distribution boxes as far as themain power distribution into the fire detectionconcept. Ventilation ducts must also be includedin the monitoring concept, in order to provideprotection against emissions of corrosive gases.Finally a decision has to be made as to whatextent the area around the IT sector should alsobe included in the fire protection concept.

Minimax safety solutions provide the ideal protection for informationand communications technology equipment, and also for • equipment used in the electrical and electronics industries• areas with electronic monitoring and control functions• power distribution plants• controls used in fully-automated production plants

RISKS

BRANCH SOLUTION

Fire detection systems

Minimax fire detection systems are used for theearly detection of fires. Different fire charac-teristics such as smoke, heat and flames, as wellas other by-products of pyrolysis such as carbonmonoxide, can all be detected automatically –with the AMX 4002 multi-sensor aspiratingsmoke detector, as many as four of them at thesame time. Besides its general task of detectingthe fire the fire detection system also activatesthe alarm functions, monitors the operatingstates and shows them on a display. In addition

COMPONENTSFOR RELIABLE FIRE PROTECTION

Minimax fire detection and extinguishing controlsystems also allow for object-related fire extinguish-ing and provide for switching off individual items ofequipment which have defective components, thuscrucially extending the reaction time.

Minimax offers means of controlling extinguish-ing systems. Minimax fire detection controlpanels can be combined into fire detection andfire extinguishing control panels, so there is noneed for expensive interface panels. Systemintegration into an existing security and controlconcept can be arranged individually via serialdata interfaces e.g. to the building controlsystem.

Multi-sensor aspirating smoke detectors can be used to provide early detection of a fire, inaddition to their use for area monitoring. These do not wait for the smoke to rise up butactively suck it in. That makes them muchquicker and more sensitive than conventionaldetectors.

In air-conditioned rooms, where the high ratesof air exchange strongly thin out the smoke,and where the smoke is led away with the airflow of the air conditioning system, there is noalternative to the Helios smoke detector, whichcan sense even the lowest concentration ofsmoke particles in the flow of air.

Minimax fire detection systems also allow forobject-related fire extinguishing and providefor switching off individual items of equipmentwhich have defective components, thus cruciallyextending the reaction time.

Thanks to Minimax this computer centre is fireproof:

The Helios early fire detection system monitorsthe ambient air directly at the air conditioning

system to check for the slightest indication of agrowing fire.

AMX 4002 multi-sensor aspirating smoke detec-tors on the row of IT servers locate a fire at anearly stage, switch off the power and activate

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� Supply of extinguishantArgotec fire extinguishing system

� MX 1230 compact fire extinguishing system � FMZ 5000 fire detection and extinguishing

control panel � Argotec extinguishing nozzles/room Argotec extinguishing nozzles/false floor

Argotec extinguishing nozzles/facility � Early warning fire detection system Helios� Multi-sensor aspirating smoke detector

AMX 4002 (facility monitoring) Punctual smoke detectors (in the false floor

and on the ceiling)� Manual activation/extinguishing delay

FOR COMPUTER CENTRES

the extinguishing system. When used theArgotec fire extinguishing system floods eitherdouble floors, server series, the complete roomor different numbers of these areas in combina-

tion, depending on the level of escalation. A data storage area is protected by an MX 1230compact system.

BRANCH SOLUTION

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� Optical and acoustic means of alarm� Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher � Fire protection seals KBS Sealbags (cable duct)

Argotec Inertgas fire extinguishing systemswith argon or nitrogen

Argotec Inertgas fire extinguishing systemsusing the inert gas argon or nitrogen as theextinguishant provide a sure method of fireprotection which is particularly friendly to theenvironment and to persons. The two extin-

guishing gases are natural gaseous componentsof the ambient air and so have no harmfuleffect on the atmosphere. They are non-toxic.They fight fires yet do not leave any residuesand do not have any harmful effect on the ob-ject being protected. This makes them particu-larly suitable for use in areas which containhigh-value electrical and electronic equipment.

The extinguishing effect of inert gases is based onthe “suffocation effect“ which arises through thedisplacement of the oxygen in the air to a levelbelow that needed for combustion to occur.

It can reach the most hidden corner of a roomand the interior parts of the equipment. Theextinguishant is stored together in batteries ofhigh-pressure steel cylinders. The use of selectorvalves allow several areas to be protected in aparticularly efficient manner through a com-mon supply of extinguishant.This supply of extinguishant must not be locatedin direct vicinity to the area being protected.

With Argotec fire extinguishing systems theactivation of the extinguishing process can beautomatic, through a fire detection and extin-guishing control system, or it can be set offmanually. After expiry of the pre-warning timethe extinguishing process begins with the cylin-der valves opening automatically. The extin-guishant then flows through the pipework andthrough the nozzles into the extinguishingzone.

The Argotec Inertgas fire extinguishing systemis also available as a compact extinguishing sys-tem which can be installed close to the objectto be protected and which can quickly be con-nected to the power supply and pipework bymeans of standard connections. The high de-gree of prefabrication of this system plus itssimple and quick installation make it an in-teresting alternative in economic terms as well.

A special software program is used to preciselycalculate the design concentration of theamounts of extinguishant required.

DIFFERENT RISKS…

BRANCH SOLUTION

MX 1230 and MX 200 fire extinguishing sys-tems with chemically active extinguishants

In many applications the use of syntheticallyproduced extinguishants such as FM-200® orNovec™ 1230, can be a sensible solution. Thesecombine a high extinguishing effect with ahigh level of safety to persons plus a low spacetake-up by the supply of extinguishant.

The MX 1230 and MX 200 fire extinguishingsystems consist of the supply of extinguishantstored in steel cylinders. The supply is con-nected to the pipework to which the nozzlesare fitted. In use the pressurised cylinders con-taining the extinguishant are opened electri-cally and the extinguishant, which is still liquid,flows out through the special extinguishingnozzles from where it vaporises and spreadsthroughout the room as a gas. Where necessaryadditional cylinders are opened pneumaticallyby a master cylinder.

The extinguishingeffect of this extin-guishant is prima-rily based on theabsorption of heatin the flames, andso is conditioned bythe physical effect(cooling).

Active fire prevention with the Permatec system

Minimax developed the Permatec system forspecial risk areas. It permanently reduces theconcentration of oxygen in the area at risk tosuch an extent that it is impossible for a fire toeven break out.

The controlled additionof nitrogen allows thePermatec active fire pre-vention system to keepthe oxygen content ofthe air in the protectedarea at the reducedlevel. The nitrogen dis-places the calculatedamount of oxygen, creating a fireproofatmosphere.

Precise control meansthat persons can be present in the protectedarea at any time. The Permatec active fire pre-vention system produces the nitrogen for thereduction in the level of oxygen, cheaply andeffectively, by means of a nitrogen generatorsituated on site. The monitoring and controlunit in the Permatec active fire preventionsystem continuously controls the amount ofoxygen in the air and also controls the oper-ating periods of the nitrogen generator.

… DIFFERENTIATED FIRE PROTECTION PLANNING

Experience and technical knowledge are particularly important when selecting the most suitable type of extinguishing system. Plus: fire protec-tion is not a "stand alone" solution but part of a higher-level securityconcept. Interface management and system integration are therefore ofgreat importance for fighting a fire successfully. Minimax offers fire pro-tection solutions for all fire risks in electrical and electronic equipment.

Water-based fire extinguishing systems

Sprinkler systems can detect, report and extin-guishing fires automatically. The release of un-desired amounts of water can lead to severedamage, especially in IT and telecoms areas, soareas such as these with high-value equipmentare very appropriate for the use of the preactionsprinkler. Here both sprinklers in this unit mustbe open before water starts to emerge. Suchareas are also suitable for the use of preactiondry pipe system, in which a valve first has to beoperated by a fire detection system beforewater can emerge from the opened sprinklers.

As an alternative to the classic type of sprinklersystem the EconAqua fine water spray sprinklersystem provides a particularly reliable and eco-nomic solution.

Structural fire protection

Cables, supply shafts and ducts, panelling andjoints are ideal “trailblazers“ for the rapidspread of a fire. Every opening in walls, ceilingsand floors is a break in the safety system. Struc-tural fire protection helps prevent and restrictthe spread of fires, and in the event of a firehelps protect the escape and rescue routes.

Minimax offers a large number of products and services for structural fire protection, forexample cable penetration seals which ensurethat fires remain contained in the area where

they started and cannot spread out to neigh-bouring areas. KBS Sealbags cable protectionseals based on adjoining and overlaying fireprotection pillows provide a fire resistance of90 minutes.

The filler material contained in the non-flam-mable glass fibre shells swells up under theeffect of a fire, sealing all hollow and inter-mediate spaces securely and at around 800 °Chardens into an unyielding ceramic block.

Its structure means that the cable penetrationseal can be quickly and easily opened to allowthe laying of new cable or to allow changes tobe made in the cable arrangement and thenclosed again, without creating any dirt.

Mobile fire protectionFor spontaneous firefighting, besides automaticextinguishing systems, portable carbon-dioxidefire extinguishers or equipment (depending onthe size of the area to be protected) shouldalso be kept ready at central points and in amanner that they are visible and easily acces-sible. Employees should be made familiar ingood time with how to operate them so that in the event of a fire they can be used rapidlyand a tactically correct way. Minimax offers training and instruction in fire protection forthis purpose.

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Minimax GmbH & Co. KGIndustriestrasse 10/12 D-23840 Bad OldesloePhone: +49 (0) 45 31 8 03-0 Fax: +49 (0) 45 31 8 03-2 48E-mail: info@minimax.dewww.minimax.de

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Technical details subject to alteration. Publication – even of excerpts – only permitted when the source is quoted.

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